The times., 1899-09-07

by the timely discovery of forged and fab
ricated aftidavits and declarations in pen
sion claims
fhe status OF $500 pensioners residing
IN New York city, Jersey City. and vicini-
" were enquired iatO. with the following
results: Pensioners en- the rolls who had
died or remarked 435; fraudulent widow
pensioners, So, widows recommended 10 be
oIoppea on account of nea-dependence. 3S-
pensioners whose names have been dropped
from sthe pension rolls on account OF re-
marriage ard who have been personafed
or who have continued TO draw pensions
after remarriage and in which criminal
prosecution has been or win be had q
total number submitted fer dropping from
the rolls for all causes, 125: to be PROSE-
cuted for violation Of the pension laws
e9' eases In which action was taken for
criminal prosecution and arrests made a
Many persons representing themselves
as ofacsrs OF the Federal Government have
curing the year travelled through the eoun
Try preying upon pensioners CT applicants
tcr pensions. Ten OF these fmpostors have
been convicted, one was acquitted, and the
case against one dismissed Two are unaer
indictment and two await the acticu cf
the grand jury, while the actions Of four
teen others are being Investigated
Former Slave Pension Bill.
Since the first pension bill was intro
duced in the United States House of Rep
resentatives in 1890, by which it was pro-
posed to grant pensions to former slaves.
various associations have been organized
Tor the ayowed purpose of securing such
legislation. some OF which have assumed
large proportions, notably those o-ated az
Nashville, Tenn, Louisville, XIV, and
Madison, Ark. 1t has been the practice of
these associations to commission agents.
and send them through the country to or
ganize local clubs or societies. and 10 col
leet from each new member an initiation
fee OF % cents, with monthly dues of 10
cents. allowing to the agents 10 or Is cents
for each new member secured.
There is nothing in the printed consti-
tutions or bylaws of these associations, or
in the literature issued and authorized By
them, which violates the law, but it is an
unfortunate fact that their agents, or per-
sons claiming to be such have grossly i'm
posed upon the unsuspeeting colored peo-
pie throughout the Southern States BIZ rep
resenting that a law has been enacted
granting pensions to former slaves, and an
appropriation made to pay the same These
lmpostors have reaped a rich harvest from
those who can least afford the loss, and
while they are unquestionably guilty Of
obtaining money under false pretenses.
there is no Federal law upder which a stop
Oou oS put u LuclT pIdcllCeS.
TO meet, as far as possible, this condi-
tion of affairs, it is suggested that the act
of April Is, 1884, be amended so as 10 pro-
vide for the punishment of any person
who, by false representations relative to
any bill that may have been introduced into
Congress, shall obtain from any person
any money OF other thing of value by rea-
son OF such false representations
Numerous enquiries reach this bureau as
to the probability or possibility OF the en-
aetment of law granting pensions to ex-
slaves. This sentiment has become quite
prominent and societies are being formed In
many sections; lecturers are secured 20 ex-
plain the proposed legislation; certificates
OF membership resembling more or less a
pension certificate are being issued and
monthly dues exacted and collected The
coiored people are in this way being robbed
of their hard earnings for the alleged pur-
pose of securing funds for the final passage
of the legislation that has been prepared
This industry seems TO be growing and
productive, and il also has been largely en-
coEraged and stimulated by the continued
introduction of bills looking to legislation
for the purposes stated.
Il have taken the responsibility of say
ing, in reply TO these enquiries, that there
is absolutely no prospect or possibility OF
any bill OF this nature ever becoming Law.
and that the slave was granted his pension
when hewas presented with his freedom
There seems TO be no law or other rem
edy whereby parties obtaining money in
this way from these people can be prevented
from carrying on their operations, except
ing when they so so far as to represent
themselves as agents OF this bureau