Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-01
FAIL TO REFUND MONEY
!. RECEIVED IN WAR ZONE
Alleged Delinquency Of American
Tourists Who Were Aided
by Government.
Twelve individuals in the Treasury
Departments Published List Gave
Washington Address.

Giving Washington as the address. the
alleged names of twelve individuals
who have failed to repay the United
States for money advanced to them to
bring them out of the war zone IN
Europe. are contained in list of about
$500 other delinquents in all parts OF
the nation, published by the Treasury
Department.
Uncle Sam is taking this way to dun
these bad debtors. although 1t Is prob
able that a great many of the names
are fictitious and the addresses imagi-
nary residences of such individuals.
no response" and Cant locate" are
the annotations against many names in
the list.
There is no such thoroughfare as
North street in the District of Column
bfa, given as the address of one. al
though this may have been mistakenly
set down in the hurry and confusion of
giving aid to Americans In Europe.
the name of a Washington street. Only
. one of the twelve names and addresses
h can be found, as given in the city direc-
tory.
Maryland and Virginia Lists.
Maryland shows approximately TWEEN
! ty-five names on the list. with twenty
Ol THESE III bdltlHlOTe city VII .
supposed delinquents number few less.
The list includes names and addresses
from every state in the Union. 1t Is
only a partial list of delinquencies,
and may be followed with an extension
of publicity, where Developments indi-
of collection. The list does not con-
|, tain the names of individuals who are
making even a small effort to pay, who
promise payment in the future, who may
L IL So \
; who seem able to pay and are respon-
sible, but who consider they have some
fair basis for resistance of the debt
which is the matter of discussion with
the Treasury Department, and the re-
suit of which will determine the future
course to be pursued.
The amounts due aggregate several
hundred thousand dollars, the sums ad-
vanced ranging from 81 to $3.50. In
many cases the government has been
| unable. to locate the individuals at the
addresses given.
Money Appropriated by Congress.
The act of Congress appropriating
S2,750,000 for the relief of Americans
abroad provided that persons able to
do so should reimburse the govern
ment Secretary McAdoo has given
| notice that he expects to proceed
against delinquents who are in a posi-
| ton to pay.
In addition to the 100000 list made
public yesterday. there is about $500
good chance. in the opinion of the
officials of collecting.
The largest item on the list is $1,370.
There are several items of 81.
While some of the items are for $500
and more, most of them are for much
smaller amounts, ranging on an aver
age of from $50 to $50.
'It will be remembered that at that
time veritable panic overlook Amer
leans 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" says the Treasury Depart
ment statement.
Representatives of the United States
government in Europe were besieged
by frantic Americans demanding that
they be sent home at once. Others
ciamored for money to provide them
selves with food. The sacred duties of
the American government to its citi-
zens were appealed to.
In this emergency Congress acted
$2,750,000 was appropriated to relieve
the necessities of American citizens
abroad. with the provision that persons
to whom relief was furnished should
reimburse the United States if finan-
cially able to do SO.
Arrangements by Cable.
arrangements We're 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
battleship Tennessee in New York har-
Dor few days after war was declared
and sent to London. Paris. Berlin, Rome
and other large cities of Europe, to be
used in assisting our citizens large
amount of money was advanced to per
sons asking relief and receipts or
promises of repayment were taken
from them.
"A considerable number of these obli-
cations have been paid. Many still re-
main unpaid"