The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-07

the sgent by ihs Office Illinois examine the per-
state, daieu February " 1893
'.In the visited or
hlry countless and rita ned that vesy large majority
of the pensioners were stout abe-bodied men, suffering
IRON 40 physca debility whatever oat Of seysnly OF
leighiy peraons exannsd sixyour found 10 be
entaed 10 pensions A large majority OF these obtained
their pensions raudnlsnly, hsvIas always been hesithy
that they would be stricken nom the roll, and ed only
solictous 20 avoid government prosecution The excuse
they generally gave for practising these frauds that
they had been called on by certain agents, who assured
them Thar, under existing laws of Congress, they
ued They generally protested lhetr own nnoeence OF all
design 70 commit fraud The iesnlt Of The examinations
made BY D. En sad syas a w " be ooa an annual saving to
Mr. President, am informed, by the Commissioner of
Pensions that IN many OF these which dis
covered not merely in Illinois but elsewhere which have
been suspended protest has been entered that there
no authority TO suspend 1t is conlended that this
naton, which was instituted by the predecessor of the
present Secretary OF the Interior perhaps not inss
luted according 10 law that II il instituted
the department had no right 10 act upon The evidence az
ter il furnished Consequently, in which
are still suspended. an angry correspondence has been
going on between the claimants themselves and the Pen
sion Office.
Mr. SHIELDS. viii the senator permit me TO say a
wosdi Thsss same cases are now coming back to the
Office, and being relns'aed every day have bad
some OF them eiDstaed myself Ii is done because II rs
said the examination was detective one; and these per
sons complain OF i as great outrage. ! acknowledge
that there are fraudulent cases. bat say the bureau Is
reinstating The cases referred 10.
Mr.. HUNTER The senator IS mistaken am in
formed by the Commissioner that lew been
instated, though some OF them have been.
Mr.. SHIELDS. have had some rensa!ed my
MIR, HUNTER. think the senator will find, when
proportion Of then has been einstaed have under
sood SO IRON ,he Secretary q the Interior and The Com
missioner of Pensions. Now. sir, il these frauds exist
ask if il is not the duty OF the government to provide
some means for looking ntoslems
Mr.. SHIELDS. agree with the fenaloTi i lls !.
Mr.. HUNTER This is not question OF money. II
is question OF economy II is question OF public
morals 1t is due the pension system itself II you
would save that system, you must purify IT.
/ Mr. SHIELDS Will the senator permit me 10 point
out what think is the best mode of proceeding Let
the department select of IFS best surgeons and send
him to each State. Let him go round making these
amnaions and not require every pensoner TO to two
surgeons. Let the government send surgeon, or
I lpoy surgeon in each State and lei him examine the
pensioners, and report to the department Let the matter
be thoroughly investigated then we shall have the frauds
MIR. HUNTER Mr.. President, give some credit
myself the department Tor understanding something OF
the best mode of transacDg their business As far
see, the mode which they propose 10 The best that
could be devised. Why, sir, what means certain
oil asceaning fraud as TO examine The person OF the IN
valid pensioner, have him examined by those who are
capabeby surgeons to be approved by the
Secretary of the Interiors II does not follow that this
provision is TO be executed in the most
Gentlemen imagine mode in which the Secretary Of the
Interior is TO by which the pensioner is TO be
burdened Are there other modes in which II would
operate improper burden upon the pensoner! And
is moi TO be presumed ha, the Secretary Of the Interior
will adopt such regulations will make II work IN the
and best possible manner for the pensioners them
selves
In point Of fact believe, according to their own
sucon gentlemen would require that the pension agent
who lives each State should decide the credbIity
OF the surgeons who are 10 make the examinations
This ia the mode in which they think the law will be
executed II the object good one and that be bet
amendment why does not the senator from Illinois
propose some provision by which he may make il work
so as 10 get rid OF the Inconvenience which he appre
hends' Why oppose the whole remedy which is sug-
gested and leave no means OF preventing and checking
these frauds According 10 the construction put on the
present law by OF those pensioners, is maintained
thai The Secretary Of the Interior has right TO with
hold their pensions, although he may be convinced, on
clear evidence that they not entitled TO them II is
TO do away with this dfsuliy that this provision IS rec
commended 1t is to make known to the pensioners, and
those who get up those Claims that the eye OF the gov
eminent upon them that there danger II they should
commit frauds. that they will be detected.
But sir the from Illinois =; be thinks
this will operate Inconvenience 10 the poor pension
ers who are really entitled, and thai the cunning fellows
who commit The frauds will get around h The same
argument would apply TO the original examination. lie
night as well say that these cunning fellows can elude
any aieguads which nay endeavor to throw around
this system Does il follow therefore, that we are bound
10 throw none around III II So all you have 10 do is
to lei any man claim pension, and give to him with
out inquiry and say il is useless to require gaon
because fraudulent know how TO get around any
safeguards which you may impose H. on ihe contrary,
be necessary To have safeguards AT all we increase
them by adding TO the number OF these examinations.
But, sr il is said that the examination IS likely TO be
Ihe pensioners That Is not The opinion OF
the departmen and do not think can be proved TO be
so on any sound construction of this provision itself For
what has be to do He has now 10 make his affidavit
annually in regard 10 his personal identity, IN order to
draw his pension from the pension agent What viii 1t
cost him in addition that TO make the affidavit here
prescrbed What will II cost him to procure the cerii
cate of the physcans am told they rarely ever charge
ANYTHING never heard instance IN which one charged
in nv country for these services. am told that II ~
not common thing for them TO charge Tor them. am
informed by the Commissioned OF Pensions, that be has
fa,- fr... n rha nae hppn ma
and then II was bu, dollar he thinks that, by posi-
bility the whole charge of this re-examnaton OF the
pepsoner could not be er five dollars. Now, can a
pe complain when, for the protection OF this sys-
em we make him do something 10 order to prove title
In order that may impose little burden upon him
as possible willing 70 agree TO The suggestion made
by The Commissioner Of Pensions himse-o strike out
from the amendment that provision which requires ,ba
the examination shall be biennial. Let us provide for
but one examination and IL the results OF that do no
satisfy u.s. need not continue the system; buth iis
results prove be Wholesome and beneficial we can con
tnue IT, am willing TO strike out that portion Of IT,
4 Mr.. SHIELDS. 1 will agree 10 do That, Tor ! am as
anxious TO get rid OF fraudulent cases a. the honorable
SENATOR or the bureau because they are throwing dis
credit upon the whole system. Bot will state What !
think is much better plan. have examined me matter.
and have come the conclusion that would De better
10 authorize the bureau to appoint one or two able sur
geons in each State, ans let them make the examination
and send in their reports | can show the Senaie why
this ia so Aa the honorable senator proposes TO amend
the amendment il will sl stand as operating p repea. the
same process by which the pensioner originally obtained
his pension The same course by which fraudulent
pe nsion was originally obtained will be repeated How s
The pension obtained now The man goes to two sur
aeona in his own neghbothoodhey may be any kind OF
surgeons, they may dociorsand he gets their