The National tribune., 1878-05-01
What is the Object of the Pension Bureaus

thing that have but one answer IF we
look at the acts of Congress and the speeches
OF those who organized the law-if we consider
the natural intent and meaning of the several
provslons-it is very clear that the office was
instituted solely for the benefit and advantage
of the soldiers and sailors of the Republic,
wounded and disabled in glorious service, and
OF their widows, orphans, and dependent rela-
tons. This is the clear purpose of the gener-
Gus and sympathetic legislative bodies who re-
cognized the obligations of the nation, and
formulated gratitude into law
But if we look at the working of the Office
IN the several hands into which it has fallen,
we find that this great purpose has been ig-
nored, and that aims infinitely less have con
trolled the direction of affairs
80 far as we know the administration of the
office under the present incumbent has been en-
tirely free from corrupting and degrading asso-
Citations. Mr.. Bentley has not sought to make
money out of his position, and has kept his bu-
reau clear of all that class of vice He has
carefully superintended the organization of his
force, has enforced system regularity and rule,
and given accuracy and dispatch to business.
For all these good things, good in themselves
and good by contrast, Mr.. Bentley deserves the
thanks OF the nation. But there are errors
which are as essential as the ones avoided. and
into these errors he has fallen
He appears to be man of crotchets, anxious
to appear to make improvements; creator of
systems; builder of queer devices. He seems
not to ride and govern his hobbies, but to be
ridden by them. He is not content to do com
nonsense business in common-sense way. but
wants to be considered as an originator He for
gets that the pensioners and claimants are many,
and scattered, and that the country is large He
desires to superintend, determine control, and de-
eide, from headquarters in Washington, all mat
ters which pertain to hsd duties. Hewants to have
everybody appointed by him, responsible to
him, removable by him, and is unwilling to
trust or believe anybody whom personally he
does not know and have the making Of He
wants to make courts, to appoint judges, to
compel appearance of suitors, to have the forms
and Importance of trials and to sit himself un-
approachable and alone, as final arbiter of all
questions In other words the office has run
away with the man.
1t is OF no use to tell him that the process he
asks for is on its face absurd and impracticable.
He only insists the more.
1t is of no use to show that it will simply en-
large the area of favoritism increase the num-
Der of parasitical dependents upon the favor of
the Commissioner, and help to defeat, hinder,
and delay, the great end of the pension law
He only adheres the more to his preconceived
notions.
He has given most of his energy for two
years past to pressing on Congress his special
bill to create sixty travelling surgeons.
To carry this pet project through he has writ
ten letters which demonstrate his unftness for
his quasijudicial duty. He has magnifed, be
yond all probable limit, the frauds alleged to
have been committed or attempted on his De-