The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-03
AS VIEWED AT WASHINGTON.
rBy c. A. Edwards,


fBy C. A. Edwards.)
Washington. June 20. (stan Specially
IL was very interesting talk had tn
other day with Assistant Register OF tn
treasury, Mr., N. l.. Chew. All records
OF all the loans Of the government are KEEP
in this office. ana the record is q mos
interesting one.
They have there II enorsndurn OF every
registered bond ever issred, the name o
the person to whom the bond was issued
and the name of the person who presents
the bond for redemption.
The registered bond is the safest OF all
bonds. for the reason that no one can coll
lect the money except the person entitled
TO 1t. In other words. It is a pay TO my
order" bond. Sometimes registered bonds
change hands a dozen times within q
month. Frequently a big batch of reg
istered bonds will be sent to New York one
! day and within two days afierward they
1 are returned for transfer to another party
! Sometimes registered bonds get lost.
Notice is often received from the owners
of these bonds stating that they have lost
( them. note is made of II, and the in
terest is sent to the owner of the Sc
curity, and when the bond natures. II 1t
/ has not turned up in the meantime. the
rightfnl owner, In whose name the bond
was issued by giving an indemnity bond,
Will be paid for the lost one. This prac-
tice does not hold good with coupon bonds,
for the reason that the coupon security
is practically the same as currency. and
no record is kept of its transfer between
individuals. II coupon bond is burned
or otherwise destroyed, the owner, after
prov ing it, can only get RELIEF by going
to congress-.
Speaking of the bond issues during the
Cleveland administration and the Spanish
war loan, Assistant Register Chew stated
tnnt the $685., 100000 worth issued during
the Cleveland administration made in the
neighhorhood of 500 packages. In other
words not more than 500 people received
the entire loan, while the Spanish war
loan of s2Oo,oOo,O00 made 24o, 600 packages,
.
bonds.
I'VE get our share of letters" said the
assistant register, "and scme OF them are
very amusing, but most of them are let
tiers of inquiry. For instance we got a |
letter from correspondent asking If his |
grandfather or grandmother owned any |
bonds He has been Informed that there
is a big bundle of bonds in the registers
office waiting for him. We answer that !
he Is mistaken; that his grandfather or
grandmother never owned any bonds. But
that does not end the correspondence.
The enquirer writes another letter saying
he knows the bonds are here and he
wants them We answer that letter and
repeat what was said before-that no such
bonds are here.
There Is one fellow who plays that he
Is an owner of bonds to perfection. Every
now and then there comes addressed to
the registers office an express package
heavily sealed. and marked $50 900 gov
bonds" The package always
comes C. o. D. and the expressage varies
from $500 10 $500. because the sender
sometimes reduces the size of his package
and marks 1t $4,000. When the package
is opened it is found TO contain nothing
but brown paper, and. OF course, the ex-
press company foots the loss of collection.
The registers office Fever pays any C.
o. D. on bonds sent in.
six times during the last three months
these bogus packages have been received.
they come from New York, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania. 1t is evident
that the fellow puts up at first class :
hotel, which he works on the strength of !
sending in bonds for redemption.
The other day young man came In /,
here and wanted $4,000 per cent bond
-pne of The Spanish war loan--redeemed c
de was informed that it could not be done. !
but that If he would take 1t to a broker :
le would receive face value for it, c
learned that of the loan issued during {
leol and ls64-5, known as the seven thlr- !.
lies, there are now outstanding $3.50, 900 a
/; is presumed that this amount was de-
troyed by fire or otherwise. Should any :
II these bonds turn up they will be re- :
ieemed
~ 2
from all surface indications there ap- .
'ears 10 be far less anxiety among mem o
'ers of the house than is usual concerning d
ommitteeship assignments. OF course =
members, especially those going into con- d
Fess for the first time, are hustlng TO r.
ook out for their personal interests, but ',
is generally recognized that General q
henderson is not bound up In promises b
aade to secure support, and there is uni $
ersal confidence amoag those who know n
ieneral Henderson in his perfect fairness Il
nd good feeling toward everybody
What talk there has been between the :,
'eaker-to-be and the members OF the ST
orse has produced conviction that In e
he makeup OF the committees very con- =
ersative policy will be followed. In the 81
ase OF most OF the leading committees U