National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-04-06

To The Editor Of The National Republican,:
SIR: In an article published by you on the
Sd instant, briefly advertcd to the now pen.
sion bill, the offspring of Mr.. Bentley, intro.
duced in tho Senate by Mr.. Withers. | merely
touched upon tho sugRr-coating to the bill in
tho shape OF 700 or 500 new otlicc.holders to be
divided between both political parties. This
Is the bit of toasted cheese intended to allure
our Congressman into Bentey's trap. Failing
to win them over by argument aud reason, he
proposes to try the effects of bribery. Now
can any Senator or Representative be so igno'
rant or uuobservant as not to see the animu,
of the Commissioner? | trow not. Apart from
this lot mo mention the fact that by this bill
tho entire machiuo Of the Pension Office is
placed in the hands of the Commissioner He
VIII be the autocrat who can, if so disposed
cut or the pension of every soldier in the
United States upon any pretenso which sug-
gcsis itself He has the appointment Of all
surgeons, examiners, members of boards named
IN tho bill, and having this power, he will
naturally rule all men under him and control
their purposes. He can remove officers and
appoint them at pleasure, aud increase his
force when he so desires. And then look III
the door which is opened for raSctity. Sur
geons and examiners can go snacks" with un-
principod mon seeking pensions, and thus tho
Government may be swindlcd to an enormous
amount The plan proposed is thousand
times more Objectionable than tho present sys'
TEN OF local examnining surgeons. In regard
to these Senator Thurman, in the debate on
tho Sixty Surgeon bill last year. said;
Sir, I know some OF these examining surgeons
in my State and every one of them whom know
Is u man of high honor, OF nigh standing I'm his
profession. There Is not one OF them that would
give false certificate, much less one Of thom that
could be corrupted to give tulac certificate. They
arc Just as good men as these Sixty men would 6e
under this bll, and that Mr.. President take it Ii
n much more economical plan IL am right Here
aTs to be sixty lawyers and sixty doctors and they
arc to receive 81 500 apiece each year Tint makes
$1,000 for the two In each district Multiply that
by sixty, the number of districts, and you have
$500 900 to be annually paid TO these lawyers and
ihcso doctors. II may be that that would be wise
expenditures II may bo that Il would result in
economy, but it'docs not look so to me.
Now in place of these sixty surgeons we will
have 2S5, il John A. Bentley so chooses, with
n whole rctinuo Of attendants at cost, the
Lord knows how much. And as to these
local examining surgeons. Is there one man in
a thousand who believes them loss honest
than will bo The paid tools Of John A. Bent.
lev? Bat this bill is really nothing more
than tho infamous SiSty.Surgeon bill in dis
gusc. The VOLTS ears protruie above the
lambs skin. Wo see them plainly In several
sections of tho bill. In section Q, line o. IL is
provided that "ho Bentley may cause any in.
valid pens!oncr TO be examined by surgeon
at such times and us often rs he may deem /!
for the interests OF the Government." Again
it is provided in section 2 that the examiners
shall hold courts three times in each year I'M
less-marlt the -."otherwiso directed by
the Commissioner of Pensions" And when
our old veterans can't travel, or have no means
TO travel, on line 90, section 2, you find the
words, the Commissioner may direct-not
shall direct-an examiner or surgeon TO visit
tho party. In section Z it is provided that
after q pension has been ALLOW cd, if the Com
missioner fancies 1t has been fraudulently OBJ
tanned he can direct his examiner to visit the
marty, Then Bentley can annul or confirm
the pension as best suits him. All depends on
his whim. bave thus given you some Of the
Questionable points to the bin, and hopo all
our Senator'S and Representatives who stand as
guardians of tho interests Of soldiers will
promptly crush this monster when 1t comes III
In Congress. JUSTICE,
WAsaINGToN, D. O., April 3, 1880,