The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-10-11

1t is not generally known that Law
was passed at the last session OF Con
gress, which. il not repealed, may prove
very injurious to the interests of many
thousands Of soldiers and their heirs
This country respects and honors its
soldiers. No nation on the globe ever
did so well by its defenders as ours has
done. II is to be regretted, then, all the
more, that any steps should be taken
tending 10 deprive this class of our citi-
zens Of any Of their rights under the
laws. True the law in question is aimed
at claim agents and is professedly in the
interest of claimants for pension, but II
its effect is to discourage honest claim
agents from pursuing their Legitimate
calling, 80 far it must unfavorably af-
feet those who have claims to be prose-
cuted.
Before the close of the war and whilst
officers and other witnesses were Access
sible fee Of ten dollars was sufficient
compensation TO an attorney for the
preparation of papers to enable claim
ant for pension to receive his dues. Az
ter the armies had been discharged and
witnesses dispersed TO their respective
homes, it seems reasonable that more
fee should be paid. for the very appar-
ent reason that additional work was
necessary. Congress, we understand,
did recognize the justness and fairness
OF the demand for larger compensa-
ton TO attorneys, and did, by q law
enacted in July, A. ID. 1870, authorize
the payment of q fee Of twenty-five
dollars. There were some checks TO
the practical operation of this law
favorable to pension claimants. The
fee must be agreed upon in writing
and be payable only in tho event u
success. This agreement was render
ed imperative II the Commissioner Of
Pensions objected to it in any given
case; very wise provision, and one
which enabled the officers of the Gov
eminent to adjust the attorneys CON-
pensation upon . fair and reasonable
scale, thus preventing extortion. In
very many cases ten dollars was a
sufficient fee. In other cases fifteen
dollars, or twenty dollars, or twenty-five
dollars was thought to be proper and /
was allowed. Under this law claims
have been prosecuted with satisfaction
70 all parties. Although BY the lapse Of
lime she difficulties in procuring the
testimony have increased, yet there has
been little or no complaint that attor-
1eys were demanding larger fee.
Certainly no complaint with reference
% the comparatively few claim firms
nto whose hands the principal business
lad conferred and who were able to per
orm the increased labor without cor
esponding increase of compensation BY
eason OF the well known fact that
arge business can be done more cheap /.
y than a small business. But now ..
ONES the act Of June 10, 1878. not only ,
educing the fee to attorneys in all
lasses of cases to ten dollars, but re- ,
'ealirg the provision Of the former law
which gave the fee only in the event OF
uccess and provided that it be deducted !.
1 the pay-oilice and sent TO the attorney /.
( record. There being no security that !,
he fee will be paid, those claim Offices !
hat have been doing the business so Z
are hesitating about fling !.
laims at all. Many OF them are de- Y
handing the fee in advance, as they
learly have a legal right to do. This
'orks hardship TO claimants, as many
them Al poor and unable to raise I
he money. On the other hand the re- a
uction OF the fee below fair and lust n
llowance in certain classes of cases b
ractically prevents the prosecution n
such claims. No attorney can be p
to do a piece Of work for I,
So than it is fairly worth. He il Il
rivileged 10 and will decline All h
lses in which the labor involved q
worth more than the legal allow d
nee. This works positive hard b
Zip to all whose claims are thus re- "
Ised. So far as such persons are con. "
.rned the pension laws might As well 81
> repealed. It is very poor satisfaction y
} the dependent father or mother 10 be u
Id that they are entitled to pension, u
4 account Of the service and death Of al
'eir boy, whilst law Is in force that e
rcvents them from securing the skilled "
Dor necessary TO the procurement Of O
eir just dues. We not believe this
,iectionable law will long remain up
! the statute-book. II must be stricken b
and replaced by law that will do V,
;act justice 10 all. What we have said 81
in the interest Of no party. II Is not b,
party question. II Is question Of 50
iblic faith--the just and fair admins. II
alton Of the pension laws. Cleveland "