| Charles R. Forbes Desk Name Tag | |
|---|---|
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Origin |
Charles R. Forbes |
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Type |
Desk Name Tag |
|
Effects |
Shows the bribe price for a given person |
|
Downsides |
Denies insurance claims |
|
Activation |
Access to funds |
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Section |
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| [Source] | |
Origin[]
Charles Robert Forbes (February 14, 1877 – April 10, 1952) was a Scottish-American politician and military officer. Appointed the first director of the Veterans' Bureau by President Warren G. Harding on August 9, 1921, Forbes served until February 28, 1923. His tenure was characterized by corruption and scandal.
With a $500,000,000 (equivalent to $7,596,082,090 in 2021) annual budget at his disposal at the Veterans' Bureau, Forbes hired 30,000 employees. The agency was overstaffed and many of the appointees sought means to justify their paid positions. During the short timespan during which Forbes led the bureau, he embezzled approximately $2 million, mainly in connection to the building of veterans' hospitals, the sale of hospital supplies intended for the bureau and kickbacks from contractors.
Although 300,000 soldiers had been wounded in combat, Forbes had only allowed 47,000 claims for disability insurance, while many were denied compensation for reasons that Congress called "split hairs." Even fewer veterans received any vocational training under Forbes' direction of the bureau. While on the numerous trips (called "joy rides") that Forbes took to inspect hospital construction sites, he and his contractor friends allegedly indulged in parties and drinking. The men developed a secret code in order to communicate insider information and ensure government contracts.
When President Harding was informed in January 1923 that Forbes had refused to stop selling hospital supplies, Harding summoned Forbes to the White House and furiously demanded his resignation, allegedly grabbing Forbes by the throat while shouting, "You double-crossing bastard! On March 2, 1923, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution to investigate the conduct of the Veterans' Bureau under Forbes. A three-member committee revealed that Forbes had left 200,000 unopened pieces of mail from veterans at the bureau. Forbes was prosecuted and convicted of conspiracy to defraud the federal government, fined $10,000 and sentenced to a prison term of two years. He filed an appeal, but the United States Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago upheld the conviction. Forbes was incarcerated on March 21, 1926, at the Leavenworth federal penitentiary and served 20 months. His cellmate was Frederick Cook, an explorer convicted of fraud who claimed to be the first man to have reached the North Pole.
Effects[]
Displays the names of people liable to accept a bribe and the prerequisite price to “buy” their services. Flashes if they are someone that would take continual payments over a lump sum; text moves sideways if they will squeal regardless of contract. Does not display one’s own name, as it assumes they are either a good Samaritan or the moneylender inquiring for a job. Denies the majority of insurance claims related to their business and inner circle, even if the liability was already vouched for.
Due to the effects, agents assume that a multinational company with vertical integration across many industries has access to increase their market shares against competitors. Since it only boosts behavior already employed by unscrupulous firms, agents have designated it medium priority but low likelihood of collection.