The National tribune., 1880-04-01

frst-class doctors in any Congressional District
they must expect to pay such men rst-ctdss prices
But to select such men, hope to select them, on
scale OF fees to be earned like petty justice OF
the peace, is unutteraby shabby, small, and mean.
There is no limit to the number of alidavits they
may require and take, except in their conscience
1t is of piece all through with the narrow brain
that conceived the first bill of which this is the
suit
We have repeatedly demonstrated that the whole
scheme is radically wrong and inherently defective
The Senate committee appear to have considered
that the whole population Of the United States is
is within the States But there is very large pop
ulaton in the Territories, and they are not at all
considered or taken care of in this bill,
1t is loose, shambling illJointed affair, which
strives in vain to avoid the force of the arguments
made before that committee against the original bill
No 496
Contrast now with this bold attempt at dangerous
innovation the House bill agreed upon by the
Committee on Pensions in the House. and to be
reported by Mr. Geddes of Ohio
This bill takes the bull by the horns.
1t assumes, as is, beyond doubt, the fact that the
blockade in the Pension Office has been wilfully
caused by Mr.. Bentley
To remedy this it creates Court of Pensions"
superior to and beyond the Commssoner-the
members to be appointed by the President-with
fair salaries, and sufficient length of service.
1t gives to this Court the power to review the
Commissioner, or his decisions, and makes their
opinion final instead of his
Hitherto this Office of Commissioner of Pensions
has been absolutely independent, and all these vast
interests subject to the whim caprice of man,
and that man one who is, by nature, character and
education, unfit
By this very wise, sensible and benifcent bill of
Mr.. Geddes this supreme and dangerous power is
taken away, and the supercil;ous nsolence of the
present incumbent TO be backed by power
BY this court Congress will be greatly relieved
from the pressure of bills for relief against the alb
surd and technical rulings of the Pension Office, and
fair and speedy action will be had on difficult
and doubtful cases
No measure of such clear sense and directness of
purpose has yet been presented. We urge every
one of our readers without a moments delay to
write their Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress urging them to oppose Senate Bill No 496 in
any FORM and to support the Geddes bill which gives
Court of Appeals and relief in pension cases.
1t is clear outrage upon right that any one man,
especially of the narrow views and ill-conditioned
temper of Mr. Bentley should have final, irrevocabe
and supreme jurisdiction all cases of pensions,
and the Board of Review and Appeals over him
ought to be constituted of good men, good lawyers
and good soldiers perfectly independent of the Pen
sion Office and of the Department of the Interior.
With such tribunal the cruel edicts issued by
Mr. Bentley could be checked, full fair and un-
prejudced examination can be given; the Commits
soner can be sustained when he is right and promptly
overruled when he is wrong,
No measure has yet been offered so practical in its
results, so beneficial to honest claimants so thor
oughy in accordance with the American idea of fair
play and an open honest hearing of disputed cases,
instead of secret detectives, preudced officials and
the privacy and insolence of Star Chamber
Tribunal"