New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-11
LONG ISLAND.
FRAUD IN PENSION CLAIMS.
THE GOVERNMENT A SMALL LOSER.
LETTER TO THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM THE
SECRETARY OF TIE INTERIOR.

LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FROM THE
SECRETARY OF TIE INTERIOR.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1O.-Thc Secretary Of the
Interior yesterday addressed the following communca
ton to the Attorney cneral lam IN receipt Of your
communication OF the 9TH instant, concerning the ap
pO.Bhent by the Commissioner OF Pensions OF person
10 aid the United States Di,trct-Attomey for this dis
tict In the investigation OF all claims for pensions and
bountics In connection with charges made against
attorneys and ~ examine such the District
Attorney may desire to present 10 the Grand Jury.
You say: agree with you, that such an appointment
cannot be made 10 examine cases whore the offences
charged not offences against the United staes but
the Di,rict-Attomcy I'm bis letter Ia You Of the 23d
ultmo includes where these pension agents make
formal applications To the pension Office, well knowing
that the claims they present are fraudulent
" Ihayc for the second time carefully oNamocd the
letter OF the District Attorney o the 23d ulmo OF which
you peak and n 70 Ind that he n that letter suggested
even disposition To prosecute parties guilty OF at
tempting 10 defraud the Government or the United
states The subject matter OF the interview mentioned
hy linn With the Commissioner of Pensions, learn from
his letter wei rs from tho Commissioner, with
reference 20 the offences OF the attorneys and claim
agents vho dofraudng the applicants Tor pensions
: fully -yupathze with the Di,thct-AuorGey
IN this effort and recognize the duty OF the Government
o. punish a such offenders; but you agree with me that
such appointment cannot Dee made by the Commissioner
90 examine cases WHORE the offence consists IN swndling
Ni attempting 70 sMlulc inc dppllCtht lihl INC
District Attorney applied Tor detail under the section
authorizing ,uc. detail. should have assumed that he
wanted such detail Tor the purpose authorized by law.
1.-THE object NJ the DstTict-Atom,y - 10 prosecute
partl,, committing frauds the Government or at
tempting do the authority IS explicit FOR the detail
During th, year I--2 the Department submitted from
the pension oG,, Tor criminal prosecution l7G ruscs Of
this number - against attorneys or claim agents
During tho yalr l--J, 1l2 c..c- OF like char
acter were submitted, ~ which number eighty
s,vcu against attorneys or agents. In all
cases. understand the charges against tho attor
n"ys or gents that they were attempting 10 or had
Ice prohibited by the Untrl states statutes under
,'' - &C. a. .iit t' , H. he Dl.iIct Nofncy
aud 90 detail competent examiner 10 ad HIN Ia tho
M a case, where attorneys are found violating the
pension laws OF eN1rusmouo from app Giants without
refused ~ allow such agents Attorney toaPpcar be
fore the pension office IN the prosecution OF pension
| g m Inc iy,t, of the Tinted States
il crime against the United States Uut claim can Doe
presumed 10 be- fraudulent and false from the character
Of tho attorney presenting IT, nor FROM the methods
alorfod by him 10 secure his ornt. Tie soldiers ap
pciion must be- heard on Is merits. without prejudice
au ~ the dlsrcpuaule character OF d. agent
aud the Department must consider all cn-"- died for
pensions properly hlel and the applicant worthy and
dg-cINiuE until by proof the contrary j., ,hoNn NhIS
oh the prc-uptlous must be that the applicant Is honest
and e- what lo believes is an honest Jud JI-t clam
hr a. rcNu,rcd 10 prove bis claim 10 The sails
faction OF the pension Office lie IL submitted To care
e. 7
supported 10y record evidence satisfactory q" thy quo,
.r rro-- examined and every effort made Ia arrive al
the truth have no doubt that many persons nave br'H
stimulated TO apply for pensions by shl ,orug dttothJ
docs not necessarily follow tit the applicant docs
rOueitrr tuut he IA entitled % pension II u gutr
apparent a thinking that the effects ol the ils"r>
~ Nar VIII be- mo apparent 20 ir -'H'r ,s u, s VM
older, and n instances he VIII mistake ire decline
ui wears Tor the effects service rendered rs country
but n hc does Dc viii not hc fraudulent applicant even
Ar 10 . br found by the proper officials that ne II NOT
entitled Co pension. failure to secure 'F"'h'c ""y
defeat mcrlturioj~ case, q,
"Iou ca my attention the report OF the second audi
tor concerning the attempted frauds on ihl ''f 'IH'"'
u matters ~ bounty aud back ljl. 81" moi profess
To- De. qualified to pas, Judgment The statements uad'
therein, fur That la, no relation 90 ANY loiu"H o we
public service that hHs fallen under my "lt'hun py
reference To this report you intend ID 'uLSt nv ; w
hAc proportion ~ nppicInt~ Tor lru-'u- "'' ''" -
ulru must allowed doubt The correctness OF l'
uIuuo-ituu 70 r. undoubtedly tuc that HLIEri per
c,uiagr ~ applications for pensions made WllA le ',
three wears have been d-illoWcd than of those made
uvfuIc that time. but 10 must not Do" as-,h '' 'u'u
dl-1.loVJnc f. because urY are fraudulent l"o mn
or time, death Of cOmTndc-, clc.l1', huo a. wy ~
ct n secure evidence In hundreds or -l,h cases IL j.
not doubted that the applicant lOl. t - 'hlIlu od
pension Tie fails To make his pro BE- th' 7ti l'va"n
OF the office, and his claim is rejected \ ChI'l Yum
show any considerable number o' uudh"ht p'llN'",l'
aud Im oi The opinion that not one hlI "l pl IN
allowed were WTougfully allowed IL cannot Oy 7alu
that even that percentage was fraudulent Tor thl~H-
rIdrs All rejected FOR insufficient improper testimony
~ wcll where fraud was practsrd un th' a.
" understand nom your communication udl u - ~
purpose Of the District Attorney not "It ' 'hl'h u,
parties guilty OF fraud on the a. .' F." nus
guilty of attempting To practise .. .. ''' oNriH n
mcut, aud, therefore, will O.... 't' ''.. 'u'' !"
detail some person satisttctof. 90 %. ,ho
District Attorney, aud assure you th nll .' mGs
lawfully ut the command OF the department VII oo
placed at your disposal to punish Offenders Whelncl
guilty ut attempting to dclTdud me HONclhH'HV u '
t4u liz Ia non