Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-27
BLEEDING CoLoRED MEN.
Latest Phase of the Organized De-
ception Prncticcd Upon Them.


ception Prncticcd Upon Them.
Thousands of colored men in this country
are being induced to believe that they are
to be pensioned by the United States gov
ernment upon being able to show that they
were formerly slaves. The promoters of
this scheme have been at work for several
years and it is estimated that more than
S15O,OO0 in small sums has been collected by
those having the project in haud.
The matter came to the surface through
some correspondence between a colored
preacher and a United States senator, re-
iates the New York Herald. The preacher
told the senator that many colored people in
his state had been assessed to defray the
expenses OF obtaining tue proposed legisla-
tion. The senator, who is one of the most
influential members of that body, Instituted
| an investigation and this is the substance of
what he reported to the colored divine:
During the last ten years the eX-Slave
Mutual Relief, Bounty and Pension associa-
tion OF the United States of America has sent
agents to every part of the union for the
purpose of locating alf former slaves. Former
slaves are told that legislation is now pend
ing before congress to give them these pen
sions: Persons 20 years old or more, to re-
ceive $500 and SIS per month; persons 60
eyars old, to receive 5000 and $l2 per month;
persons so years old, to receive $100 and So
per month; persons less than 80 years, to re-
ceive 81 per month. All the supposed bene-
iciaries of the proposed legislation are re-
qured to pay the association 25 cents a
registration fee. 1t is said that more than
600, 900 former slaves have been registered.
According to a circular sent out, copy of
which is now in the hands Of the senator
referred to- one of the offices is in Nashville,
Tenn 7 Dipk1rSnn c M
The circular is headed, Onward to Victory"
1t also contains what purports to be picture
of General Manager Dickersoo. w. c. Law
son of Washington is mentioned as attorney.
The circular appeals to every former slave
to send his name, with the registration fee
| of 25 cents 1t also asks every local associa-
ton to send $3.50 for charter at once and
every former slave to send in addition cents
to aid fin the movement. These assessments
are to be sent to the office of the national
delegate, whose address is also given. The
circular announces that the convention at
Nashville, in 1898, made the weekly publica-
tion, the Nashville Capital, % ceuts for three
| MONTHS the official organ of the association.
Another circular bears a picture of Senator
william E. Mason of Illinois. This circular
| declares: ut is the only Incorporated and
chartered movement in the United States and
| all others are frauds
| 1T calls attention to the bill to pension
former slaves. introduced in the house of
representatives June "a, 1890, by then Rep
| resentative Connell of Nebraska
In the Fifty fourth congress Senator THURS
ton introduced the Connen bill in the senate
and the circular calls special attention to the
fact that the bill passed two readings and
was referred to the pensions committee"
Now, to those who are not familiar with
the parliamentary proceedings of the senate,
passed to a second reading" sounds like
making considerable progress. AS a matter
Of fact the Connell bill, or a similar measure,
has been introduced at every session OF con-
gress during the fast ten years. These bills
have always been introduced "by request"
and so marked, which means, according to
the practice at the capitol that the man
who introduces a bill "by request is not
personally responsible for it. So the bill to
pension former slaves has always been in
troduced "by request" and simply read by
its title, considered as read a second time
and sent to the pensions committee where
it has never reached the stage of considera-
ton by that body There never was and
there probably never will be the slightest
prospect of the passage of such bill.
There are several rival concerns engaged
in this business and there have been several
disputes as to who should control the regis
tration fees
The last bill on the subject wa Introduced
in the senate by Senator Mason who also
took the precaution to insert in brackets by
request" He declined to assume RESPONSE
biity for the measure.