Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1883-12-06


If the object OF the district att orney
is to prosecute parties committing
frauds on the government or attempt
ing to do SO, the authority is explicit
for the detail, which is of frequent oc-
currence in the prosecution of cases of
this character in all parts OF the coun-
try.
wnAT THE PENSION OFFICE HAS DONE.
During the year 1889. the depart
ment submitted from the pension { flee
for criminal prosecution l76 eases; of
this number ~ were against attorneys
or claim agents. During the year 1888
l22 cases of the like character were
submitted, of which number 81 were
against attorneys or agents. In all
these eases, understand, the charges
against the attorneys or agents wers
that they were attempting to or had
defrauded the government or the pen
sioner, by taking u fee prohibited by
Il g Urited States Statutes | under
stand it to b- the practice OF the pen
sion office TO prepare these cases and
submit the same TO the district attor
ney, and TO detail competent exami-
ner to aid him in the preparation of
the ease and OH the trial.
In all cases whnr. attorneys are found
violating the pcnsio> laws or in ex-
tortinS money from applicants without
rendering MI equiualent, the depart
lnent has not only refused to allow
such agent or attorneys to appear be-
fore the pension onica in the prosccu-
ton Of ponsion claims, bat they mr.,
dcbarred from appearing before any
other burrau of the department. In
many such c;lSrs the punishment in
il,ctsd by the department is much
gre; ter yiiGn HAT inflicted by tie courts
.or it frequently amounts to the Lc-
.truttion OF their busines and g.. ancial
ruin.
The Hing Of false claim against
tie government OF the United Stutr,
j. crime against tlss United states
but no claim can be presumed 10 be
fraudulent and false from the eharac.
ter of ths attorney presenting it. nor
from the methods adopted 10y him to
secure his clients The soldiers ap-
| plication must be heard on its merits,
without prejudice on account of the
disreputable character of his agent
and the department must consider al
cases filed for pensions as properly
filed, and the applicant worthy and
deserving, until 10y proof the contrary
is shown. While all the presumption
must be that The applicant is honest
and files what he believes is an honest
and just clniuI, lie is required To prov,
his claim TO tho satisfaction OF the pen
sion Office. He is submitted to care
full examination and all his witnesses,
if his case is not supported by record
evidence satisfactory TO the Office, ar,
cross examined, and every eifor made
to arrive at the truth.
l have no doubt that many person,
have been stimulated to apply for pen
sions by shystering attorneys; but i
does not necessarily follow that tn,
applicant does not consider that he i,
entitled TO pension. 1t is quite ap
parent to all thinking men that the ef
fects OF the rigors of war will be NOR,
apparent TO the soldier as he grow
Older, and in some instances lie vii
mistake the decline of years for tn,
effects of service rendered his country
but if lie does he will not be n fraudu
lent applicant, even if it shall be foun,
by the proper officials that he is no
entitled to pension. A failure to sc
cure evidence may defeat a meritori
Gus case. You CALI my attention {,
the report of the second auditor con
cerning the attempted frauds on tn,
government in matters Of bounty an'
back pay. do not profess to b" qusI
iIiel to pass ju,ig oil the state
ments therein made, for that has n,
relation to any portion of the publi
service that has fallen under my at
tention. 4 10y reference to this repor
you intend TO suggest that the lik
proportion of applications for per
sions are also fraudulent. ] must b
allowed TO doubt the correctness of tn
proposition. 1t is undoubtedly tru
that a larger percentage Of applica
tions for pensions made within the las
three years have been disallowed tina
of those made before that time, but
must not be assumed that such disa
lowance is because they are fraudulent
The lapse OF time, death Of comrades