The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-11-01
WAR REF FUGEES DODGE PAYING
 DEBTS TO US
Treasury Department Has List of 2,OO0 Who
 Haven't Settled.

Washington, Nov 1-The Treasury Department has made public the names of more than 2,0O0 persons who had failed to refund to the Fed eral Government money advanced to them in 1914 to enable them to re- turR from Europe, where they were nlarooned by the war. This list will be followed from time to time by other lists of persons who have failed to Day and whose cases are now be- ing investigated. It IS understood to be the fqtentions of the Government to sue those who are able to pay.
 It is apparent that many of the borrowers gave fictitious names and that many others gave addresses that did not exist. In one case the ad- quent notation on the list is Cant Locate.v q.
 The Treasury Departments prefaced the list of names with this statement: "A number. of = persons who were caught in Europe at the time or the outbreak of the war in the Summer of 1914, and to- whom funds were ad- vanced by the Representatives of the United States Government who were sent abroad or stationed abroad for that purpose, have failed or refused to repay the money advanced to them It will be remembered that at that time a veritab1e panic overlook Amer jeans who were in. Europe, many of whom were without money, and even though they had drafts or letters of credit, they were unable to raise money on them.f
 Representatives of the United States government in Europe were be- sieged by frantic Americans demand ing that they be sent home and at once. Others c1amored for money to provide themselves with food The sacred duties of the American gov ernment to its citizens were appealed to. In this emergency Congress act ed; $2,750, 900 was appropriated to re- Iieve the necessities Of American citi- zens abroad, with the provision that persons to whom relief was furnished should reimburse the United States if financially abIesto do so <
 S1,5O0,OOO Sent Over
 .sArrangements were made by cable by which our diplomatic and consular officers in Europe were provided with money to assist our citizens who came to them for relief. One million, five hundred thousand dollars in gold coin was loaded on the battles11iD Tennes- see sin the New York harbor ia few days after war was declared and sent to London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, and other large cities of Europe, to De used in assisting our citizens. A large amount of money was advanced to persons asking relief, and receipts or promises of repayment were taken from them.
 GA considerable mum 1bertof these opA legations have been paid, but many still remain unpaid. Although there is no duty on the part of.sthe govern ment to look. up the signers of these notes and demand payment, yet in the case of every. person whose name ap- pears on this list efforts have been made to find him either by personal visits or through the post office. Tn many cases the persons could not be found or letters mailed to them were not answered. 72
 t4The collection of the amounts due from these de1inquents will be pushed where the person is fully able to repay the amount advanced. Each case is to be investigated, .and where the per- son is found to be financially able to repay to the government the amount advanced it is the intention of the Treasury department to make his name pubEc. This list will be follow ed from time to time by other lists when it becomes apparent to the de- partnent that the persons whose promises are ne1d are refusing ot pay, though able to do so.