Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-09-08
The BIDS ON BONDS.
Many Crooked Attempts Made Il
Secure 4 Large Amount.
ENORMOUS CnOV1g OF PENSIONS
More Claims Allowed Last Year Than Dar.
Ing the Four Year, Of Grants Bscood
Tsrm-Evading the War Tax
Pension Checks.

btkotAoh VI SPCSiouo oiuo uuuS' shs
last call for subscriptions to govern
ment bonds has been completed by So
licitor OConnell, of the treasury de-
partment, and yesterday he submitted
to Secretary Gage the mass of testi
mony on the transactions Severa
thousand subscribers were examined
The facts developed show systematic
scheme operated by certain parties tt
secure large amount Of the bonds
The investigation was the outcome Of
complaints alleging wrong dealing on
the part Of many bidders. Secretary
Gage promptly instituted the investi
90 ton, and Solicitor UConnell yester-
day, after submitting his report, held
conference for two hours with the
secretary on the developments. The re-
port indicates that million OF dollars in
bonds were acquired by irregular
means, and that number OF
New York bidders are involved
In the cases. Many Of the
bids received from New York are
shown to have been either signed by
individuals who had no direct interest
In them, and subscribed their names
simply at the request Of, or in consid.
Grafton Of compensation by, other par
ties or the bids bore signatures that
were forgeries Many Of the bidders,
It is stated, were hired to sign, and
the system was carried so far, the re.
port goes on to show, that virtual
agents were employed who were paid
SO much per su bscriber, the last named
merely signing his name and giving
the bid with his signature to the agent
or directly to the party seeking control
OF Ia large amount OF bonds. The report
and the exact facts are withheld from
publication At this time for pruden-
tial reasons, but Solicitor OConnell
said yesterday: "There is large
amount of fraudulent bids" IL is
stated a further investigation Is to be
made, and that the facts developed
will be followed by action by the Sec
rotary. This may result in a refusal
to issue the bonds in all cases found
to have been illegal.
Secretary Gage said last night the
investigation showed that large
amount of the bids offered were not
bona Hde, but that i'm none Of the cases
involved in the investigation had the
bonds been issued to the bidders He
said he had no doubt, however, that,
IN some instances, as yet undiscovered,
bonds bid for in a similar way, un-
knowingly to the department, had
been issued.
AN ENORMOUS GROWTH oY PENSIONS.
Washington, Sept, 1.-The forth
coming annual report Of the commits
sioner of pensions will show that the
number of pensions allowed during
the past fiscal year, including the war
OF 1872, was So, 1877, of which "a, S52 were
for soldiers and 1855 for sailors. Four
widows were reinstated and two pro-
noted, and "a orphans and relatives Of
soldiers were reinstated. One hun
dred and thirty-nine ex.unon soldiers
were reinstated and s70 promoted.
The number of pensioners on the
rolls June 30, 1893, was 993, ia;
amount paid for pensions during the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1898, $l44,-
65i, $40; average value of each pension,
$.3a ~. Comparisons show that more
pensions for service in the war Of the
rebellion were granted during the last
fiscal year than were allowed during
the entire four years OF Grants sec.
ond term and the entire administra-
ton Of President Hayes; that the
amount actually paid for army and
navy pensions during the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1898, was largely in ex.
cess Of the amount paid either during
the first or second term of President
Grants administrations, and almost as
much as was paid during the entire
four years of President Hayes admin
istration.
EvADING THE WAR TAX.
Washington, Sept. 1.-The treasury
department has issued circular call.
ing the attention of collectors and rev.
enue agents to the fact that the tax
on medicinal preparations is not being
thoroughly enforced, and ordered an
immediate and systematic examina-
ton Of the stocks Of dealers. Large
manufacturing chemists are reported
to be putting up Il number Of medi-
cines in style similar to proprietary
medicines in general, but bearing no
stamp Medicinal chemical compound
preparations, many patented or trade.
marked, are being improperly put on
the market as uncompounded chemi-
calls and unstamped. The department
says the action of the chemists threat.
ems the integrity Of the whole tax sys.
TEN under schedule B, as relating II
medicinal articles, and calls for the
serious attention Of the entire service.
AGAINST CHECKS BY GENERAL DELIVERY.
Washington, Sept .. commissioner
Of Pensions Hon. Clay Il. Evans has
issued an order prohibiting the send
ing Of pension checks to general de-
livery The intention Of the depart
ment is to have all such checks deliv
cred at the individual local addresses