The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1881-10-08
CIRCULAR TO CLAIMANTS,
The following circular has recently been issued,
by the Commissioner of Pensions:

by the Commissioner of Pensions:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
PENSION OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, d. c.
! TO Claimants f0r Pension:
! 1t having been brought to the notice of the
! Commissioner of Pensions that certain persons
are representing themselves as possessing peculiar
advantages for prosecuting claims over other
agents and attorneys and as being able to erDe-
/ ate claims for consideration, so that by their
efforts the claim shall be more sDeediIY allowed
/ than 1t otherwise would, he deems it proper to
/ warn all claimants for pension that such repre-
sensations and pretensiOns are false and delusive
ana are only made to swindle claimants. The
claim that such persons can secure advantage by
congressional influence is equally false for no
Congressman would knowingly lend himself To
such scheme. No person, agent or attorney. in
or out OF Washington, possesses any sort of adj
vantage over any other except in official stand
ing, and no one can expedite claim BY influence
And he assures claimants for pension that moth
ing Will expedite the settlement of claims 50 much
as prompt compliance with the requirements of
the office sent to them direct if they have nc agent
OF record or through their regularly constituted
agent IL they nave one, and he be in good stand
ing before the office. land if he is not claimants
Will be at once nOtifed.) In claims possessing
undOubted merit, when the evidence required
has been furnished promptly, no great or 1nnec-
bear IN mind that not only is the clerical force of
the Pension Office employed in attending to cur
rent cases. but that during the adjudication of
the claims for arrears, vast amount of business
accumulated which is being examined and dis
posed OF as fast as possible. And were the office
caught up with this accumulated work current
cases IN which proof must be made necessarily
require some considerable time for their proper
examination and adjudication. fruitful source
OF delay IN the adjudication of cases is found in
the necessity tor expanding large portion of the
clerical force OF the office in writing answers to
the thousands OF letters constantly pouring in.
asking the status of these accumulated cases
The commissioner assures claimants that as much
examination and labor is necessary to answer one
such letter OF inquiry as is necessary to adIudl-
cate claim; hence such delays as are caused by
answering inquiries as TO the condition of claims
should be charged to the claimants for pension
themselves, for If they should cease such inuui-
rles twice as many claims would be adiudicatad
as are now, for twice much of the clerical force
could be employed in adjudication. Cases will
be made special, only when it is concusiyely
shown to the Commissioner that such cause for
1t exists as would satisfy other claimants that
such action is right and proper. That claimants
may be on their guard, | append, LIST, a copy of a
letter written by one of these peculiar adyanta-
ges" gentlemen to a pensiOner whose claim is
pending; I'd, the section of the Revised Statute
OF the United States governing the amount of
legal fee that may be charged by any person
acting as agent in prosecuting a claim for pen
sion; and, Bird, the section prescribing punish
ment for any over charge by any such agent or
person aiding them