, 1880-12-26

RAIDING THE TREASURY.
TIE cI4AMoRs OF PENSION CLAIM AGENTS
! EFFORTS TO REMOVE THE LIMITATION FRO,
| THE ARREAEAGE EACr-ATLEAsT$250,0 ,000, ,00t
| ALREADY 1NVoLvED-THE PROPOSED Ex
TENSION OF TINE MAINLY N THE INTEREST
Ne.o Fork 7ymee.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-Notwfthstandine
the fact that the Arrcarage Of Pensions acl
nearly doubled the amount of the annua
penslon-roll. and, in addition, male tht
Treasury liable for the payment OF tens o.
million dollars for arrears, there are mem
bcrs Of Congress who are striving to increase
the public burden on this account by remov-
Ing the limitation imposed by the Arrearage
act upon claims filed after July /,
1850. The Arrearage act provides that
all pensions shall begin from the
death or discharge of the person
on whose account the claim has been or is
hereafter granted, If the disability occurred
prior to the discharge from the military serv-
ice; and II the disability occurred after the
discharge, then from the date Of actual dlsa-
bulty. A proyiso to the second section OF
the act requires that arrears shall be paid
only to those whose applications are fled
prior to July /, 1880, and that pensions grant
ed on applications flied with the Commits
sloner Of Pensions subsequent to that date
shall begin from the date Of filing the appli-
cations. This limitation does not apply to
claims Aled by or in behalf OF insane per-
sons and children under 16 years Of age.
When the Arrearage bill was under consid-
erntion In Congress. 1t was argued by its ad-
vocates that not more than S25, ,o00, 900 would
be required to pay arrears. More than $50,-
hoy MI r}+~
Treasury on account OF arrears, and 1t is cs-
timated that to pay the claims fled under
the act prior to July last last will require at
least $3.50. Co., 900 more. The enormity Of
these figures cannot fail to startle the coun-
try'nnd cause the people to demand that Con-
gressmen shall cease fnventing schemes to.
add to the public burden under the plea OF
doing justice to those who served in the Fed
eral army and navy during the Rebellion.
hr. Deering, Of Iowa, Is one Of those mem
bers<wllo are painting to do further "justice"
by extending additional facilities to claim
agents to raid on the National Treasury,
That gentleman has introduced a bill to re-
peal the Limitation clause OF the Arrearages
act, and it Is presented In such an innocent
form that unless public attention is directed
to it there Is danger that the bill will be oul-
etly pushed through without its full scope
and efect..!being understood. 1t is safe to
say that those who were wounded In the mil
ltary service are not asking for the legis}a-
lion proposed by Mr.. Deering, and it Is equal
y safe to say that his bill was prompted by
The army OF: f::claim agents who are continual
y hanging about Congress and demanding
additional appropriations for pensions,
There is a. number Of these claim
lgents In Washington who have estab-
ishHents In which as many as 100 persons
Ire employed working up thus pension busi-
less. Two Of these men publish what
hey cali soldiers journals, but which are
mere advertising sheets to make known
heir business, published in newspaper
orm' to evade the Postal laws and secure
heir transit through the mails at rates of
postage prescribed for newspapers. These
a"oalled soldiers journals are filled with
fgnnents tor increase Of pensions and
aaallzation Of bounty allowance, and with
ppeals to those who served in the armv and I
HY: to urge their Representatives In Con- I
resa'to demand more liberal appropriations
= fhe Ply payment OF pensions. One Of the !
lasA referred to came here about SIX years