The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-11-26
The New Record Department" al
Washington.

the public for the pecuniary benefit Of the
Hon. JAMES d. RICHARDSON of Tennessee:
COMMITTEE ON DISTRIBUTION.
MESSAGES n PAPERS OF II PREsl-
" PRINTED FOR PRIVATE SALE PROM Plates
MADE BY THH GOVERNMENT.
AUTHORIZED
BY ACT or II SSTH oNGREss.
" RECORD DEPARTMENT.
WAsHIsGToS, ID. c.. Nov. 10. 1900.
M. -. -. ---. Philadelphia. pa.
" DEAR SIR Some time ago instructions were
given that you be granted an opportunity TO secure
a COPY Of the Messages and Papers Of the Presl-
dents issued by authority OF the last session OF the
Fifty -ffth Congress.
" Our records do not show that you received this.
II not. en- apology Is due. and II you will kindly advise
us Immediately on the enclosed card We will make
prom t Investigation.
Yours very truly.
e. c. HOWARD
Record Clerk"
The enclosed card is a postal card bearing
on one side the printed address:
RECORD CLERK.
COMMITTEE on DISTRIBUTION
WASHINGTON d. C."
And on the other this complicated and
extremely official looking arrangement:
CASH. ........",..-.........l9oo.
No. Is. 6, Record Clrk,
Nolum...... COmmH.s on DM uion
Folio ........ Warrington. q. c.
option ...... DEAR SIR have not received the
Report. Copy Of Messages and Papers ~ the
,,,....., .... Presidents referred to and would be
........ go. pleased 10 have you adNis Sc me further
......,-..... concerning SAME.
......,- ..... Name ...,'.,..".,..,-..,.
........ ..... street, No-,..-.....,,
Guy. .u,....",.
This, We believe. Is the first public ap-
pearance OF the Record Department "
OF the Richardson-B arcu5 establishment.
Nothing has yet been conceived by the
ingenious minds OF BAECUs and his dis
ciples better calculated to create on the
part OF the recipient the false impression
that the notice comes from the United
States Government. There Is not a word
in the circular or on the reply posta' card
to contradict that false impression. The
whole thin, is SO shaped as 20 persuade
the victim that he il the object of the be-
nevolent intentions of his Government, but
that in its multiiarious activities his name
has been accidentally overlooked, and the
vigilant " Record Department /" now inter
venes to rectify the or or.
When JAMES S. BARCUs was before the
Senate Investigators last May, he attempted
to mitigate the then impending report Of
the Committee on his fraudulent practices
by promising to abandon them at the earliest
possible moment. He volunteered these
remarks:
desire to say that we have decided To change
the form and style OF our trade name as soon as a
change can be practically made. The chang, In 50
large a business. involving many outstanding con
tracts and agents and managers, will necessa rly
require some time. possibly ninety days. or a trlne
longer, but II will he done with all espedlency in keep
ing with safe business methods"
That was more than twice ninety days
ago. For a brief time thereafter the
swindling circulars OF the " Committee on
Distribution appeared with the legend
A Private Enterprise added TO the
lettcrhead. That confession must have
hurt the business, for il was SCOT discarded.
Then BARCus began to send out some cir
culars headed " Bureau of National Iitera-
ture and Art " instead Of Committee
on Distribution. the text Of the circular
remaining the same rs before, and the
signature. GO. y. PORTER. Clerk, or " &.
y. POETFH. Chief Clerk" still appearing.
That didn't work well either. B.RCus
and his confederate-. and the beneficiary
Of these frauds. the Hon. JANIS u. RICH
ARDsoN. now seem to have decided that
" safe business methods ' require them
to return boldly 10 their original impu-
dence of false pretence. and to rake in rs
many victims "a possible before a destroy
ing meets.
And so their predatory genius has ere.
ated the new " Record Department " at
Washington.