The National tribune., 1882-06-10
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Mention has already been made in these
columns of the death, by suicide, in New
York, OF an ex-soldier who was driven to
despair by his inability to maintain the
struggle for existence while waiting for the
pension to which he was entitled. The
case was a peculiarly sad one by reason OF
the fact that almost before his body had
grown cold in death the post-man brought
letter for, the unhappy man announcing
that his pension had been granted-a few
hours only, yet q whole eternity too late
We are reminded Of this pathetic incident
by the fatality which seems TO attend every
effort that is made in Congress to expedite
the work of the Pension Bureau, and we
commend it to the thoughtful consideration
of every Senator and Representative,
though it especially merits the attention of
those whose speeches and votes seem to
warrant the inference that they regard the
question of time, in the settlement Of pen
sion claims, as one Of no Importance what
ever. The facts which we have cited are all
of record, as they were brought out at the
coroner's inquest, and although it may be
claimed that this is an exceptional case and
cannot be regarded as a fair illustration of
the effect OF delay in the granting of pen
IL oI,, IL J. l..
infinite possibilities for evil which this
delay affords It may be said that the
Government ought not to be held respon-
sble for such painful episodes, since the
examination Of the merits of claim is Il
necessary condition precedent to its adjudi-
cation, and justice to the applicant as well
as to itself requires that this examination
should be thorough and complete, no matter
how long the petitioner may be compelled
to wait; but this view Of the matter is only
tenable on the theory that the Government
has already provided proper and sufficient
machinery for the examination of claims,
which, as matter Of fact, It has not On
the contrary, ii is notorious that while the
most effective measures have been taken to
promptly meet every demand OF the bond
holder, no adequate provision has ever
been made for the prompt settlement of the
claims of the soldier, and whereas the
business of the Treasury Department is
never permitted to be day in arrears, that
of the Pension Bureau is now years
behindhand. At this very moment some
two hundred and seventy thousand appli-
cations for pensions are chung up" in the
Bureau, and it has been calculated that at the
present rate Of adjudication it viii require
ten years to pass upon them. AT the same
and as applications are taken up in the
order of date, new claims necessarily cam
not receive consideration until those already
on file are disposed Of Now if this condition
of things were unavoidable-if the rapidity
Win WIlICH pension cidlIhS can DC examined
and passed upon were not question merely
of the number Of clerks employed in the
work, it would indeed be unjust to hold the
Government responsible for the delay which
drove the poor soldier, whose tragic fate we
have already cited, to despair, but the plain,
simple truth is that it is not unavoidable
1t is Just as practicable to insure the prompt
dispatch of business in the Pension Bureau
rs in the Treasury Department, and the only
step that it is necessary for Congress to take
to bring about that result, as we have fre-
gently pointed out, is to authorize the Com
missioner of Pensions to employ more clerks
and appropriate the money with which to pay
them. And upon what ground Congress is OF
has been justified in Withholding It's sanction
TO that step, we cannot imagine. From an
economical point of view there is nothing to
be gained by refusing to increase the force in
the Pension Bureau, since it will cost the
Government just as much to employ the