The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-06-28
Is This Ignorance or Malice ?

Is This Ignorance or Malice?
It is astonishing what gross ignorance
men of average intelligence display concern
ing the pension laws and the practice of the
Pension Office. We observe, for instance, in
the editorial columns of the IadiaRida Re-
publican, which is published ut Warsaw,
Ind, and of which General Reub Williams
is one of the proprietors, an attack upon the
methods of adjudicating pension claims,
which is so far without warrant in fact as to
be really absurd. After remarking, as if
the mere act was crime, that he receives
not less than a letter a day from ex-soldiers
reminding him that they were with him at
the time of receiving their disability, and,
all dead, asking for statement under oath
in their behalf, the editor makes this pre-
posterous assertion:
The facts are that the exparte mode on which
pensions given-that is, if the papers are right
their face, the pension win be grantedfor il is
claim will not go behind the papers before him,
and inquire into the credibility of those making
the testimony, has been like holding up premium
for perjury"
So Ear from this being the case, the truth
is that the examiner of the claim in all in
stances does so behind the papers, and it is
notorious that the cross examination of wit
nesses as to their credibility is of the most
rigid description, as the most casual inquiry
into the practice Of the Pension Office will
eonclusively show. AS a matter of fact, the
law is all ON the side of the Government so
far as the detection and punishment of per-
jury is concerned. The claimant is without
recourse, if out of spite or other unworthy
motive, false testimony is given against him.
If General Williams will take the trouble
to apply to Commissioner Dudley for infor-
nation on this point, he viii discover that
the effect of the method at present employed
In adjudicating claims is to throw out many
worthy claims, rather than to encourage the
presentation of bogus ones. Take the Rizor
case, for instance, the particulars of which
were published in our issue of the 7th inst.
Here was claimant who was unable to
secure the pension to which he was obyi-
ously entitled, simply because he happened
to be with strange command when he was
wounded, and could not, therefore furnish
the names of the officers who were present at
the time Fortunately, the evidence elected
through the publication of the case in these
/ columns and the personal interest which
Commissioner Dudley has taken in this as
in all doubtful cases, win probably lead to
the establishment of his claim, but he is only
one of thousands who find themselves shut
out from pension, though legally entitled to
! it, by the death or disappearance of witnesses
essential to the formal proving of their case
But still more glazing even, is the ieno-
rance of the pension laws which the editor
Of the New York Mercantile Journal displays
In recent issue he gives currency to an
alleged statement by clerk in the Pension
! Office that, as " the law takes no notice oil
any irregular relations into which they
may enter, there are as many as 10000 cases
where soldiers widows are leading immoral
lives in order to retain the pension of which
in the event Of their actually remarrying they
| would be deprived-an assertion that is az
false in fact as it is monstr0us and hideou:
in conception. The act of August, 1882
expressly provides that the open and noto.
rious adulterous rehabilitation of widow
who is p pensioner shall terminate her pen.
sion from the commencement of such co.
habitation,n and if the editor of the .Jouraq
viii consult the supplement to the Digest o.
Decisions by the Secretary of the Interior in
regard to pension cases, he will find in ths
| Williams case an application Of the Law
which entirely and absolutely refutes tile
| statement that it takes no notice of irregu.
lar relations We shall be very much
obliged, indeed, TO hin if he will give us ths
name of the clerk in the Pension Office WHIT
is alleged TO have made this reckless anG
malicious assertion.