Omaha daily bee., 1883-01-12
THE PENSION CHIEF.
How Work is Done in the Office
One Thousand Ex aminere.

nNb Deen COinpelIeu TO Mobile around
upon his orutcoes for a few days, but
has not been confined 70 his home ss
reported. He has been at his desk
every day from $50 in the morning
until nearly nearly b in tho afternoon,
constantly engaged with HIS duties.
AT least LOCO persons arS employed
in tho office as examiners, their duties
being to examine the papers In each
case assigned them; properly brief it;
call on the claimant for all evidence
necessary to complete the Gaze, and
when all proofs are send in to 1t the
"bosrd Of review" which consists of
thirty five men who usually return
thirty five cases daily to the examiners
for further evidence. The business of
the review board is to treat cases ia.
~diciously upon the papers submitted.
After q decision is made, upon law
aud facts, each case passes to the
medical referee for his decision upon
medical questions involved, when it
returns to the review board for final
adjudication.
An average of 210 claims reach final
action daily, out of which at least ten
are rejected.
A very important addition to the
literature of the office has recently
been made. 1t Is u Treatise on the
Practice of the Pension Bureau, pre-
pared and published, at the request
of Commissioner Dudley, by Jddge
@. b. Walker, department commits
sioner. 1t Is tho "Unwritten Practice
Formulated" giving In a concise, com.
prehensive form definite instructions
as to every step of procedure in all
classes tf pension claims. 1t places
on every employees desk a guide,
which in a veritable clamp unto his
feet" burning with no uncertain light,
because 1t draws it's sustensnce from
laws and tested regulations. 1t re-
ceives the hearty endorsement of the
Commissioner and of De. Il. b. Hood,
medical referee, and can not fail to
manifest itself in u largo increase in
the amount of work done, as much
valuable time heretofore spent in In
structing employees, and in searching
for law, regulations and precedelts,
will be- saved by this ready reference.
Judge Walker formerly resided at
Richmond, Ind, where he was en-
gagged in the practice of law.
Some much needed reforms have
been made by Colonel Dudley. Clerks
are no longer permitted to indulge In
dolce far niente over O fragrant cigar;
nor, for that matter, are those occupy.
ing higher positions. Neither tho
commissioner nor his immediate assis-
tants belong to that class of off Gals
which seem to believe that laws and
regulations we're only made with di.
mansions sufficient to cover those less
fortunate than themselves.
The rule, "No smoking allowed In
this department." Is rigidly enforced,
az well as that %forbidding all inter-
views with employees during ofioe
hours, Except to immediate members
of the ( amily." The oomrade who
desires to plan q lark, or arrange for
the next base ball club meeting, witha
pension bureau clerk, has to bide his
time with what patience he can until
after Office hours. The most obstinate
objector to restrictions can not fail to
SEQ the propriety and abundant good
results from enforcement of attention
to business.
Official red tape must have given
out before the pension office requisi-
ton was filed. Maybe Mr.. Bentley
overdrew and used his own and his
successors allowance. At all events,
Commissioner Dudley and his efficient
deputies, Major Clark and Judge G.
b. Walker, are always accessible dur
ing office hours, and the poorest,
most weatherbesten, storm tossed per-
son receives from each of these off.
GERS the same prompt, c~onsiderate
attention accorded to those of position
and prominence.
Sometimes this office reminds n
of the waiting room at receiving hos
pital, there are 80 many afflicted,
anxious persons, ''wsltidg their turn"
men with pale, disease. marked faces,
men with u leg gone, or maybe an
arm, perhaps with great ugly scars,
dis6guring them, making them look
almost as badly as did one OF the
abandonment, bravest men who went
to the war from Vermont,
when he camc home on furlough with
his nose shot entirely away; when, a
few months later, that brave young
life went out on the battlefield, those
who waited at home knew he had
recklessly thrown away his chance to
live, because he could not face the
world hideously disfigured. Often
widows come, with anxious faces and
with timid, frightened ways, which
are soon forgotten in the kindly pres
ence of those listening 90 their story.
No doubt there are numerous per-
sons claiming pensions without any
right or reason, making the utmost
caution in passing upon claims a stern
necessity; probably, despite the ex-
treme caution exercised, a good mary
60 upon the rolls who have no right
there; and some Just and honest
claims are rejected. Commissioner
Dudley's desire is to administer his
office with ever and exact justice, bat
some abuses and Bome hardships will
creep in despite him.
A BIG PENSION LIST.
WASHINGTON, January 0-During
last session Senator Beck introduced
a bill calling upon the commissioner
of pensions for a complete list Of pea.
sioners, with their disabilities and