The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-03-29
NEW DEPARTURE

In the Adjudication Of Pension Claims
WARRINGTON, D. O., March 20.
EIItou TntslliSsneer:
Bills have been introduced In the Hous,
Of Representatives that no doubt will re
suit in making provisions for a re-exam
nation Of pension claims that have beer
rejected by the Commissioner Of Pensions
Of which there are about 10000 in mum
Der, and almost 1000 are now before the
committees Of Congress.
Hon Geo. W. Geddes, Of Ohio, and OIL
the House "select Committee on the Pay.
ments Of Pension, Bounty and Back Pay y
has introduced bill tsaid to be approved
by the majority Of the committed which
provides court composed Of competent
Judges to be held at Washington City,
which shall be Court Of Appeal for all
pension claims that have or may have been
disallowed for whatever cause.
Hon. J. r. Thomas, OF Illinois, also one
OF the same committee, submits for the
minority Of that committee, substitute
for the bill proposed by Judge Geddes,
which establishes as subordinate branch
of the Interior Department Board OF
Appeals and Review, to be composed Of
two persons from the legal and one from
the medical profession, appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate.
This Board Is TO be Independent OF the
Pension Office, and shall be given iur is
4 ,.I a atv1n oil f6R
mali or increase OF pension'or restoration
TO the rolls, when such claims have been
decided adversely by the Commissioner OF
Pensions.
The Board is to call on that officer for
all the papers in a case they review, butts
restricted from receiving any additional
evidence than that furnished in the orig.
inal claim, and in the determination Of
such cases shall give the pension laws q
liberal construction, with view to do
complete justice 70 the claimant.
The Board shall fix the rate OF pension
within the provisions OF the general laws,
and the Secretary Of the Interior, under
their decision, 81 all cause the name OF the
claimant, in whose favor the decision Is
rendered, 10 be placed on the pension
rolls. LII Is determined the claimant can
not be pensioned under existing provi-
sions Of law, but is equitably entitled they
shall submit report OF the case TO Con-
eress with recommendations as to the rate
the claimant should be pensioned. When
the adverse decision OF the Commissioner
is affirmed the papers shall be returned to
the Pension Office, and the claimant may
file additional evidence In support OF his
claim.
The Senate Committee on Pensions have
reported a substitute for the measure
commonly known as 'rrhe Sixty Surgeon
Bill" providing for the examination and
adjudication Of pension claims filed in the
Pension office, In such manner as to do
away with the present ex parte system OF
proving claims. The bill frst before the
Senate provides for number OF commits
sioners, not exceeding sixty In number,
1.-THE districts to be designated by the
Commissioner OF Pensions,l being compos-
ed Of two clerks detailed from the PEN
sion Office, one Of whom shall be from
the legal and the other from the medical
profession, who shall hold annual ses-
sions in their districts and take The testi-
mony OF witnesses in claims filed before
the Pension Office, transmitting the same
70 that Office for basis OF decision by the
commissioner.
The substitute embraces about the same
features except that 1t provides for such
commission appointed by the President,
equally from both political parties for each
Congressional district, and for sessions in
every county seat three times year. All
the expenses pertaining to the examina-
tons before theseboards to be paid by the
Government.
This plan has been very freely discussed
and rejected in the Forty.fith Congress:
II Is claimed it is not practicable, will
work great hardship to INDECENT and in.
valid claimants, and will lead to adopt
stringent rules that was not intended in
our liberal pension laws, and will be at
tended with much additional expense
10 the claimant, as well as impose an
immense and unnecessary expense on
the Government.
It Is generally believed the scheme OF
the "Sixty District Bill will not be adopt.
ed but that Congress will create Court OF
Appeals to relieve Congress from the large
number OF such cases presented at every
session, and do Justice to the claimants.
Permit me to add that l will be glad TO
represent claimants who have suspended
or rejected claims, and II such are present
ed even now many might be allowed on q
rehearing In the Pension Office.
Also let me impress parties who think
they are entitled to pension to present
their claims prior to July l, 1880, to obtain
the benetitof the arrears act or payment
| al mansion from the date the soldier was
discharged or died, for II the claim shall
be presented subsequent to July /, 1850,
the pension will only commence from the
tdate the application shall be fled In the
Pension Office.
Congress has recently authorized the
ennIoYment Of $50 additional clerks iol