New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-28
TIRE PENSION BUREA u.

TIRE PENSION BUREAU
PLANS OF THE NEW COMMISSIONER.
NO SWEEPING CHANGES OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TON OF CLAIMs-MAKING PENSION ATTORNEYS
USEFUL.
BY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, July 27.-The published statement
that Commissioners Dudley has decided upon plan
of reorganization of the Pension Bureau IS prema-
ture. He is diligently studying the situation and
seeking counsel from those qualified to give it, with
n view to making improvements an is entertain
ing plans for improvement in various directions;
but will not venture to upset the present arrange
ments and make sweeping changes until FULLY con-
WINGED that improvements practicable and de-
tails canvassed in all thoir bearings For the in
ternal work of his Office he proposes IN general
terms, to make those examiners who are qualified
by experience, education or natural ability to sft
evidence and ascertain its legal value for the adjust
ment of claims, heads of divisions giving them
subordinates enough to perform the routine work
required in the cases submitted to them.
Under the present system he finds that cases in
which the evidence is insufficient, being taken up in
their turn with Others, placed back in the list of
unsettled cases after the necessary additional evil
dence has been asked for. Often whom these
are reached again, they do not go to the
amincr who had charge of them ut first and the
result is that the evidence is occasionally de-
manded a second time. He believes an Improvement
be made in this respect and is giving the subject
such attention rs he can. In both these matters,
when plan of improvement is finally decided upon,
its adoption must necessarily be q work of some
time.
Perhaps the most important of the Commissioners
plans that in regard to the extension of the work
of investigation at the home of the claimant; and
for this work he is fortunately relieved of one ser
Gus embarrassment under which his predecessor
labored during the greater portion of his incum-
bency of the Commissionership Under the law rs
it existed prior to the last session of Congress the
special agents of the Department were authorized
TO investigate only cases in Which there appeared
definite ground for suspicion Of fraud but by
change of phraseoogy in he law all cases may now
be investigated by the agents of the Pension Office
who can call upon and cross-cxamne witnesses, and
secure such additional evidence while upon
the ground as is attainabe and the case de-
mands. He proposes in this work to select
such examiners have most thoroughly
mastered the intricate features of the pension laws
and will in all cases-except the investigation of
supposed criminal acts-require n month to make
their Investigations with the full knowledge of the
claimant, giving him the right to be present in per-
son or by attorney. Such claims as can readily be
adjudicated from the records of the War Depart
ment will not be submitted to special agents
In respect to the functions of pension attorneys
Commissioner Dudley is considering PLAN the
adoption of which in some form may greatly in
crease the usefulness Of these gentlemen and relieve
the Bureau of no inconsiderabe portion of its work
He believes that the repeal of clause of the pension
law in existence three four years ago. by which IN
attorney who had secured contract with pension
claimant was insured by the Government for his
fee, amounting to ten dollars in each case has
worked dsadvantageously under the present system
Attorneys are compelled to demand their pay in adj
vance and as result they arc sweeping the conn
try for pension claims, and ready to take up
any and all sorts of claims from people who Will adj
vance the fee of ten dollars. The result is the accu-
mutation of a vast number of incomplete and doubt
full claims, in which the attorneys have no further
direct interest
Commissioner Dudley believes that the passage
of a law authoring the Bureau to pay the attorney
his fee whenever claim is successfully
prosecuted from the proceeds of the claim
itself, and making it unlawful for an
attorney to receive n fec in advance or
demand pay for services which have not
resulted prohtably for the claimant, would have n
tendency to put a stop to the filing of doubtful
claims. In such cases the attorneys who must from
their experience have qualified themselves TO recoy
nize valid claims nearly well as the examiners
can themselves, would advise intending claimants
not to prosecute when they were unable to produce
sufficient legal proof of the justice of their demands
to make success probable
Thee Commissioner is also entertaining q purpose
W require pension attorneys To complete the evil
dence in pension claims before filing them other.
wise they will not be touched. He believes that
the law under which attorneys are an
thorized to demand pay for their ser
vices vices ~ contemplates something more than
leaving the Pension Office examiners and clerks
to DO all the hard work IN the case. Commissioners
Dudley speaks of the system adopted by Commis-
soner Bentley in terms of warm compliment, and in
the general features of his work will adhere to the
same plan of operations. He will not however
continue the efforts which have been made to secnre
the passage of the Sixty Surgeons "''