The National tribune., 1880-12-01
Four Millions Of Dollars Annually Paid Out
for Fraudulent Pensions.

Michigan, used these words
The Commissioner of Pensions informs me- and the
press of the country has published it, that he satshed
that under the present system Of paying PENSIONS
$ 600 600 (and be does not know how much more)
has been paid out fauduently out of every fifty millions
discussed.
This, then, is not Mr. HubbclI's declaration, for
he is careful to give his authority.
This is Commissioner Bentley's declaration--this
is his charge this is what be assumes to know for
observe he says he is satisfied as to that much but
does not knoD how much more.
This charge means that nearly Is per cent of the
Pensions are fraudulent
We challenge Mr.. Bentley to the proof. We
challenge him to show by any sort of reasoning, by
any possible state of facts, by any decent show OF
argument that this, anything like the case made
in this monstrous charge does in fact exist.
The truth is that Mr.. Bentley has slandered by
wholesale large body OF people whom ne OF all
men is bound to protect He has done 1t without
evidence, and he knows it. He has done it as
means to an end and that end not the best for the
Government or the people.
His records do not show any such state OF facts.
His secret service agents give him no such
data The record of criminal prosecutions shows no
to be kicked out of Office for incompetency. Any
man who has all the courts, all the law, all the
mower of the United States behind him, who has
absolute authority the admission or relecton
of claims who has special detective force OF ms
own who has large annual appropriations to detect
and punish fraud, sinks to the level OF confessed
imbecility when he makes such a statement. Not
Senator or Representative but would repel with
scorn such charge applied to his own people ];
but Mr.. Bentley includes and calumnates all, be-
cause he distinguishes none.
Four millions of dollars, and perhaps more, lost
eyery year by Commissioner Bentley!!l
Is not this rather high figure to pay for the
doubtful usefulness of this gentleman
What would the Secretary of the Treasury think
of one of his auditors, or the President or comp
troller who allowed four millions year TO be
stolen by fraud? What would Mr. Schurz, Of the
interior. saw to an Indian commissioner who made
such confession? Nay, more; what would be-
come of any officer who confessed to four hundred
thousand, or even forty thousand, lost in his office
by fraud on this Government!
Gentlemen, if you believe Mr. Bentley-h you
think he told the truth, you would instantly remove
him from an Office which bore such results, or you
would be impeached.
The country can't afford such q luxury as Mr..
Bentley at such price.
Now remember, for four years he has been press
ing this cry of fraud.
Is it not time he should give some proof better
than Mr. Hubbell gave, of the Maine swindle by
clerk ia the Pension Office, in 1864, and negro
conspiracy in Detroit detected and punished by the
conviction OF Richardson
The whole body of Pensioners who are covered
by this slander challenge and require you to point
out and punish the guilty, and to leave unharmed
the reputation of the innocent.
| Prove your case and show yourself incompetent
for your Office. or admit your extravaganza if not
you libel and show yourself unfit for it from want
of judicial mind and Judicial impartiaLty.