The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-20
PENSION FRAUDS.

ASlue lTOH tne tHicNHIS VI Tic StdT
probably there is no single
branch in our government affairs that
has been imposed upon to such an
outrageous extent, and defrauded of
more money than the Pension Blu
reau. In Washington there are
scores of Pension attorneys who re-
sort to all kinds of chicanery to Oh.
tain pensions for clients and as remu.
neration for their thievery pocket |
about half the spoils. The enormous
amounts of money that have been
flched from the public treasury
through misrepresentation OH account
of the arrears Of the pension act can
be counted by the millions, and it is
high time some measure be taken to
abite this wholesale robbery. To
pension men who lost limb or be-
c,me disabled in any manner whatso-
ever while serving their country in
the cause of freedom Is but just and
right, and the care of widows and or.
phans of those who yielded up their
lives that we might enjoy the bless
ings Of Il united kingdom-free and
unfettered-is a sacred duty that ev.
cry loyal heart would spurn to disa.
VOW. But when able bodied and
strongly constituted men, without
even Il scratch upon their persons and
many times without even war rec
ord, apply for and receive pensions.
it is proper that the people rise up in
righteous indignation and protest.
1t is too often the case with our
legislators in passing upon bills for
appropriations, brought to their at
tention by the head of bureau or by
some scheming chairman of com.
mittee, that they give the affair little
or no attention, but take the shortest
cut and allow what is asked. Espe-
cially is this careless and wholly in
eXcusable neglect Of public duty at.
tributable in the recommendation of
Gen. Rice, chairman of the Invalid
Pension committee. which passed last
session. The members who voted for
the bill did SO without knowing the
enormous expense they were incur
ring in carrying it out, and without
giving a thought to the splendid OPP
portunities for fraud it would afford.
Rice simply reported the bill with
the usual earnest appeal for its pas
sage. and those who voted for it, be.
lieving lie had given the subject the
necessary investigation and ought
therefore to know the great outlay of
public money it would require, event
it blind and acQuiesced without that
thorough research and careful proce.
dure that should attend every Meas
ure involving so much of the people s
money.
Instead of thi, pension bill costing
the government S50.000,000, the
maximum limit of the estimate, it
will be called upon to pay three OF
I four times that amount. Were the
claimants to this enormous sum bona
ride, there would be not murmur of
dissatisfaction from any source, but
unfortunately this is not fact. Upon
proper investigation very large per
cent. will lie found to be fraudulent
claims,-ignorant claimants as mere
instruments in the hands Of unScru.
pulous pension agents.
With these facts plainly before
Congress, there is every prospect
that the existing wrong may be
righted, and the public interest there
10y guarded against further imposi.
ton. AS we before remarked, worthy
subjects should, and will, receive
proper and prompt attention, but
these frauds must be stopped or the
people will rebel and demand justice
in the name of our rights as free
men.