, 1876-01-04

HEEAckA5 AAASuAAA - 00tAAJ oAl4Not1ANA~
ing in tho Interior Department the reform
work inaugura.od hy Secretaries Dn1srow and
JEWELL. il tho Treasury and Post Ollco De-
rnrtnlonts Having set the machinery to
work to root out The abuscs which l1nl grown
up in tho Indian service. Mr. CHANDLER has
NOW turned his intention to tie Pension Bu-
reau. We apprehond that Ao will find ample
1nateriat hero for reform. The expenditures
on account Of pensions amount in round
numbers to thirty millions ycarly,-a sum
which Of itself irresistibly attracts corrup-
tion. The systom, too, hos boen ono TINT
atlmits Of Interpretations and frnuds,
nntt tlcro has alwnys been so stroug m intlis-
position on the part Of tho public, Congress,
and the Government TO do my injustice to
thoso entitled to tho grntitule Of the conn-
try TINT uio libora1ity has beon stameiessfy
abused.
Probably tho most fruitful source Of
frauds iu the Pension Department has boon
in tho colluHlon between tho examining ply
sicians md corrupt Pension Agents. Tleso
date mainly ton ycara back, when tho exa1n-
lining surgeons woro appointed through po-
litica influence. Another class ia mndo up
Of those who should have been dropped, ,-ex-
e5ldiers WHO have died aud their chilelron who
have long sinca become Of age, Tho r,llo Of
the service scenls to hnvo been that, once on
tho pension.rolls, tho recipient novcr dies
and never grows old; somebody is found to
draw tho pension all the samo in either COR
tiugcncy. The forgories havo beon and atill
aro enormous. The more rcccnt frauds aro
probably In the names nddod on the cartin-
Gates Of surgeons that the persons nro suffer-
ing from diseaso which was tho result Of nc
taal service, whereas they are either suffering
OF no diseaso whatcver or elso from some all
mont TINT they would have had II they Ind
naver been in tho army. Tho Inter class Of
frauds aro thoGc most likely to DO continued
in Tho futura unless they sha}l bo headed OF
by additional checks.
Secretary CHANDLER COOS to tho bottom OF
tho trouble, and will probably suggest radical
changes In tho systcm, among which ID the
proposition that thoro shall hencoforth be
State Boards Of Examination in placo Of n lot
Of irresponsible physicians upon whom there
is no restraint, and who hro generally ready
to mako my certificate that may bo asked Vi
them. There ia no objection now to tho in.
] anguration Of . stricter mode OF examination,
and every REASON why 1t should 10 adopted
ANY liberality Of the nation henccforth thai
] takes the shane Of m easy ACCESS to tho pen
eion-rolls will DO entirely misconceiveG, as il
| will not benefit any Of those who actually
fought in tho Wnr, nor their descendants
suffering from wounds, injuries, or diseases
their protectors received In tho service Of theil
country it will merely hold open the door
70 swinllcrs who will resort to every con.
ccivab!e device forrailing Tho Treasury under
the gniso Of pnst services.
Mr.. CHANDLER Is reported ns having eati
mated that changes in tho discipline md co,n
duct OF tho Pension Bureau will savo $1,000,
200 annually. Ii persuaded Of this, there il
no doubt that ho will recommend thcse
changes to Congress-, mud point out the mean
by which, tho saving cnn 10 made. Congress
will have 10 meet him in this proposed ro
trcnchment. It is Il matter for congratuln
ton that the Administration Of its own mo
tion Is proposing to reduce expenditures I,
various departments, and it is to bo hopes
that tho Democratic majority In the Hous
will accopt this effort in tho spirit which evi
IDENTIFY prompts 1t, and Join In tho purpose o
cutting down in the proper places withou
crippling the Government.