The National tribune., 1880-02-01
Examination of the Pension Office.


pie having up in letters, petitions, and news
papers in such masses and with such weights that
they could not longer be ignored
The Commissioners own Official statements show
strange unreasonable, and outrageous delay in
settlement of plain cases, and accumulation OF
new business which threatens to overtask the Office
and swamp the whole concern in one mudhole of
mbecity
The grave question for Congress to decide upon
is whether the existing system is in the wrong or
whether it is the manner Of administration of the
system that is to blame. The Commissioner charges
the admitted evil upon the system; those who know
much of the Pension Office as be does charge that
the defect is in his management.
The present pension system is a complicated piece
of machinery which, if it have competent engineer,
will work smoothly and with good results
But if the engineer is incompetent, or perversely
bent upon the destruction of the machinery, or,
which is worse if he have some new, untred pat
ent device of his own which he wants to substitute
he will hinder the fair working of his machine, he
will throw its parts out of gear he will increase the
friction and reduce the working power, that the
result may condemn the old apparatus and render
il necessary to try something else. When this re-
suit has been reached and general disgust has been
sadded, by his acts upon the old plan, then he
stands ready with his patent contrivance and an
nounces his new back-action, semi judicial tri-
bunal . to bring all this confusion into order
As the engineer of the old machine, he claims
that he knows by experience its defects and that
the same experience points out The remedy
This he has been doing for three years and yet
the remedy is worse than the disease.
ikp +bo o1d bo hos {bo ciop
system into FITS" because his speciality is the
treatment Of "FITsH'
He has been wonderfully successful in bringing
on this stage of disease, but he shows special
talent for getting out of it.
However, public attention is now fixed on his
Office ahd its administration, and special commit
tee OF the House has commenced an examination
Immediately that this committee began to look into
the workings Of the Office the old cry is at once
raised that the examination has been suggested by
and is in the interest Of CLAIM AGENTS. tits cruel
| insult 10 the committee to the gentleman who pro
posed the resolution, and to the House of Repre-
sentatives. 1t is an unnecessary and unmanly
falsehood. 1t is cowardy attempt to prejudice al
examination demanded by popular sentiment and t.
belttle great endeayor by associatng it with dirty
and mean personal motives. The charge come
only from Mr.. Bentley Mr. Bentley's friends, |
is disreputabe and untrue, from whatever source i
, may come.
Conscious Innocence needs no such vile colorings
MY. HarmeT, of Pennsylvania, offered this resolu
ton from motive Of hostility 10 the Commissioner
and so stated in his place on the floor
He simply recognized the fact that very ba,
state Of things existed and desired to find out tn
reason, and if possible, apply remedy.
, The committee appointed and then the CT.
= raised that this was a Democratic device t.
I make political capital.
L Now the cry of " claim agents is raised for th
s same purpose.
The House of Representatives has the right t
examine any public Office public officer 1t i
their duty 10 examine all such as are the subjects
general complaints. No man denies the existenc