The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-03
THE RIGHTS OF PENSIONERS

THE RIGHTS OF PENSIONERS.
THE pensioners are a class that have manifest
claims upon the consideration of the Govern
ment, and it needs no argument to show that,
in common justice, they ought to receive all
that they are entitled to under the laws, with
out an abatement whatever, and without
being obliged to bear any of the expenses
attending upon the machinery of the Pension
Bureau.
These pensions are granted for personal
services of a peculiar kind: they are small in
amount, and those who receive them are for
the most part poor and often ignorant per-
sons, who are but little able to look out for
their own interests or to protect themselves
from imposition. Under the present system
of paying pensions the agents are not only
allowed certain fees which are deducted from
the amounts paid to the pensioners, but op-
portunities are offered for innumerable
frauds both upon the pensioners and the
Government, and the whole arrangement has
fallen into such discredit that it is high time
reform was effected, if only for the sake of
general publication by the abandonment of
a series of Offices that afford too many temp
tations to those who are imbued by the idea
that the treasury is a legitimate object of
plunder, and that it is no crime to pocket the
public money. The idea has become general
both in and out of Congress that the present
system of pension agencies is cumbersome
and unsatisfactory both to the Government
and the pensioners, but the agents are for the
most part men of political influence, and the
consequence is that, although few members
Of Congress have pressed for reform, the
majority have shown very little interest in
the matter. And it is greatly to be feared
that the session will be allowed to pass away
without any definite action being taken. 1t
is true that number of bills have been in
troduced, some of which present excellent
features, and if the friends of reform will
urge the necessity for immediate action they
may perhaps stir up the lukewarm and un-
willing members to the performance of their
obvious duties.
The necessity for reform is plainly shown
by the case of Colonel w. L. Forbes, one of
the pension agents located in this city, to
which we have already alluded on several
occasions. Colonel Forbes admits that the
pensioners were robbed in his Office, but lays
the blame upon his clerk. The clerk, on the
other hand asserts positively that he acted
under Colonel Forbes instruction. Which
ever of the two may be guilty, this case is a
practical demonstration of the evils attending
the present system, and it ought to have its
influence in bringing about an improvement
in the whole method of paying the pensions.
In organizing any system for the payment
of the pensions there has to be considered
the rights of the pensioners themselves, who
are entitled to receive without abatement
every cent promised them; and the necessity
for the Government to protect itself from
possible frauds on the part either of the PEN
sioners or the agents, and to reduce the ex-
penses attending the payment of pensions to
the lowest possible amount OF all the mea-
sures now before Congress for the accom-
plishment of these objects the bill presented
by Judge Lawrence, of Ohio, appears to be
the best adapted for effecting the desired
end. Judge Lawrence has taken great in
terest in this subject, and he has prepared
plan which will do away with all the present
pension agents and transfer their functions in
part to the collectors and assessors of internal
revenue, postmasters, and officers of the
national banks, who are to be charged with
Tine oufV of preparinp without cost Ia tha