The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-29
FRIDAY, APRIL 90, 1870.
1HEPAYuENT or pENslONs.

THE Pa YMENT OF PENSIONS
WE have received from a prominent officer
of the Grand Army Of the Republic a commu-
ncaton in reply to an article in our issue of
Wednesday, informing us that Colonel w. T.
Forbes is not q member of the Grand Army
of the Republic, and that, even if he were
such membership would not on any conside-
ration secure him the support of that organi-
zation in the event of his being in fault in
the management of his pension agency The
Grand Army of the Republic, our informant
says, is strictly charitable and not in any
sense political organization. We make this
explanation very willingly, but we insist upon
our main point, that a total reform in the
whole business of the Pension Bureau is
needed, and that so far as Colonel Forbes is
concerned, enough evidence of a condemna-
tory character has been elected to necessitate
a thorough investigation into the affairs of his
Office. Such an investigation is needed for
the complete exoneration of Colonel Forbes
if he is not in fault, as we'll as for his removal
and punishment if the charges against him
can be shown to be true. The special officers
of the Treasury Department, upon whose
report our comments of Wednesday were
based, obtained mass of very precise and
circumstantial evidence, that if true in all
particulars cannot be allowed to pass into
oblivion without making the officials of the
Treasury Department and all others who may
aid in hushing the matter up participants in
the offenses charged upon Colonel Forbes.
On his part Colonel Forbes contends that he
has been victimized by one of the employees
of his Office, and if he can set aside the evil
dence produced against him and show him
self to be blameless, we will be very we'll
pleased to make note of the fact. In the
meantime we await, with some impatience,
full report of the case from the authorities
at Washington which will give all sides. If
this report shall show any evidence Of 'white-
washing, we shall have no hesitation what
ever in expressing our opinion in plain terms,
while we shall be very much pleased If it
demonstrates the entire bamelessness of
Colonel Forbes.
There appears to be no doubt whatever
about one thing, however, and that is that
the pensioners were compelled to submit to
heavy discounts and charges of various kinds
that greatly diminished the meagre amounts
and whether Colonel Forbes or his chief clerk
were to blame in the matter, the whole case
is forcible illustration of the great evils of
the present system of paying pensions, and
of the necessity for an entire change in the
whole business. If pensioners were paid
monthly they would not be obliged to discount
their claims, and if the business of the Pen
sion Bureau was conducted as it should be,
they would not be obliged to pay fees or
taxes of any kind, but would receive without
diminution every dollar and cent that the
Government undertakes to pay. Such If
regularities as those charged upon Colonel
Forbes are the natural results of pernicious
system that is devised and conducted, not in
the interests of the Government or the pen
soners but for the purpose of providing fat
offices for hungry politicians. 1t is be-
cause the agencies of the Pension
Bureau are mainly, if not en-
tirely, filed by politicians of more
or less influence, and because in one way or
another their emoluments are greater than
they should be, that it is so difficult to bring
about reform. If it were a question of re-
ducing the perquisites of the pensioners,
there would be no difficulty whatever in find
ing plenty of Congressman anxious to show
their zeal for the promotion of economy, but
as it happens that professional politicians are
the ones interested in maintaining the exist
ing evils, Congress finds itself too much en-
crossed with other matters to pay any atten-
tion to the subject. The only way in which
reform can be brought about is by strong
pressure of public opinion, and we propose
to discuss the matter in very pointed style
until something is done to remedy the evils
complained of.