My answer to same has been necessarily delayed to the present date, by reason of the fact that much of the data necessary to a complete reply to the resolution had to be procured from the agents or attorneys themselves. I therefore prepared the following circular letter, prefaced by a copy of the resolution, and sent the same to the last known post-office address of each agent or attorney residing in this District and prosecuting claims for pension and bounty land, as shown by the records of this bureau, viz: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, PENSION OFFICE, Washington, D. C., January 17, 1882. SIR: For the purpose of obtaining the data necessary to furnish the information called for by the above resolution you are required to return this letter immediately, with answers to the following questions, viz: 1. What is your full name (both Christian and surname); or, if doing business as a firm, what is the full name of each member thereof? 2. What is the location of your place of business as an attorney practicing before this office, and is the same your place of residence? (Give street and number of both residence and place of business; and if a firm, please state the same of each.) 3. Are you engaged in any business, occupation, or profession other than the prosecution of pension claims; if so, what? In your standing before this office you will be bound by your answers to the foregoing questions. Very respectfully, W. W. DUDLEY, Commissioner. Eleven hundred and forty-nine (1,149) circular letters were accordingly sent to that number of persons and firms, and two hundred and eighty-five (285) full responses were received, as shown by Table A, herewith transmitted. Fifty-nine persons and firms state their desire to be no longer recognized by the Pension Office as agents or attorneys in the prosecution of claims, as shown by Table B. Thirty-three (33) other persons, through the inquiry instituted by reason of the resolution, were shown to be officers or employés of the various executive, legislative, or judicial departments of the government, and while exercising the functions thereof appear, from the records of this office, to have been recognized as agents or attorneys in the prosecution of claims for pension, but they have since been disbarred under section 5498 of the Revised Statutes. Letters addressed to four hundred and fifty-two (452) other persons and firms were returned to this office as "uncalled for," and are therefore presumably dead, or have removed from the District, as shown by Table D. Three hundred and twenty (320) others--as shown by Table E-have declined to answer; no response whatever having been received from them. I am, sir, very respectfully, Hon. S. J. KIRKWOOD, W. W. DUDLEY, Secretary of the Interior. TABLE A. propounded therein: The following named persons, 285 in number, have responded to the circular in good faith, answering fully the questions Abraham & Mayer Bloss, John B Bliss & Brelsford Brooke, Albert A Brooks, Daniel L.. Brown, Jack Brown, Andrew R 613 Fifteenth street, NW 1325 A street, NE 700 Ninth street, NW 519 Seventh street, NW 1213 K street, NW Le Droit Building 926 F street, NW... St. Cloud Building. 1106 Thirteenth street, NW.. 3014 N street (Georgetown).. 803 New Jersey avenue, NW. 613 Fifteenth street. 1902 New Hampshire avenue. 310 Indiana avenue... |