The National tribune., 1880-06-01
Extract from the Speech of Hon A. H. Coffroth,
of Pa Chairman of the Committee on Invalid
Pensions, on the Bill creating Court OF Pen
sions

sions. N
DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE NAY 10
Mr.. Chairman one of the complaints / hear nearly II
every day that the Pension Department strikes from s.
the pensonro worthy pensioners on the secret reports
of detectives special agents that these detectives or
special agents 90 through the country taking the state
en of the enemies of the pensioners, and then without
any notice him her of the nature OF the charges or
the names Of the witnesses the special agent makes bis
report and this pdrte statement the Commissioners
of Pensions drops from the pensionro the name of the
pensione In many cases these detectives or specai
agents strike at virtue OF the widow of the dead sol
der and retail in their reports the foul ander and scan
da Of the icentou and the vier with avdity IN order
have her dropped from the pension-ro La other
instances vague statements and on hearsay deciaa
ons upright and exemplary persons nave peen stckeh
from the roll Now, sir should there not be court to
review the action founded upon this kind of adayit or
must the wounded soldier, the wife and children OF the
man who gave his life the Nation rest under the
condemnation pronounced by the Pension Department
which resorts to the deestabe and damnable system of
secret spies detectives special agents to take the
bread out of the mouth of the poor and destitute PEN
soner This mode Of striking pensioners from the pen
became oious that Congress last year. at the
session, enacted appropriation bill that in
no shall pension be withdrawn reduced except
upon notice to the pensoner and nearing upon sworn
testimony
In other these special agents arrest pension
applicants for pre- entng what they call fraudulent
claims against the Government and when the is
the charge not sustained and the accused is ac
Quilted after suffering nexpressble torture Hon Oliver
Wilson in his testimony before the Select Committee
the Payment of Pensions and Back Pay recited case
recently tried the United states Court at indianapolis
Indiana. He said
which Illustrates danger there doing injustice in this
aesp e eenss nay the
IL the h that write an the
that g. sa @ 5 e fb e 5 shd m n @
m essTs e nere n asne w sg
@ s mat @ X S sn al 1 e
night q the sot April sSs after we ~ ad erose % ee & yer 4 ana ma
n ON s asS ha
hs nan anS F m Knew ay
the night q the s,t Of April 1868 be
asked What he
% ad that "a nj
s s PaS sl eas Il ana an
the line fro, 5qm the sad 6 e the
sa|,
n ssaf ngn nj n0h Il appears ape at
@ sai
that there was engagement night
co Tas dene4a aas
the fact the panic rae al f wefe
that panic has been
This bill makes the aidavs of the applicant conlpe
tent evidence of the United States and il
the courts nearly all of the States interested parties
allowed testify, and their evidence accepted
peen testimony but strange say that the affidavit
the applicant in the Pension Department has scarcely th
weight Of feather, unless perhaps it contravenes il
some way the applicant claim contracs the evidenc
it's support, then it has the weight OF milestone
this is organized the soldier will know that hi
claim is before learned judges who will give his
statement full credit and that his testimony viii be
sidered as if had been given in court of justice.
would not ask the Government to place upon the pension
roll the of any soldier unless he is entitled to
deserves pension.
We daily reminded of the large appropriation
made to pay pensions and of the constantly increasin
pension-ro. Congress cennot appropriate money for
more worthy just purpose Congress approprates mi
lions upon millions of dollars for other purposes that
not have tithe of the merit Of the pension appropri
tions. a.tsa -safs4 8.
IF xuha
great civil convulsing the country made speecht
Inducing to go to the tented field Do we remen
ber what inducements held out to telowcit
zens to volunteer? We promised them that gres
Government should be husband to the widow of the ia
len soldier, guardian to the soldiers orphans and I'll
supporter to the wounded and disabled. We appealed
the patriotism of people, to their love of country,
and we held up before them the everlasting honor tn
would be given to the who would put down the r
helnn and who would the Government from di