The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-03-30

ant shows these letters to the landlady,
and she trusts him for his board. But
the truth IS that, after introducing
bin for the claimant, the congressman
does nothing more in the matter. lie is
too busy to waste any time on the hui
man being who is so thoroughly trust
ing him and praying for his success in
pushing the claim. He is looking after
his valuable friends; those who can
help him to reelection. At the adj
journment of congress the claimant is
Northumberland the landlady who
has given him room and board gets
nothing in return for her kindness.
II could write many interesting chap
ters for you," says an old claimant
here, whom the writer knew in the days
| of his prosperity. He has just claim
of $4,000 against the government, and
has been here five years urging his
calm. He says: "You know that in
1890 lived at the best hotels. had a
valuable work. and you know all about
it. I sold it to the government. instead
of issuing it in book form, as had in
tended. l took receipts for the manu-
scripts. ! have the receipts yet The
| following congress made no appropria-
tion, but was told it was an oversight.
I did not stand in immediate need of
money, and let IL go. But in 1894, dur
ing the hard times, l lost my business,
and the following year | came here to
get my money. | have been here ever
since. Fortunately for me, an old ho-
tel keeper who knows me to be honest,
and believes that | will some day get
my money, has kept me and treated me
well. But | am promising to pay him
double rates, when get my money. In
spite of the fact that am thus much
luckier than other claimants, I am
obliged to ask old friends for dollars
and half dollars to pay for my wash
! ing. ! am receiving loans from old
friends to buy shirts and other neces-
sary articles of clothing. Ii get my
money, as now seems likely, / must
pay out about $4,000 for debts which
| have incurred. How the other claim
ants get along is a mystery to me; but
| suppose that He who cares for spar
rows also cares for honest claimants
who come here seeking Justice
These are the words of man who
has been substantially prosperous in
business. His word used TO be good
for thousands Of dollars in st. Louis
and New Orleans business circles. And
vet when he came here for his money,
he was as ignorant and innocent as
"Ruben" who buys gold bricks. He
= fe .sa4
the government, and that instead Of be-
ing welcome guest in the cougression-
al parties. which coBgregate socially in
the evenings, be was a nobody, and
wholly unwelcome That was because
he had but one topic of conversation,
which was his "claim;" and that is
topic which congressman do not like
to hear discussed. After telling me his
story, which has been often repeated.
he said: "can you let me have half
dollar? I need haircut and shave.
You zee how dirty look" He got it.
And yet there was time when he was
worth upwards OF 100000.
There are exceptions to all rules, Of
course; and there is an exception to
the statement that all politicians are
selfish, and inbumanly so. There are
senators and representatives who spend
a great deal of money in charity to just
such people. But they are so few. SO
very few. that claimants who read this
letter may take 1t for granted that the
rule viii hold good, so that If they have
any idea of coming to Washington to
press their claims, they should aban-
don that idea at once. If letters and
home influences are not strong enough
20 spur the congressmen to earnest ef-
forts the claimant might better rencain
at home among friends. Coming to
Washington would do no good.
SMITH d. FRY.