Mr. WENTWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I do not see wh we should allow any of the soldiers to be swindled, even to the extent of ten dollars. When this Government honestly owes a soldier money, I do not see whyhe should have difficulty in getting his money. I know that it is necessary to have some preliminary papers made out: but the rules and regulations are sent to all the justices of the peace and nota ries public throughout the country; and their charges are generally only 2 or 3 dollars in each case. I have yet to learn that, if a soldier sends his papers here, the collection of his claim cannot be attended to without the aid of any a at whatever. I was ere all through the Mexican war, and in those days these claim agents began to mul tiply. ExSenators and cit Representatives, and even exforeign ambassadors and exCabinet ministers went into the business. They sent their circulars all over the country pretending that, in consequence of their experience here in Washington, they had greater access to the Depts, as if everything went by privilege or favor. Well, sir, an immense number of those claims came through my hands. I never recognized one of those claim agents. I remember that one day, when I was walking on the avenue in company with a distinguished Senator, now dea, who used to be nown by the name of Pater Senatus, I spoke to one of these agents. That Senator rebuked me, sayin, “ Never speak to one of those men; I never 0." “ Why not?” I asked. “ Because, ” said he, “they live by swindling your constituents. A man may swindle me, and I will stand it; but a man who swindles one of my constituents, I do not intend to recognize anywhere.” That incident set me to thinking; and it has been my opinion, from that time to this, that there is patriotism and talent enough in my congressional district to preare these claims for presentation to the proper dept without subjecting the soldier to any charge. I know that there are numerous school teachers of both sexes who are willing to perform without charge the necessary clerical labor in preparing these claims. I do not believe that it is necessary to support about the capital of the nation, at the expense of our so dicrs, these harpies under the name of claim agents. Rather than vote for this bill, allowing a fee of ten dollars in every case, I would prefer to support a proposition to fine, yes and imprison, the man who charges these soldiers anything for collectin their claims. If We pass this bill, authorizin a charge of ten dol ars, the agent will claim that he is entitled to that amount in eve case. I want the soldiers of this country to now that it is not necessary for them to employ any agent in this District for the collection of their claims; that they need only send their papers to their respective members of Congress, who will take p easure in attending to the business for them.