National Republican., 1883-12-07
AN EARNEST FRIEND.
Rev. Dr.. Sunderland in Behalf Of Pension
Claim Agents.
lie Inveighs Against Commissioner Dud-
ley and the Postmaster General.

Rov. DIR. Sunderland, in q letter to District |
Attorney Corkhill takes strong grounds in
favor of the accused pensi on agents whose
cases are about to be presented TO the grand
jury Of tho district. The doctors sympathies
and feelings are evidently thoroughly
aroused. Eight points arc suggested for
the consideration of Col. Corkhill. Tho first
is that "the pen sion office was never designed
to act as q rosecuting engine against men
who are accused of fraud by their clients. All
cases of this kind are open to the courts of
tho land, where such accusations must bo
proved in order TO convict"
In his second point" he says:
II the commissioner OF pensions appeared before
the grand jury IN his official capacity ~ procure
indictments against claim agents ior alleged
frauds on the pension office, he did so III open
transgression of the special net OF congress lsec
acts forty-soventh congress, page 40 section 4!li
claim agents, his duty is plainly out set aud the
mode of procedure prescribed. He is To cause the
examination OF suspected cases Of fraud through
his subordiuates In his own Office AMI the
accused party Is to have notice of the
charges against him, aud to bo present at the OK;
animation and cross question the witness Until
this is DONE he has no right TO suspend or disbnr
an attorney; no right to seek an indictment by II
grand iury against q, pension agent. II TINS 10
sound doctrine, then think you Will agree with
me that the honorable commissioner has already
transconded his authority aud done irreputablc
injury TO inc business anu VI nlSll NilO
have hitherto stood well in their business opera
uons.
The third, fourth, and fifth paragr apis Of
the plea arc something in the nature OF
special pleadings for the accused. The
sixth point is rs follows:
good deal has been said about the character
Of advertising by pension agents But Is this to
be taken likewise as prlma iacie evidence OF an
intention to dcfraud? As have been advised the
pension Office has never prescribed any regula-
lions OH this subject, and i have grave doubts OF
its right to do aside from tic legislation OF con.
grcss; but, even admitting the tight, understand
II has never been exercised, and yet men are sus-
pended from practice before the Office upon the
mere assumption that their advertisements are
fraudulent and intended to be SO for the purposes
And so far has this feeling extended, we learn
from the star of the twentieth, tho honorable
postmaster general, all for the protection of PEN
sioners has issued an order to all the postmasters
in the country, forbidding them to inform pension
agents of the names of soldiers and others sup
posed to be entitled to pensions. IL this bo true,
think 1t Il gross outrage on the rights OF Amen'
eau citizens, and sufficient ground for removing
GEN Gresham from Office II seems to be in my
view q most unheard of proceeding. What Is
not the information sought Legitimate ana proper?
Are not the postmasters free and independent
citizens? May they not communicate lawful in
formation to any other class of their fellow oit-
zens, because an autOcrat sits here in Washington
who chooses 10 interfere with the postal facilities
of the country aud by his single word arrest the
business correspondence of large body OF men,
who are seeking TO carry out the design OF con
gress in aiding worthy claimants to obtain
their honest dues? Never, / think, was
more preposterous order promulgated from any
department of this government; ana, believe me-
dear sir, ms sure as you and are living men, all
such means and methods will finally react with
retributive effect upon the authors OF them. They
may be successful In crushing and running certain
parties who have become the objects of aversion
Tor the time, but the people OF this country are ar
too Intelligent and independent TO suffer the In.
science of tyranny or any essential abridgement
OF their political or civil rights.
The reverend doctor then proceeds to show
that il was for the purpose of aiding disabled
soldiers and their families that Congress
passed pension laws and made appropriations
for the payment of pensions.
as it then," hewrites, "for the very bureau
established for tho express purpose, not of
covering into tho treasury any part of the
money thus appropriated, but rather of dis
bursting it to those who are 30 justly entitled
to it, to turn aside from its legitimate work
O work for which il is paid over 81, 100000 an
nualy-and suddenly transmuto itself into q
| huge mill for grinding the bones of body o.
pension agents, under the pretext of PROTECTING :
pensioners and pension claimants from fraud.
| No, my dear sir, this is not the way for re-
dressing existing evil. Let the pension office
| keep to its legitimate work, allowing just
claims and rejecting those it finds worthless,
and leave the business of prosecuting frauds
to the courts, where it belongs"
He then adds;
| The honorable commissioner of pensions knows
nothing, and eau know nOthlng OF MS own per-
| sonal knowledge. of all the frauds that may bC
alleged between clentand attorney. Why, then,
| should he spend hours in the grand jury room re.
taihng the hoGrsay evidence OF fraud? Would III
not subserve the cause of the public, the pen
| sioners, and the government far more effectuallI
by keeping at his desk and ell deavorng to accom-
plish the single purpose for which his Office wa
croatcd2
If there are complaints to come before the grand
Jury take 1t they must be laid by those who
claimed to have been injured or defrauded, and
upon their sworn testimony aud II Is your dut,
as the prosecuting officer Of the district to guard
the rights of all citizens as well as the Interests
of justice and equity, You are not to receive ait
encourage charges obviously preferred through
malice or disappointed cupldity. Where al
evident wrong has been done or fraud committed
IL Is your duty TO prosecute IL to the full extent o
the law. But you are TO sift and scrntiniZe tn
motive and credibility of the eX-parte evidence
given in the grand jury room. and not to yield 4
the urgency of accusati Oh for the mere purpos
of obtaining an indi ctment. If there be an
possible way of recon Cling the mcts disclosed
with the innocence OF tho accused you are to OBJ
serve even more care and caution In the inceT
tion ofjudicial proceed ings than even at the sub
sequent stages.
But Of course all this is not intended to dete
you from pursuing the exact line ofyour duty irrI
spectve of the popular clamor on the one ham
or OF any untimely sympathy on tho other |
proof of criminality is disclosed so palpable ns tC
admit of no doubt In your mind, then you hav
but one way to do, and all law abiding me
should uphold and encou rage you.