The National tribune., 1878-01-01
81. A. BENTLEY.
&C. H. EsTABRooK
" Worcester, Massachusetts" "

n
this morning in the application of Leander Richards for
increase pension which herewith inclose for your pc
rusal.
Mr.. Richards says you are acquainted with him and
win do what you can TO help him.
He is certainly in bad condition and needs the help
afforded by pension His injury the result of fall
while picket duty in the night time at Norfolk Vir
gnia which partially parayzed his shoulder and injured
his hip and back Rheumatism followed and he is now
totally disabled and suffers much 1t wrong to
make parties wait this circular indicates Mr. r. SAYS
if he is to be helped he should like it before he dies that
he does not expect to live long any way.
4 will leave the matter in your hands with add
tiona statement namely that have other who are
put off in like manner
Hoping the General will be supplied with all
necessary help, remain yours,
:" Hon. G. F. HoAR''
Mr.. HoAR Mr.. President it appears from this official
communication from the Pension Office that one step
which is essential in ascertaning the title of soldier
tally disabled 10 his pension requires delay at least from
the 4th of December 1877 TO March 49, 1870 period of
fifteen sixteen months the ground that there
clerical force sufficient ascertain fact disclosed by
the records OF that office to another office conceive
very few things which be disgracefu to the
United States Government than the penury in making
sufficient appropriations for the discharge of its duty to
the Invalid soldiers of the country which disclosed by
this official statement from the Pension Office.
Mr.. EDMUNDs. Mr.. President, | wish to say word on
this subject have similar official communication
ceved this morning, think Ct sorry it is not my
desk from the Pension Office which sets forth similar
case, except only it is year Older 1t the Sur
geon Generals Office in 1876 and this pensioner (assum
ing that he has good case which of know moth
two years now the cor ,ence apparently have
not made inquiry of the Surgeon Generals Office to know
economy that certain political order things is to
bring to the people for the benefit of the defenders the
nations honor and Of the payers and this is very
good instance of it,
Mr. INGALLS,. The papers filed by the Senator from
Massachusetts, and the remarks that have followed from
that Senator and the Senator from Vermont offer me the
opportunity of making few observations that are due to
the Senate in behalf of the Committee Pensions We
have before at the present time very large number of
iffn1f
sentatves In the examination OF those cases it is eces
say in the first place to ascertain the military history of
the claimant; in the second place. learn from the Sur
geon Generals Office the medical history of the applicant
far as his wounds and other disabilities concerned
We cannot proceed step further until these premnares
have been complied with in the first place the fact of
vice, and, in the second place. the fact OF disability The
records of disabilities and of hospital treatment the
Office of the Surgeon General and consequence of the
parsimony, or frugay, economy, penury, as the
Senator from Massachusetts defines it, of the powers that
make appropriations, it is fact that when request
transmitted to the Surgeon for information touch
ing the disability Illness hospital treatment of any
who has been in the military service of the United
States requires period of sixteen months in the regu
lar of the business of that Office before an answer
be obtained to the inquiry That is say TODAY
application made to the Surgeon General for
nation touching the medical record of soldier would
emerge from the office and should receive the nfoma-
ton some time about the middle of the year 1879 AS
that soldier has stated in his letter. very desirable for
him TO obtain pension, he is TO have it at ALL while he
lives
Mr. EpMuNDs. Before he dies of starvation
Mr. INGALLS, Yes sir. ! believe that the benefcence
OF the pension department of this Government does not
extend beyond the grave. OF the survivors of
deceased soldier May receive the benefits of the pension
law, but these men who have been wounded disabled
by disease of desire receive the benefits of the
pension law while they alive This is of the most
crying and fragrant outges abuses vergng very close
upon crime that has left department Of this Govern
nen IN the condition that it in to-day far one
very important and deserving class Of citizens
country lis concerned.
Mr. SALISBURY. should like TO ask the Senator from
Kansas ii he means to say that when communication is
sent from the Committee Pensions the Surgeon en-
erals Office requires sixteen months to get an answer
from that office to the inquiry made by Senate com
mittee. Nt
Mr. IEeAIIs. The Senator does not understand me to
say II he does he understands wrongly say If
the application followed the ordinary Of business
1t is true that m the majority of nfor-
nation but the Surgeon General advises that it is to
the displacement OF Of equal Importance and equal
mexs that whenever make application for nfor-