Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-22
TO PAY MONEY
WHICH US. ADVANCED
Delaware Man Wants to Compromise
Loan of $40 Made to Him to Get
Out of France When War Broke.

A man in Wilmington, Del, permitted
the American embassy in Paris to ad-
vance $42 for his passage home to the
United States, participating In the re-
lief afforded to American citizens
caught in the war zone last year, He
has not repaid this debt, alleging that
he did not get his moneys worth on the
steamer. and Offering a compromise of
$50. John Burke, treasurer Of the
united states, in charge of the accounts
OF these relief transactions, has writ
ten in reply that the government is not
responsible for the conduct of tho
steamship company; that right of &C.
ion 1avors the passenger and not the
United States for recovery Of damages,
ana mat the government dealt only
with thls individual in the transaction.
ana looks to him to pay his bill.
Inc debtor writes to Treasurer Burke
as follows:
AFTER long argument at the en-
! passy TN Paris) I received a slip for
1hiro-class passage. and on that I re-
cei'ed thlrd-class ticket, but when
the ship left the dock 1 found that nv
oerth' dlnlngroom and washroom taken
from us and given to third-class special.
we We're sent down to sleep in a ham,
mock where fremen slept before: we
ats on wooden tables where flremen ate
oefore. and in one plate we had orr
soup and meat; washed myself where
me nremen and sailors washed; drank
my coHee without milk. Do you expect
me e, to pay third-class fare?
pay 1or what | get, but not for
ciai' which paid s74, same price as sec
ono class: they were robbed from all
accommo dations at that price, and they
roobed the third class Of their accom-
CLASS special; SO the - company rob
PED every third-class special and third
CLASS OF their rights, and they should
De brought to justice: Everybody said
ana so it was. And I am ready to say
~ IN court; and I say again the way
tney treated us was nothing else but
highway robbery.
Now, gentlemen, If Won ara WILLING
to accept $50 and ask the steamship
company to refund to you the remain
Ing S12. well and good If not, you are
at liberty to do as you please"
Reply of Treasurer Burke.
Treasurer Burke replies
In reply would say that the govern
ment has nothing to do with any ship
company. The government transacted
with you The government advanced
s42 to you in cash to assist your re-
turn to the United States. We are
sorry II you did not get value received
Tor the money. If you did not, it is not
the fault of the government. If there
is any right of action against the ship
company for improper treatment, it is
In your favor and not in the favor of
the government. The government fur
nishsd you SAP to bring you out of a
country that was at war, and in which
you were liable to be killed-at least
1t was a country which you were
mighty glad to get out of, and in which
you would have been obliged to remain
If the government had not advanced
you the money.
The hardships which you complain of
are nothing as compared with hard
ships of others who were glad to under
go the hardships to get back home and
under the protection of the United
States.
You state in your letter that you al
ways pay for what you get. That Is all
that we are asking you to do. You got
SAP of the government. and that is all
that we are asking you to pay. Now,
ment has nothing to do with any ship
company, and has no right of action
against any ship company, for any i'm
proper treatment or lack of accommo-
"ae - theie 40 any SUN fiSHI VI
action 1t is in you. not in the govern
ment. Our business Is with you. It
was to you the government advanced
s42, to aid you in returning home. We
expect you to pay this debt. No good
American citizen will hesitate for an
instant in repaying the government the
money that was advanced to bring him
home. Your action in this matter will
show whether you are a good Amer
lean citizen and whether you deserve
the good treatment which the govern
ment gave you in time of need"