The National tribune., 1880-01-01


swer and explain
For the same reason he refuses opportunity to
honorable attorneys to examine papers on file in
cases in their charge, and denies the common
law right even to members of Congress representing
their constituents
The just rule that no man shall be condemned un-
heard is reversed and nullifed in the starchamber
administration of the Pension Office.
The Pension Office was not intended to be great
claim agency to prepare claims and evidence against
the United States, but judicial and impartial tr-
bunaI to pass upon cases prepared and furnished by
the claimants How many clerks have been with
drawn from their true duty, to conduct this cores
pondence we cannot state. 1t is of the secrets
of the charnel house" OF course practice has shown
that this correspondence is simply wasted and the
cases are and must be prepared by the claimants at
their peril but it answers the purpose of block
ing up the Department
And yet with more than three years devotion to
this bantlng of HIS it is the most rckety and dis
jointed infant that disgraced fond parent
Now in the year 1880, the Commissioner cannot,
for his life, begin to tell the number of little judges
he wants. he cannot tell the cost within any reason
able limit, he cannot give estimates of any value as
to any of the material points in his bill. Beginning
as "Sixty Surgeon Bill'--it has swelled to six
hundred at least, if they are to do, what he now
proposes There is no limit to the money, to the
number to the expense-and Congress is asked to
give him this unlimited power of appointment to lu-
cratiye oices-with fat travel fees, covering the
tire country
And for this wild crude, visionary and unjust
scheme, which magnifes Offices and officers and puts
unbearable expense and cost on the claimant Mr.
Bentley throws away the unbroken practice of the
Government from the beginning in like cases, the
precedents of an organized and familiar system, the
humanity of existing law the rights of honest claim
ants, and holds back and hordes up in stagnation,
the uniform and healthy flow of the Nations just
payment Women and children starye while their
cases. clearly proven under the law, suspended
f by an officer who cannot bring himself TO believe
evdence-and for every suspected to be
fraudulent hundreds and thousands beyond suspi-
con, are delayed from settlement
5 The Committees of Pensions of both Houses, are
overrun and loaded down with he has rejected,
and every session of Congress hundreds of special
bills pass in which the common sense of Congress
overrues the absurd red tape of the Pension Office
The busine which ought to be settled by the Com
missioner is pouring in on Congress- and at the
present rate that body will soon become Pension
bureau.
Yet, in the midst of all this, our Commissioner
lifts up his hands to heaven with the threadbare cry
of fraud fraud. He confesses himself overloaded by
the burden much of which he has made he con-
/ fesses himself unable or unwilling to execute exist
e ing law and yet the obstacles to its execution are
\ his own creation.
1 He cries in real or assumed agony of spirit "Oh
wretched man that am, who shall deliver me from
the body of this death 2" In compassion to his ex-
/ hausted spirit and in justice both TO him and the
: public, suggest the remedy.
l. Let the officer who thus publicly announces him
4 self either unwilling unable to fulfil the law,
y tire from the Office and give way to one who
n can and will.
II IN then the nennle will. saw OF Mr. BENTLEY :