The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-11-24
UNCLE, SANS UNPAID DEBTS.
Thousands of Claims Against the United
States.
ST. Louis Glo6e-DemocrGt.

by dunning Uncle Sam. It is a. fact
that the old gentleman in the fuzzy
hat and striped pantaloons, while him
self,a most exacting creditor, is not
over-disposed to pay his debts unless
compelled. Of this trait the business
of the unsettled French spoliation
claims affords only one Of many avail
able illustrations. So it is not sur
prising that creditors should be con-
tinually beseiging the treasury for pay
ment, considerable percentage Of
which, when it is obtained, invariably
goes into the pockets Of shrewd law
yers.
Only the other day prominent at
torney in this city was approached
with an attractive offer by man who
was interested in procuring the resti-
tuition Of certain sums due to credit
ors Of the treasury who were not
aware Of their own just claims. He
said that he was able to procure a
complete list of all the postohice or
ders unpaid since the adoption Of the
system, with the names Of the send
ers. These, according to his account,
represented total of about $3.50 900,
and in most instances they had failed
Of payment simply because the payees
could not be found. Most Of them
had accumulated previously to 1884,,
up to which year postnasters were
forbidden by law to notify q payee
that cash in their hands awaited de-
mand. Yhey were required to keep
the matter secret.
Extraordinary, was it notp At all
events the inevitable consequence was
the accumulation Of large amounts Of
other peoples money in the govern
ment's hands. The law above quoted
Was changed twelve years ago: but
even now s. great many money orders
fail Of payment, spd the cash they.
represent goes into the all-devouring
msWof the treasury. The PROPOSE.
tion made to the lawyer aforesaid Ras
tc, the effect that the senders Of all
these orders should be notified that
they could collect the amounts minus
so per cent. allowed to the attorney
for attending to the matter for them.
Il was expected that three out Of four
Of them would Jump at the offer, while
the fourth person would have the
gumption to communicate directly
with the postofice department. OF
course the department. would be
obliged to pay in full on demand.
The proposition, made on basis Of
half-shares, was not accepted by the
attorney. There was no doubt that
the senders Of Che, e,unpaid orders were
entitled to the money under the law.
Many Of them doubtless were dead,
but, writing about money. one is al
ways able TO find an heir or other
properly authorized person to receive
the cash. No difficulty on that score
vas anticipated. The quarter of a
million, or thereabouts, was in the
treasury and awaiting claimants all
right enough. They ought to have
the cash; of that there could be no
question. But as to the getting of
the list of names and addresses, there
was dubity. 1t was understood that
they were kept carefully secret, under
charge Of men who enjoyed the excep-
tional confidence Of the postofhce de-
partment. Thus it came about that
the lawyer refused the offer.
Nobody knows just how much is
due to the senders or payees of money
orders since the system had it's begin
ming in this country. It may be
about $3.50, 900, as alleged, or it may
be more or less. The total sum is
surely very great. Under the old
plan-that is to say, previous to 1885
-remittances were never delivered
unless actually called for. Nowadays
it is quite different, the postmaster
being required to use every possible
effort to find the payee. Failing In
this, he must communicate with the
postofice from which the money was
sent, asking that the sender be looked
up, Every conceivable means is ex-
hausted for discovering the sender and
returning to him the money. Never
5heless the total number of orders is
SO large that many Of them 60 astray,
and the treasury fund derived from
this source is continually growing.
Frequently it happens that the re-
mitter Of money that lacks payee
esnnot be found. He has mysterious
ly disappeared, perhaps. It may be
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