South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1834-12-13

extensive frauds under the various laws
granting pensions and gratoities for
revolutionary services. II is impossi.
BILE TO estimate the amount which may
have been thus fraudulently obtained
from the national treasury. | am sat
isfed, however, it has been such as to
Justify discrimination Of the system,
and THE adoption ofthe necessary checks
10 lis administration. Al will agree,
that the services and sulfsrngs of the
remnant Of our revolutionary band,
should be fully compensated. But
while this is done, every proper pre-
caution should be taken to prevent the
admission Of fabricated and fraudulent
claims. In the present mode OF pro-
ceeding, the a,testalions and certificates
ofiudicial officers OF the various states,
form considerable portion Of the
checks which are interpcsed against
the commission Of frauds. These,
however, have been, and may be, fab.
detection at the examining offices.
And independently Of this practical
difficulty, it is ascertained that these
documents are often loosely granted ;
sometimes, even blank certificates have
been issued /; sometimes prepared pa
pers have been signed without inquiry;
and, in one instance at least, the seal
of the court has been within reach of a
person most interested in its improper
application. 1t is obvious that, under
such circumstances, no severity of ad.
ministration can check the abuse of
the law and information has, from
time 10 time, been communicated to The
pension Office, questioning or denying
the right Of persons placed upon the
pension list, TO the bounty of.he coun-
Try. Such cautions are always attend
ed to, and examined. But far more
general Investigations called for. And
| therefore recommend, in conformity
with the suggestion, of the secretary Of
war, that an actual inspection should
be made, in each state, into the circum-
stances and claims ofevery person now
dra wing pension. The, honest vete.
ran has nothing to fear from such a
scrutiny, while the fraudulent claimant
will be detected, and the public treas.
ury relieved to an amount, have rea.
son TO believe, far greater than has
heretofore been suspected. The de-
tails of such plan, could be SO regu-
lated as TO interpose the necessary
checks, without any burthensome ope.
ration upon the pensioners. The OBJ
.ect should be two-fold
L. To look into the original justice
OF the claims, so far as this can be done
under asproper system Of regulations,
by an examination of the claimants
themselves, and by inquiring, in the
vicinity Of their residence, into their
and into the opinion entertain.
ed of their revolutionary services.
2. To ascertain, in all cases, wheth-
er the original claimant is living, and
this by actual personal inspection.
This measure will, if adopted, be
productive, ] think, of the desired re.
suits, and | therefore recommend it to
your consideration, with the further
suggestion, that all payments should
be suspended Till the necessary reports
are received.
1t will be seen by tabular state
ment annexed TO the documents trans
mitted to Congress, that the appropri.
ations for objects connected with the
War Department, made at the last
session, for the service of the year
1884, excluding the permanen. appro-
priation for the payment Of military
gratuities under the act of June Z,
1882, the appropriation of two hum
dred thousand dollars for arming and
equipping the militia, and the appro-
priation Of ten thousand dollars for the
civilization of the Indians, which are
not annually renewed, amounted TO the
sum of nine millions three thousand |
TWO hundred and sixty.one dollars, and |
that the estimates of appropriations
necessary for the same branches of
service for the year 1885, amount to
the sum of five millions seven hundred
and seventy-eight thousand nine hum
dred and sixty.four dollars, making a
difference in the appropriations of the
current year over the estimates of ap-
for the next, of three mill.
ions two hundred and twenty.four
thousand two hundred and ninety
seven dollars. v-
The principal causes which have OPP
Grated al this time to produce this
great difference, are shown in the re-