Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-07-24


account was $58, $3.50. The total
cost was, therefore, S187, ASIA, an
average per case of $29.19 and frac-
ton. Compared with what is accomp-
plished, this seems but trife. The
gross saving to the government for
the year was from
Amount due and unpaid 15S pension
Accrued pension, loss rejected -'' u
Money legally drawn and refunded. e, az sc 5
Not saving lover expenses. 81. 231. 6s4 %
Future annual saving in these cases. S 112. 419 90
A million and quarter saved is
million and a quarter earned. The
reader who gets used to the million
figures IN reading of national finances
must kindly bear in mind that this is
done by the operations Of single di-
vision Of the pension bureau, and
one that was an experiment two
years ago, about the trial of which
there were grave doubts in both the
legislative and executive mind.
A PERFECT SYSTEM
This system Of field work is as near
perfect as anything of that nature
can be There is nothing under
handed or secret about it. Anybody
who is deserving of attention can ex-
anime every part Of it, and the small
est minute of Office work beside. The
examination of the pensioner or claim
ant is not, as was formerly the case.
ex parte. He merely makes deposi-
ton and gives references to those who
know him or knew him before he en-
listed as soldier. The government
agents get their testimony at govern
ment expense, SO there is no hardship
to worthy people, Sometimes a man
who enlisted in Massachusetts, is ex-
amined in Missouri or some other
state.
In such cases the western examiner
collects bis end Of the case, which is
then transferred to the examiner in
the east, in whose district the other
witnesses (perhaps officers and COM
rades) reside, and their testimony is
obtained so there is no injustice
caused by distance of witnesses. The
examiner, contrary to the general
idea, I think, has nothing to do with
passing upon the case. He merely
collects all the testimony and for
wards it to the pension office. 1t goes
to the division that directs him, and
there it is examined, briefed a1d pass
ed to the board of review, with the
recommendation for rate or rejection.
The board OF review, composed of le-
gal gentlemen, re-examines it. and
sustains or Overturns the action of the
special division, and finally passes
upon the case. To prevent any sort
of collision, the field examiner is as
signed to any other state than where
the recommendation for his appoint
ment comes; his work passes through
three sets of hands, and an appeal lies
from the board of review to the com
missioner. The record in each case is
on the hooks and in the files in such
way that, should the case itself, with
all the evidence, be stolen from the
files, or be lost in the mails, the office
knows all about it,
For instance, when even an
anonymous letter is received, IN
which perhaps, the writer informs
the office that John Smith, who is
getting a pension for gunshot wound,
received Sald wound Ia a street quarrel
since the war, is received, it is record
ed alphabetically, and his statement
set down. For a while the office can
not place reliance upon anonymous
letters, these very frequently refer to
men as likely to know all about it,
and thus affored a clew for the detec-
ton and punishment of fraud.
Over $50 cases last year were turned
over to District Attorneys for prose
cution, some of which began in the
anonymous letter. This record of
letters and correspondence is to per
feet that the disposition of case and
the entire history can be ascertained
IN few minutes. I am indebted to
McCalm ont, late chief, and Mr..
Welly, Chief of the Examination
Division, and other clerks for these
interesting facts.