Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-10-18
AMENDMENT OF THE PENSION
LAWS AND THE OBSTINACH OF
THE PENSION OFFICE.

One should think that the experience Of
the Government Of the United States in
granting Pensions to the widows and or
phans of deceased Soldiers, had at least ap-
proximated to perfect system, system
that would do equal and exact justice to
the unfortunate who have been thrown upon
the world by the casualties Of war, and
whom the Government is in honor bound
to support, yet there are thousands Of wild
ows and orphans, the victims Of the late
rebellion, whose happy homes have been
broken up, the mother sent to labor for her
daily bread, and her little ones to become
the drudges of those IN better circum-
stances. Why is this? Because Congress
has neglected to make the necessary provi-
sion for evidence out side Of the evidence
required by the inexorable rules of the Pen
sion Office We will state a case: \ was
drafted, reported, passed an examination and
was held to service lie sickens shortly af-
ter being sent to the front, is sent to the
hospital and dies of Consumption The
Pension Office demands medical testimony
disease in the service No one knows
and the claim is suspended. His widow
and children are the outraged victims Of a
relentless Conscription they have been sent
from home of comfort to beg their way
through the world, because the Govern
meut, through its sublime 'Circumlocutien
Office, presided over by Mr.. Barrett, refu-
ses to give the little pittance which it pledg
ed to pay these unfortunates, when it re
lentlessly took away their support, in case it
did not return him, We can cite a score of
cases, all Of which have inflicted beggary
upon those who were, prior to the war, de
pendent on strong arms and warm hearts
and who lived in happiness and content
ment.
IF Congress does not do something to re
Ieve these distressed creatures we suggest
that the Pension Office be abolished. If one
is relieved all should be relieved. If the
cases, Of which we speak, we're isolated and
far between, it would be quite a different
thing. But they are very numerous. We
do not hold the Pension Office blameless
either in this matter A great amount Of
the distress is caused by its everlasting de
lays and its red tape. Here is case as an
instance: B enlisted early in the war and
disappeared in skirnish at Hagerstown,
Maryland. He was not found on the field
after the action and his officer reported him
missing He was afterwards seen by a per-
son who knew him at Andersonville,
Georgia, who swears that he was in a dying
condition but did not see him die or after
death. The case is suspended year in and
year out for evidence of death. We do not
think that Mr.. Barrett is always coguizant
of such cases, but it should be the duty of
the head of that Office to see that his exam
iners do their duty by those who are the
nations special charge. We are satisfied
that examiners become prejudioed against a
case and they fight it as if the integrity Of
the Government depended upon the grant
ing of single Pension, and while this is
going on at Washington, the helpless on the
other end of the fine are starving. There
appears to be as little soul and humanity in
the Pension Office as there is in an ice berg.
We call upon Congress Immediately upon
It's meeting in November to pass law au-
thorizing the Pension Office to settle all this