The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-02-22


Il has been notorious for years past tina
enormous frauds are systematically and con
siantly perpetraied in the payment Of pen
sions without the least real effort being mad,
to check them, A regular combination o
agents, OF surgeons, aud Of professional wit
nesses is known TO exist, who make business
of getting up cases, and who are materially
aided by subordinates in the Pension 0ilict
at Washington, as has been repeatedly shown
by the elearest proof.
The proportions which this plumber has
taken are astounding, even by the admissions
of the Commissioner of Pensions, whose duty
il is TO know where the present laws open the
door TO laxity, and to suggest remedy that
will furnish some practical protection against
these organized raids on the Treasury. Ac.
cording TO the best information, there are
now some two hundred and thirty odd thou
sand pensioners on the rolls, or nearly ten
fold the number of the regular standing army.
Ia the last ten years the payments for pen
sions have aggregated the enormous sum of
two hundred and ninety-oRe millions of dol
lars, or an average exceeding twenty.nine
millions per annum. MIR. Ingalls,, Chairman
OF the Senate Committee on Pensions states,
after thorough examination of all the facts,
that mot less than twenty per cent. of our
entire pension list is wrongiully and improp-
erly paid. And this is the deliberate opin-
ION also of the Commissioner OF Pensions.
These frauds are successfully committed by
rank perjury, by the false PRESERVATION of per-
soas who are dead, by the remarriage of
widows, by the growth Of children who have
passed beyond the limit of sixteen years,
when their pension legally ceases, and by
papers manufactured through conniyance and
other devices
Ii is probable that bctwe.h fifty and sixty
millions of dollars were stolen IN the years
between 1869 and 1873, covering the whole
administration of Grant, and one year OF the
Fraudulent President, The currept rate of
stealing is about five and half millions
year, taking twenty per cent. as the basis OF
the estimate for frauds, How 1t is possible,
with the knowledge that this immense robbery
is going on all the time, for the Interior De
partment, charged with this trust and direct
cd by professional reiormer Schurz, to re-
main passive and permit such scandal to
continue, is past finding out, unless eyes are
purposely bandaged, aud vigilance is taking a
precoucerted sleep.
Wherever the probe is inserted in any part
of the public administration, corruption flows
out, because il is rotten from top to bottom.
The exposures of thieyery and rascality, aud
Ring rule, which shocked the country under
Gen. Grant, and have beea followed by the
infamies of Hayes's concern, whereby the
highest houors Of the republic, the most val
uable offices and patronage without limit have
been and are still being dispensed as rewards
for the Great Fraud, have after all only
scratched the surface. And the retrench
ment made since the Democrats got posses
sion of the House of Representatives, credita-
bic ms it is, only begins the reductions possible
under thorough reform.
But this work eau never be achieved with
out change Of Administration, and the IN.
auguration OF a President with sufficient force
of character and ability 10 purify the whole
public service by the most decisive action.
While the departments are filled with the
creatures of Grantism, educated and interest
ed IN the system which has brought disgrace
on the Government and plunderedits treasury
of hundreds of millions, It is not practicable
to correct the existing evils. No Republican
President will ever undertake real reform,
because If he should attempt II earnestly the
overthrow Of his party would be inevitable.
A nd few Democrats who aspire to the Presi-
dency are equal to this mighty task, which
almost involves, so bad is the internal condi-
ton, q radical change in the administrative
of the Government. When Nicho-
las of Russia undertook to investigate the
corruption around him, he shrunk back APP
palled by the completely Of his own house
hold. The collision between chiefs of the
opposing parties and the secrets which both
sides seek to conceal, make il questionable if
any man with nerve, the sterling integrity,
and the purpose to carry through the needed
can be elected President, Nee
York Sm