The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-10
sIi,OIs

II has been notorious for years past that
enormous frauds are Systematically and
constantly pcrpctrated in the payment of
pensions without the least real effort being
made 20 check them. regular combna-
ton Of agents. Of surgeons. and Of profess
sional witnesses Is known 10 exist, who
make a business Of getting up cases, and
who are materially aided by subordinatcs
In the Pension Onlce at Washington as has
been repeatedly shown 10y the clcarest proof
The proportions which this plumber has
taken are astounding, even by the admis-
siuns Of the Commissioner OF Pensions,
whose duty it il to know where the present
laws open the doors to laXity. and to sug
gcst II remedy that will furnish some prac-
teal protection against these organized
raids on the Treasury. According to the
best Information. there are now some two
hundred and thirty odd thousand pensioners
ON the rolls. or nearly tcniold the number Of
the regular standing army.
In the last ten years the payments for
pensions have aggregated the enormous
sum of two hundred and ninety-onc millions
Of dollars, or an average exceeding twenty
nine millions per annum. Mr.. lNGaLLs,
Chairman Of the Senate Committee on Pen
sions, states, after thorough examination OF
all the facts, that mot less than twenty
per cent OF our entire pension list is wrong
fully and improperly paid And this Is the
deliberate opinion also Of tho Commissioner
of Pensions. These frauds are successfully
committed by rank perjury, by tho false
pcrsonation Of persons who are dead, by the
rcmarriage OF widows, by the growth Of
hal
Of sixteen years. when their pension legally
ceases, and by papers manufactured through
connivance and other devices.
II Is probable that between fifty and sixty
millions OF dollars We're stolen in the years
between 1869 and 1873, covering the whole
administration Of GRANT, and one year Of
the Fraudulent President. The current rate
Of stealing Is about five and half millions
year. taking twenty per cent rs the basis
az the estimate for frauds. How II IS posi-
ble with the knowledge that this immense
robbery Is going on all the time, for the In
tcrior Department, charged with this trust
and directed by professional rciormcr
ScHURz, 10 remain passive and permit such
scandal to continue is past finding out,
unless eyes are purpuscly bandaged, aud
vigilance is taking preconccrted sleep.
Wherever the probe Is inserted In any part
OF the public administration, corruption
flows out, because 1t is rotten from top 10
bottom. The exposures Of thicycry and
rascalty, and Ring rule, which shocked the
country under GRANT, and have been fol-
lowed 10y the iniamios Of HAYES concern,
whereby the highest honors Of the republic,
the most valuable Offices and patronage
- IN haiuty
dispensed as rewards for the Great Fraud
have after all only scratched the surface
And the rctrcnchmcnt made since the Demo
Gratis got possession OF the House Of Repre-
scntatives, creditable as it is, only begins
the reductions possible under a thorough
reform.
But this work never can be achieved with.
out a change OF Administration, and the in
auguration OF n President with sufficient
force Of character and ability 10 purify thu
whole public service by the most decisive
action. While the departments are file,
with the creatures Of Grantlsm, educate,
aud Interested in the system which ha'
brought disgrace on the Government anC
plundcrcd its treasury Of hundreds o
millions, it is not practicable TO correct Thu
existing evils. No Republican Prcslden
will ever undertake real reform, because
he should attempt it earnestly tho over
throw of his party would bc inevitable. AM
fcw Democrats who aspire to the PrcsioeLc.
are equal TO this mighty task, which almos
involves so bad IS the internal coqfition
n radical change in the administrative func
tons Of the Government When NICHoLA
Of Russia undertook to investigate the cor
ruption around him, he shrunk back AZ
pallcd by the completely OF his own house
hold. The collision between chiefs Of tn
opposing parties and the secrets whlc
both sldcs seek to conceal, make it ques
tunuhlc II any man with the nerve, tn
sterling integrity, and the purpose to carr
through the needed reforms eau be elcctc
President.