The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-02-05

the BOlu iHu SllVel represented Dy the
currency burned in his chimney, and
here he is correct, But he also believes
that the government can give him new
promissory notes for that burned, as
would his neighbor under similar con-
ditlons. What he falls to understand
is that the government has out many
| millions Of these notes representing the
coin in the treasury and it cannot re-
| deem them except on evidence. These
notes were all numbered, and II Mr..
Blssell had the numbers he might be
able to make case. but with only his
affidavit that $3.50 was burned he can
not make case. Senator Cullom can
| do nothing for him, however much he
| might desire.
| There are many cases like that of Mr..
| Bssell, though few that seem so plain
and appeal for sympathy as does his
case. For the treasury officials do not
doubt Mr. Bisselps word. They grant
that he tells the truth and nothing but
the truth. But they are unable to help
| him. They admit that the government
Is in all probability $3.50 better off be-
cause Of Mr.. Bisselps fire, and that his
money is in the treasury and can never
be redeemed. But that does not alter
the situation. 1t is estimated that one
per cent. of the paper currency issued
is never presented for redemption. AS
the total of all paper currency out
standing December 81, 1897, was $1,1O9,-
097,5S9, the estimated amount Of this
| that has been destroyed and will never
| be presented for redemption is little
more than one million dollars. Mr.. Bis
sells loss does into this unknown de-
stroyed currency. The government has
the coin represented by 1t, but it cannot
make good losses like those of Mr.. Bis
sell, simply because it has no means of
knowing that the currency is destroyed
and will never be presented for redemp-
| ton.
AS an example, the government during
the war and Immediately following
issued $685. 900 of fractional curren-
cy, commonly known as shinplasters.
This fractional currency was called in
many years ago, but there is still out
standing $15,263, 64O47 of such money.
with no likelihood of very much of it
ever being redeemed. Last year the
government redeemed $3,4S2 of this
fractional currency 1t Is believed that
this came largely from people who had
preserved pieces Of this old money of
shinplaster days as souvenirs, but were
forced to use them In the hard times of
| last year. In one presentation for re-
demption there was full and uncut
sheet of three-cent shinplasters 1t had
been preserved for many years, and
| then presented for redemption. But
the great amount of currency never re-
deemed is lost or burned just as Mr..
BisselPs money was lost 1t was either
utterly destroyed or was SO burned
| that the holders thought 1t was past re-
demption and never preserved the ash
es The government Is the beneficiary,
but not through any unWillingness to
pay all it's obligations
One of the cleverest appeals of this
character was presented to the Treas
ury department last fall signed by a
Michigan lady. 1t may have been fic-
| titious or genuine. The treasury Off
Gals do not know which. They, how
ever, admit the force Of the argument
but also their inability to follow the
suggestion. If 1t is a genuine case 1t is
similar to that OF Mr.. Blssell. The let
ter is as follows:
Decatur, Mich, Nov. 26, 1897.
Dear Uncle Sam: No doubt you will
say am crazy. and in my own estima-
/ tion am at least foolish. I sat by the
fire this morning looking at two five
dollar bills, reading the statement upon
them, and thinking of your wise and
complicated financial system. At this
moment my mother came in with some
\ interesting mail matter; was so de-
lighted that never thought Of the pre-
cious bills again, but just gathered
them up with the scraps and put them
In the stove. Now, dear uncle, you
have ten silver dollars in your treasu-
/ ry which will never be called for unless
you choose to take my word In this
matter I know that you have great
many expenses, and that you are
obliged to account for all the money
you spend. But I am not asking you
to give me anything; accidentally de-
stroyed your promise to pay, and ask
you to make it good pledge my word
4 OF honor as a teacher and servant Of
the Great Teacher that If you make 1t
good no one but my mother will ever
know. T also pledge my word Of honor
that IL those bills should ever rise from
the ashes (they never Will after you
have made the loss good, / will destroy
them or send them to you, as you may
direct Your most humble servant,
j ADDIE SHERWOOD
| Uncle Sam is, however, not careless
about such matters No debtor ever
took more pains to make good his
promise to pay. The Treasury depart
ment has in its redemption division ex-
perts who with remarkable skill and
patience, are able to identify money
from ashes. Mrs. Brown is one of the
most skilled Of these experts. She has
been in the department for many years,
and she knows every mark on the cur
rency so well that she has been able to
make out a case for those whose money
has been burned, even from the ashes,
and she is held in such high esteem by
the government that her word is ac-
cepted in all such matters. There is
probably no other employee in the gov
eminent whose word stands for money
as does that of this white-haired lady
who sits in the corner Of the redemp-
ton division of the Treasury depart
ment. and with patience handles under
| ~, CHI 80