The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-22
WEDNESDAY, JUNE %, 1870.
THE RIGHTS OF PENSIONERS.


for important services performed for the
benefit of the nation-services involving loss
of life, loss of limb, and loss of health. The
pensioners are poor, manned, or aged SOL
diers, or the orphans and widows of those
who fell on the field of battle. None of the
pensions are for large amount and in view of
all the circumstances, those entitled to them
have right to receive without fee or tax
every dollar that the Government undertakes
to give. Under the peculiar system of pay
ing pensions, however, now in vogue, the
pensioners not only receive their money at
such long intervals that many of them are
unable to expend it to the best advantage,
but they are obliged to pay to the
agents employed to represent the
Government various fees that dimin-
ish seriously the already insignificant
amounts they are entitled to. 1t is great
shame that such system should be permit
ted to exist, but it is more shameful that the
pension agents should be allowed to rob
those under their care by discounting their
claims at exorbitant rates. 1t is true that
advancing money in this manner is expressly
forbidden by the law, but it is a matter of
common notoriety that it is done all over the
country, and that pension agents grow rich
in manner that they never could from the
legitimate emoluments of their office. So
lucrative indeed have the pension agencies
become that the men holding them have
been able to form a powerful combination
that thus far has successfully resisted every
attempt to bring about reform.
We alluded yesterday to the trial of George
B. Thatcher, formerly clerk in the Office of
Colonel Forbes, pension agent of this city,
as a practical illustration of the evils of which
we have spoken. Thatcher has been found
guilty of embezzlement and received heavy
sentence, which, in all probability, he richly
deserves. The evidence adduced on the trial.
however, seemed to indicate that Thatcher
was made the scapegoat for the sins of his
superiors; and by the admissions of Colonel
Forbes himself, and the testimony of reliable
Witnesses it was shown that he was in the
habit of advancing money to pensioners at
the rate OF ABOUT TWO HUNDRED PER CENT. IN
TEREsT. Colonel Forbes was soldier himself,
and it might be thought that he, of all
men, would have felt some sympathy
for such class as the pensioners and those
who are dependent upon the bounty of the
Government may we'll ask who will protect
them if one who has himself borne arms upon
the field of battle has no compunction at
filling his pockets at their expense Whether
Colonel Forbes was implicated in the particu-
lar transactions for which Thatcher was found
guilty or not, enough has been clearly proved
against him to demonstrate the fact that he
is not proper person for the position he
holds, and it is disgraceful that the authori-
ties at Washington did not remove him
long ago.
The real question at issue, however, is not
the retention or removal of an unworthy
officer, but whether the whole system of pay
ing pensions is not thoroughly rotten, and
whether a thorough reorganization ought not
to be effected. The subject was discussed
with considerable enthusiasm in the House
of Representatives some months ago, and
bill was adopted which promised at least
some protection to the pensioners. 1t then
went to the Senate, and that is the last that
has been heard of it. What the pensioners
and the public now wish to know is whether
the Senate intends to act on the bill, or
whether it is quietly to be permitted to die of
neglect. Rumor says that the pension
agents have great influence in the
Senate, and that they have been laboring
earnestly to prevent this bill from being even
considered. The political or pecuniary inAu-
ence of the pensioners is little or nothing,
and unless the Senate is virtuous they will
not have much chance against the "ring" of
agents who have thus far managed to keep
the upper hand without difficulty. If the
Senators are not influenced by unworthy mo-
tives in preventing the passage of this BILL
they can easily prove their integrity by dis
cussing it publicly and recording their votes
for or against it; but to smother it in commit
tee will only tend to confirm the impression
that there is something rotten in Denmark "
THE EXCL USION OF WHITTEMORE.
The action of the House of Representatives
yesterday, in refusing to readmit White
more, the cadetship- -peddler, despite his re-
election by a South Carolina constituency,
will command general approval. The great
necessity of American politics is the erection
of barriers against corruption, and Congress
would have committed fearful error if il
had condoned Whittemore's offense. 1t may
be too true that he is scapegoat
more innocent in fact than some
of those who have condemned him,
but his exclusion will nevertheless exert 9
good influence if it only proves that depths
have at last been discovered to the pit of Off
cial peculation. The very excuse offered on
his behalf that he acted in accordance with
the fashion of the time, increases rather than
i.1fio