New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-20
TIE EXAMINATION OF PENSIONERS.
CONGRESS URGED TO TAKE ACTION oS HE Pr
TO RroRG,NIZE rIC SYSTEM.

10y TFLrGRAPH TO TIE tribune
WASHINGTON, Feb 19.-The Commissioner Of
Pensions has urged upon Congress, III his last three
annual reports the necessity for a reorganization Of
the system Of examining applicants for pensions
These recommendations have incurred the bitter
enmItv Of the pension claim agents. and powerful
lobby has been operating against them, end has
been able thus far to prevent acton by Congress.
farly IN the present session the Commissioner WIS
summoned before the House Committee on Pensions
and asked to explain in detail lis scheme. The
claim agents employed eminent coun>e. to represent
them. but tie Commissioner was 80 well fortified
with reasons tor everything he recommended that
the counsel became q convert himself 10 the
Comm s~'on'r's plan and no counter argument has
yet been made.
OF course DID service can he rendered by claim
agents which cannot he performed a. well by
agents Of The Department Gnd,as The Commissioner
believes, without any additional EXPENSE TO
the Government. The plans of the claim
agents have been 10 get additional work placed upon
an. oni.e without giving 1t additional facilities,
and in this way render It ab-oiutely de
pendent upon them. The rcsult is seen In
fine two wears accumulation of work already on
hand. The Pension Arrears bill las given such an
iIupc;us to THIS business that sone action By Con-
cr,es which shall prevent ind finite dc!aI
ia acting upon tle claims OF deserving pensioners,
and ~ the same time bring the representatives, OF
fine Government ia direct contact with the claim
ants. and thus prevent wholesale frauds, winch
rou,- occur uudcr the present system, IS absolute
necessity. To effect tins the Secretary Of The In
terror has to-day sent letter TO Congress OF which
the following are the most important portions:
me Hon. sAWrEL J RANDALL. Spedcerof the H0r'' "
I'm f. NV rtter %! the S;h inst Transmitting copy
alt d
- Pensions I'm relation the Act OF January p. 1873
Granting arrears OF pensions, and recommending THAI;
N view - the facility win which ilHuuulrlt aud uH
luerit,.ious claims tor p"1siJns ma! We prosecuted
law for adjusting peusi5n claims. hn'e
~ honor 10 request that Congress give
consideration 10 rhe plan proposed BY nm ID iIii til-i
md III his three last aEuu1 reports Inc o'h'h'
10 the business OF tie Pension Bureau sue the pas
sac u the act OF January 2, make IL nj uuiJ HSAh
During tie frat months 81 the current fiscal year
A47 persons who sc-vei1u the Army and N''y pre-
thirty four per DAY. from jA1ufN % I"
February 18TH instant inclusive, twenty one dhy''
thousand three hundred aud one -,j'l claims lI L-
valid pensions presented. ~ winch 4o3 were pre-
I437 during the lass wees Under the Law 81 - the
duty % the Commissioner OF Pensions 10 iLfnSh thc-c
desiring TO make applications Tor pensions WIN
the necessary blank forms upon request since
account have been han ten times numerous
for year previous and average not less than lao per
day coming from all parts Of ne country
The same tendency is also evidenced " the great
been called UP for examination slnce the 26tn OF Jauu
AIRY. Many Of them are elaine which were
barred under Section 47I7 Of tho Revised Statutes
but the number Not belonging 10 THE class Is unPreee