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{
    "localId": "7268916",
    "label": "Copy of a Letter from O. L. Sues, Special Examiner, to The Commissioner of Pensions",
    "core": "doc",
    "dtoType": "document",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7268916"
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{
    "id": "7268916",
    "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7268916",
    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Copy of a Letter from O. L. Sues, Special Examiner, to The Commissioner of Pensions",
    "description": "This item is a letter regarding pensions and the discharging of soldiers.",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7268916",
    "collections": [
        "Papers of Ethan Allen Hitchcock",
        "Communications with the Executive Department"
    ],
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    "url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7268916",
    "naId": 7268916,
    "levelOfDescription": "item",
    "productionDates": [
        {
            "day": 12,
            "logicalDate": "1901-04-12",
            "month": 4,
            "year": 1901
        }
    ],
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{
    "seq": 7,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/16/2689/7268916/content/arcmedia/dc-metro/HITCH/ud-8300-b/Box-3/6850599/HD1-94365735_2010_005.jpg",
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    "ocrText": "-5-\nothers saw that in self preservation they must employ the same methods\nand counteract the advantages Howe clearly possessed. R.F.B.Wilson,\nrepresenting C.C.W.B.King, employed several men to circulate among the\nsoldiers and tell then that Howe's medical examination was a fake, and\nthat M. Garrett was a woman. This latter charge seemed to strike the\nsoldiers more forcibly than the former, but just why, is inexplicable.\nMr.L.M.Sherwood, also did what he could to offset the Howe advantage\nand employed one man, his step son, to assist him in that. The men\nwho\nwere thus first employed to offset Howe's advantages, were retained in\nthe employ of the various firms to steer business their way, and from\nthis humble beginning originated what is known as the grafter system,\nwhich has been the subject of a number of my former reports. The systes\nspread, as the conmercial instinct began to grow, and now a man in uni-\nfor is considered legitimate prey, whenever or wherever, he makes his\nappearance. NOt infrequently two grafters claim the same victim and\nthe argument waxes almost to blows.\nMethod of preparing pension clains.\nDuring the time the soldier is in the hospital, in the conva-\nlescent company or in camp, awaiting muster out or discharge, as the\ncase might be, it is the business of the men employed by the various\nfirms to see this soldier, usually on his way to town, in one of the\ncheap hotels (within the circle) when the soldier has permission to re-\nmain awray over night, and in fact wherever he may be found. The employe\nor representative has a slip covering all the information required to\nprepare the declaration and this is usually filled out, with dates,\nhospital treatment, disabilities claimd for etc. and signed. From these\nslips the declarations are prepared as are the fee agreements. A close\ntab is kept on the man as to when he is discharged or mustered out,\nand it is the business of the representative, who secured the slip from:\nthe man, to bring him to the office of the firm he represents, after he\nhas received his discharge, together with his witnesses, to sign the\npapers. Until that is completed the representative has no claim on the\namount agreed upon for bringing in his man."
}