The National tribune., 1880-04-01

Congress, as well as those that have been mac
curatey rejected and not coming within the law as
those purely just and equitable confessedly
not provided for by law. A large proportion ofthem
are meritorious as any that come within the law.
They make such an appeal to the sense of justice,
fairness, and equity of Congress cannot be disre-
garded The law does not and, possibly, cannot,
by reason of its universally, cover all the
where parties entitled to relief by every prnci
pie of humanity, equity, and patriotism In such
cases this bill does not confer unlimited discretion
on the court, but provides that when, in the judg-
ment of said court, the claimant has an equitable
right to relief, which the law does not make pro
vision for, the said court harecommend the allow
ance of the same by Congress; and, thereupon such
cases. including all the testimony therein, with the
equitable reasons therefor, shall be certified by said
court to Congress and only such cases shall be
passed upon by Congress.
The findings of said court are made final except
where the disability for which the pension was
granted has been removed in whole or part and in
cases of fraud and in the class of cases where the
decision is to be certified to Congress The bill
provides for the transfer to the court of all cases.
with the papers pertaining thereto pending in Con-
gress at the time of the organization of said court
and also for the transfer appeal from the pension
department of all disallowed claims for pensions,
arrears of pensions, for increase of pensions and
for restoration to the pension rolls with all the
papers, exhibits, and testimony filed in each case
all of which testimony is to be considered in the ad
judicaton of said case by the court And it is also
made competent for the claimant and the Govern
ment to take additional testimony by afidavts in
in any case for or against the claim which may be
1ed to said nth In
Court
REP How will the bill pending in the Senate
known as the Sixty Surgeon Bill,n or, as now
changed, and providing for board of one lawyer
and surgeon in each Congressional district affect
your bill +?
Mr.. GEDDEs. 1t does not affect the manifest neces-
sty for this court If that system of investigation
and preparation of cases should be adopted and give
satisfaction to claimants and the Government it
would lessen the labor of this court But, on the
other hand, if it should work gross injustice to
claimants and prove wholly unsatisfactory this
court with its methods of proof and investigation
would then be indispensable. In my judgment
every principle of justice, humanity and patriotism
enter an earnest and solemn protest against that
district measure. 1t is in the highest degree I'M
friendly to parties entitled to pension. 1t will be
calculated to discourage and defeat just claims 1t
will operate to suppress pensions The great hard
ship of attending such tinerating commission
with witnesses and remaining until case can be
reached and the testimony taken will dishearten
parties and drive them TO abandon their claims
Poor and dependent applicants cannot endure the
delays, expense, and Inconvenience that will be
imposed
That measure assumes that an applicant or his
widow and orphan children are claimants and liti-
gans who should prosecute and establish their
rights with the expense, delays and inconvenience
incident to legal Investigations in courts This is
both unjust and unnecessary. They should have
plain, cheap, and speedy provided TO estab-
lish their rights This is practicable, The present
system by afdavits has existed from the foundation
CT our Government except brief period about