The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-10-16

S2o), iOStVV
But even this showing that nearly one fourth
the entire expenditures of the Government
pass through his Office does not clearly exhibit
his Importance. Those having charge of the
other great disbursements of the Nation have
very little to say about where the money shall
go. The Secretary of War, for example, has
discretionary power over but very few dollars
of the nearly 40 millions which his Office
pays out. Congress has already designated
the men to whom nearly all of it shall
be paid aud the amount that each shall
receive. It is the same with the Secre-
tary of the Nays expenditures; those of
the State Department, the Treasury, the Post
Office and the Department Of Justice. The
head of the Departments or Bureaus are not
allowed discretion as to the expenditure of one
dollar in a thousand. The Commissioner of
Pensions, on the other hand, can affect in some
way or another nearly every dollar of the tens
of millions paid out through his Bureau.
But while the responsibility for an honest and
wise disbursement of tens of millions per year
is enormous,-while this calls for a man dis
tinguished alike for business ability and integ-
! rity, it is not by any means the main consid-
Grafton. Vastly more important is the relation
that the Commissioner Of Pensions bears to
the men, women and children who have just
claims upon the Nation. The Nation fully
acknowledges its obligations to the men who
saved its life at fearful cost TO themselves. 1t
has made the Commissioner of Pensions its
authorized agent 10 inquire into the claims
that these defenders, their widows and orphan
children have upon its justice, and to satisfy
| every one of them according to the dictates
! of honor aud right. He is the representative
of the gratitude of 60 millions of grateful
/ people 10 the men TO whom they owe
| everything. He is charged with the high
| country wel-Or his dependent ones-shall
suffer or shall have reason to complain of the
country's ingratitude. He is given money by
the hundred millions, and assistants by the
| thousand, that nothing may prevent his doing
this work speedily and effectiyely,-neglecting
no one, doing an injustice to no one. The
necessity for all possible haste in the work is
| overpowering Other claimants upon the Gov
eminent may wait years for the settlement of
their demands Not so these who have given
limb and health to the country. They are
! dying by thousands every monthly scores of
thousands every year. Delay in the settlement
of a claim-whether through business incom-
tcnce or obstructive technicality-is the worst
of faults, for it frequently means the robbing
of man OF his just dues. If allowance is to be
made at all it must be made at once, or irrepar-
able injustice is done. If man or his depend
or month that is allowed to intervene before
granting it is a hardship, if not a cruel wrong
Months Of distressing need cannot be atoned
for by any future payment, and the rate OF
mortality is such that too frequently death
comes to the applicant before the assistance
granted by the Government does. This mourn.
full result is the thing of all others that tho
people of the United States desire to avoid and
which they intend the Commissioner of Pen
sons shall not permit any more than is pos
sible
Now, what do these momentous requirement:
indicate that a fit man for Commissioner o
Pensions should bef
They indicate in the first place that he should
be a man of commanding executive ability and
infexible integrity. None but the highest
organizing capacity can effectively handle tn,
great clerical force required only approved
; honesty should be intrusted with the disburse
ment of these millions annually.
! Next, he must have energy Of character