The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-06-14
Plenty of CHARGES. hut No Proofs.

made.
Plenty of Charges, but No Proofs.
There is more trouble, and fraud, and stealing,
in the pension business than in any other matter
connected with the Government. There are thou
sands of men drawing pensions, who are no more
entitled to them, according to the laws and rules
governing the matter, than many men who
were never in the army; and there are thousands
of applicants working up their cases, who are just
as little entitled. Thousands upon thousands of
men, upon coming out of the army, were in pretty
good shape, enjoying excellent health, and felt
able to make their way in the world. They did
not like the idea of applying for pension, but
would as soon have thought of begging. But as
years pass, they run behind and become poor and
begin to feel old and stiff. Then they think what
a comfortable thing a pension would be TO help
them in their old age, and finally imagine they can
trace an ailment or pain TO some injury or ex-
posure they suffered in the army. Then the ever
ready pension agent is ready to work up their case,
and the next thing their neighbors know they are
allowed pension Until recently it was accom-
panied by good round SUM OF back pay, but the
time for that is passed.
The above appeared in the Troy Kansas
Chief of May II, and we reprint it as spec
linen of the silly, yet at the same time cruel
ISLANDERS that are being circulated by ire
sponsible and malicious newspapers. So far
as wea know the editor of the Kansas Chief
enjoys no special facilities for aseertaining
the condition of the pension roll, and per-
sonally cannot possibly have any knowledge
of fraud except within his own neighbor-
hood, yet he starts out with the broad and
comprehensive declaration that there is
more trouble and fraud and stealing in the
pension business than In any other matter
connected with the Government But if
such be the case, there certainly must be
some tangible evidence of the fact. Where
is it? What is it? Is il to be found in the
records of the Pension Office? Has it been
disclosed by judicial inquiry or Congress
sional investigation? Can it be found in
the columns of any newspaper? We have
searched diligently, but nowhere have been
able to find any proof of the existence of
such state of things as the Kansas Chief
describes. Commissioner Dudley, who GER
tainly is in better position to know the
actual condition of the pension roll than any
one else, says the records of his Office show
that the proportion of fraud is but one-tenth
Of one per cent, and in the interview, which
appears in another column of the present
Issue, he declares that none but perfectly
valid claims are now being allowed. Upon
what information, then, does the editor of the
Kansas Chief base his charges? The fact
that he fails to give his authority is in itself
sufficient to discredit his assertions.
Consider, too, this statement that Mou-
sands of men drawing pensions and thou
sands more applying for them, who, accord
ing to the laws and rules governing the
matter, are no more entitled to them than
so many men who were never in the army !!
How does he, the editor Of an obscure local
paper, know this to be the case? Has he
personally instituted an investigation and
taken a census Of pensioners whose claims
can be shown to be fraudulent, or is he merely
echoing the hue and cry of other editors as
ignorant of the facts as himself and with as
little concern for the truth The fact that
he does not venture to name single one of
these alleged imposters notwithstanding
the positiveness with which he states that
they are numbered by the thousands, is
enough in itself to cast suspicion on his
veracity. AS TO the laws and rules govern
ing the matter it is evident that he knows
nothing of them, else he would not be so ready
to repeat absurd reports as to the extent to
which they have been evaded IF it is easier
for q camel to enter the eye of needle than
rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven,
it is certainly much easier than TO squeeze q
bogus claim through the Pension Office in
spite of its cast-iron regulations.
As for the unfeeling assertion that as age
overtakes our veterans, and they begin to
feel old and stiff, they are impelled to put
in claim for pension on imaginary grounds,
it occurs to us that instead of indulging in
such q gratuitous insult, it would better be-
come the editor of the Kansas Chief, who
shares in common with the rest of his coun-
trymen the blessings which the valor of
these @poor," and old and "stiffn veterans
assured to the Nation, to entreat for them
at the hands of rich and prosperous Gov
eminent the help of which, by his own con-
fession, they stand SO sorelv in need, and to
which they have, as the saviors of the Re-
public, an undeniable claim Did we not
pension all the survivors of the Revolution
and the war of 1872 when they became
poor and old and stiff, and when the sur
yiyors of this last still more vital struggle