New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-25
FRAUDULENT PENSION CLAIMS.
HOW THE GOVERNMENT Is swINDLED BY CERlIF
ICArEs GRANTED BY PHYSICIANS WITH ITCHiN'

HOW THE GOVERNMENT Is swINDLED BY cER1IF-
ICArEs GRANTED BY PHYSICIANS With ITCHING
PALMS.
To the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The statement In HE SEMI EEKLY
TRIBUSE Of January 4,cang attention 10 the necessity
OF IL thorough examination and revision OF the United
states Pension List strikes iorcbly as beng veIy
timely. have been wondering for two or three years
whether It not tue settled policy OF the Government
10 pension all the surviving United States soldiers OF the
late rebellion. o. my OWN knOwedge can name doz-
ons OF men the VeusOu st who's names have 10
more business there than that Of the cl that was I'M
born Vt tnc tac 81 the rebellion. rot pension can be
drawn except IN the certificates OF several physlcans
ulugenisl surgeons very eenTtons toward :" tile
boys" and * Is easy 10 gc from t."n almost any Kind
If certificate may suggest I!e ncX step is To
ca. upu the amy doctor and suggest what 10 wanIed,
and ~ L,ac uUi al pn tue certificate lorth COM
nr i. wou ~ for thc pms stefan 10 refuse to grant his
old pats 90, -ac!, sl: tuis, and ono which VIII
rr.ut IA -loh soft thing" for the remainder or his
dpys There may 10 SOM old doctors bs unpaid aud
IA the pension - gIancd these WILL be fOrthcUnlIg
little Tee ulso Tor the certificate Is always III order
Thls iiciIro Is not overdrawn Ii any pensOE agent
Will 80 with me point dozens Of individuals as
a0lebOdlcd We have on the continent, VINO are
to-day ~ rart supported by the Government. TINS is
ali wrong and should De some way Oh rSnting IT,
VIII etlt two OI turcc cases To Illustrate tile point
In the year 1878 an Individual whom 1 had known for
so.r tIar cane to for ce-ucAte.tO aid hlm III OBJ
tanning a. pension. On investigation found HIN LABOR
lns under temporary cough but from prior acqudnt-
an. e knew HIM DC aboring under disease known
~, rhro.c laziurss informed HIM tnAt cOnld
cuunec; ION between his the Army and that
cough. But he had u certificate from tue reg mental
siirseyu ~ the Ell ct that he once had cOln III the
Aruy and now "A ccr.licle from the home doctor stat
ing tlat no was permanently disabled MAS al that was
required to Obtain pension refused TO grant t. He
10 "a
HIM adnllar and got certificate. He now draws .
PENSION, and Is al abe To do DAYS work as any nldn
Case = : \ mlude aged man came 10 me ldst March
frou nrIghborng county stAtiS hdt he nau an the w
prrs uAdr out whereby he could gct pension, pro
health, covering ihe space OF eisht OF zen Years ne
Claimed tu DO yring with cDrOnio rheumatism con-
tracted the Army. Ia been the amuy physician OF
the Individual during time mentioned, but IN AL that
tine had known Inn 10 lO'e \ day WOfK on ac-
IN nTc-crbr Tor inat disease. told could not sign
his cert doatc aud he went his way no doubt 10 nnd
! PHYSICIAN ,nat did sign ms ccrtIhoate -
known Tor years since the war, wrote that hs
| cEaiu OF evidence 10 Obtain pension was coupteie
VITA tho exception Of statement from nre, GOVERNS
tie years Of my acquaintance. He had certificate o.
aware that tie individual aDored under any debility IA
| nil during my acquaintance, except That he hau
! iudyidlAis that are bern tired" l do not KNOW
whether he Eot pension Or not. know nc got M
NOW, am in favor Of pensIoung every disabled MAJ
fought for tue preserN alton OF thls UNION an'
oppoAed u pcusiUnng who fought to destroy II; Ou
30 not believe IN peusioninR tue whole OalOu Army
Thero AZ souothuK wrong u the Pension Bureau some
| where l do Know exactly at which emu OF the IN
the faul lies but Am O the opinion tnaI IL 10 priuci
rally an he rnd OF tue line where medical examination
are made IN tho first place TO obtain the pension ana
seco.d 10 continue The same do not Know whethe
prnsuu oxaIniners are paid for each enli atloi
or not u they are, this would be temptation {" kee
as many tie list as possible. Physciau5 VINO max
Tue regular Uf pensioners should be paiI
| much without regard TO the number OF lndyldun
examined. They should be 50 appointed that the III
huenoe OF OLD acquaintance and friendship could have
bearing whatever result a. {. SiMoNroN, Nj. ID.
| ues MoiVes Iotcd, Jan. 2, 1881.