The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-03-12
MOST VALUABLE ASHES.
THOSE OF BURNED PAPER MONEY
OF THE GOVERNMENT.

Wonderful Skill in Identifying the Nearly
Destroyed Bills by Ink Tracing on
the Ashen Film-Ashes Better Than
AGdavits-The Redemption Experts.
F. J. Bissell of Fountain Green,
Ill.,, had the misfortune to burn about
$4,000 in greenbacks, treasury notes,
and silver certificates last spring.
Mr.. Bissell is farmer, says the Chi
cago Inter- Ocean, and, after selling
some land, instead of depositing his
money in bank, he hid it in ON un-
used fue. He had, according to his
statement, $4400 in q box, which he
wrapped in an old carriage curtain |
and deposited it in the bottom Of this
unused flue in storeroom. Last
March he returned from helping a
neighbor with his butte ering, and as he
neared his own house saw that the
chimney was burning. He ron to the
storeroom and tried to get out his
treasure box, but the fire was very
hot, and all he could get was twenty
golden double eagles and some small
silver pieces, which were stuck togeth-
er. But he makes affidavit to the fact
that there was in the box, besides the
$500 in gold, $3.50 in paper, all
greenbacks, except SIS, which was in
silver certificates. He took the gold
| to Carthage and showed it to bank
er of that city. who wrote to the
Treasury. Mr.. Bissell also wrote to
the Secretary of the Treasury and
made affidavit that the box contained
$500 in gold, $3.50 in currency, and
! several dollars in silver: He sent the
lump of gold to the Treasury and
check for $500 was returned to him for
the gold. It was also explained that
the Treasury Department could not
redeem currency unless it could be
identified. Mr.. Bissell had not even
sent the ashes of his currency to the
Treasury. He had only sent his aft
davit that it was burned.
Mr.. Bissell would not accept the
check for $500. He looked upon it as
an attempt by the Government to
satisfy his claim for $500. He re.
turned it to the United States Treas.
urer and there it is now, waiting for
him to claim it. There has been
much correspondence with Mr.. Bis
sell, but the Treasury officials were
unable to convince him that he had
no claim upon the Government. An
affidavit cannot establish the fact o.
the destruction Of the money. Con
gress has the power to appropriate
$4,000 and make it present to Mr.
Bissell or anybody else but it is no
likely that Congress will do so. I
would be very dangerous preceden
to establish for Congress to come t.
the relief of every man who loses hi
money or has it burned. Their
would not be money enough in tn
United States Treasury to pay all til
claims that would be presented.
Mr.. Bissell, however, argues tina
the real money is in the Treasury an
that what was burned was only tn
promise to pay of the Government
y He writes: II intend to have it, fo
it is oil in the Treasury and nowher
else. Now, if ithad been all gold tbs
q was destroyed then it would have bee
) my loss. But it was nothing but pt
r per stamped as money, and the Treas
ury has it there sure and certain an
skeptics and fanatics cannot chang
t it," Again he writes: "Some may /
{: skeptical, but I want nothing but rigl
!. and honorable dealings. This none,
K as we call it, was nothing but gree
backs and Treasury notes and silv'
lls,and only allegation Of the Unite
States Treasury, not the true none
u for if it had been the true gold
J. would not have been destroyed.
= would have been like that which I Sc
to the Treasury. And it is impossib
for paper to stand such heat. No pc
son or men can do the impossib]
II We must leave that to our gre
~ Creator"
ia This shows what effect the financl
ly discussion has had on the mind of II
e. old farmer in his losses. He believ
I'D that the United States Treasury b
- the gold and silver represented by t
currency burned in his chimney, a.
= here he is correct. But he also
i. lieyes that the Government can 81
, him new promissory notes for Il
burned, as would his neighbor und
similar conditions. What he fails
l. understand is that the Governmt
has out many millions of these no
representing the coin in the Treasr
and it cannot redeem them except
a. evidence. These notes were oil nu
bered, and if Mr.. Bissell had the nu
nd bers he might be able to make ca
Of but with only his affidavit that 80:
,nt was burned he cannot make ca
40 Senator Cullom can do nothing
No him, however much he might desl
t., There are many cases like that
n, Mr.. Bissell. though few that seem
-, n|oin and appeal for sympathy as