, 1875-12-18


frauds investigated. lie very properly wishes
the hundreds Of mythical widows. the multi
suae OF miraculous minors who persist in
staying minors forever, and tho thousands of
s'adowy soldiers who exist only on tho pen
sion-rol1s, nntl 10 enablo rasca!ly clairn-agenta
to exist and fatten OIL tho Taxpayers, to be
dropped from tho bounteous hnnd of Uncle
Sam. The intention of INGALLS, OF Kansas ID
good. Tho plan proposed by him exhibits
zeal without knowledge. His bill authorizes
the Secretary Of the Interior to appoint ,}rty
Special Agents IN. Il. JoYcE, late of st. Louis,
now Of the Missouri ponitcntiary, was q
Special Agcnt), who are to lurk around
under tho direction Of tho Commissioner
Of Pensions aud tlueArth frauds. The
ray for lurking is pretty ood,-travoling
expenses and 81 dny for subsistence,
mud $1,000 year for profit. Judged by
some Of tho recent Whisky Ring disclosures,
tho business of tho average "Spccinl Agent"
would be highly remunerated Mt this rate.
Ills functions cnn be summarized somewhat
as follows: When detailed to visit certain
city, he, or ao,nobody else for him, telegraphs
the suspected parties from Washington TINT
lie is going to "insostigato them, and will
arriye on such q day. Tho ''sslspects at
once rgiso sosue money. He registers him.
SELF at the principal hotel as Joux Smith,
Special Agent Of tho United States for tho
Detection Of Frauds upon the Pom
sions." This naturally greatly enhances
bis own Importance. Tho fact TINT it
prevents his finding out anything by
notifying nll tho rogues Of tho object Of his
visit is Of courso minor mattor. They hare
generally been notified already, at any ratio.
Tho Special Agent sees the suspects; tho
latter 'soe him. He goes baclr md reports
everything oil right. Probably ho makes
"scspegoat' Of some ono who has no
friends. Tho real rascals continue their
frauds. They arc richer; ho Is richer; no
body but Uuclo Sam is poorer. But facts
such aa these 10 not daunt INGALLS, of Kan
SOS. Not satisfied with frcsh butch Of
"forty" Special Agents-who would not un-
likely turn out to be forty thieves--he pro-
poses to authorize tho Commissioner Of Pen
sions to detail any number Of bis olerIa to
serve as Specials and receive the pay md
allowances already enumerated. If tho Com
missioner hao 10 many clerks that he can spare
the services Of any number Of them while
they go junketing around tho country, TINT
number should DO dismissed forthwith.
IfoAL1s Of Kansns is not fortunate in his
suggestions concerning Investigation. We
can tell him and the Senate a much better
plan. Bet ELMER WAsKnunN, Chief of the
Secret Service OF the Treasury Department,
on the trail Of the rog,,es. Let him choose a
tlozon men,-he knows whero to find the bost
men for the purpose,-and detail them to in
yestigate, uuder Lis direction, the alleged
frauds. Then the claim agents who are
now playing tho part Of Proteus, and drnw-
ing pensions as nick or crippled soldiers, as
blind soldiers, as the widows Of soldiers, aa
the minor children Of soldiers, will be caught
md spared sooner and better than 1000
special Agents and Tho whols lot Of clerks in
tho Pension Dureau can do the Job together,
In the way proposed by INGALLS, Of Kansas.