The National tribune., 1886-07-22
HOW THEY GET PENSIONS.
Gen. Shakespeare Explains the Practice Before the
Pension Department.
KaIamasoo Daily Telegraph. !

The general subject of pensions is always
one OF considerable interest, and additional
attention has been drawn to the subject Of late
by the Presidents veto OF large number of
private pension bills passed by Congress. The
alleged frauds of the Pension Department and
the drawing Of Government money by persons
not entitled TO il is asoa matter much discussed,
and the abuses which are claimed 10 exist in
the Pension Bureau form a perennial source of
editorial bowling and oratorical outcry. In
conversation with a Telegraph reporter this
morning, Gen. Shakespeare, in response to in
quiries gave utterance 70 some remarks which
may be interesting as explaining the mode of
getting a pension and the practice before this
Department of the National Government:
1.-THE people know little Of the difficulty Of
establishing claim before the Pension Depart-
ment," said the General. "a If they knew more
there would be less Of this wholesale cry about
fraudulent pension claims. 1t would be strange
indeed If out of the many claims that are pre-
sented some of them were not improperly al
lowed. but i venture the assertion that not
claim has been allowed that did not have suifi-
cicnt evidence TO establish it before any court
Of law in the country either with or without
jury. The Pension Department is nothing
more or less than a court OF claims for the ad-
Indication Of certain class Of claims against
the Government. There is not another court
in existence that requires the same amount of
evidence 10 establish a claim as does the PEN
sion Court or Department. There is not another
court in existence where the claimant or his
attorney is refused the right % see the files in
the court in his own case. In the practice be-
fore the Pension Department, the presumption
is that every claimant is fraud, and that
every attorney engaged in the business Of pros
eeuting claims in that Department is aiding
some one TO defraud the Government IL is a
star chamber court. Let our circuit courts es-
tablish similar rules for its conduct aud there
would be revolution Immediately. There is
no reason why claim for pension against the
Government should not be treated exactly the
same as a claim for ordnance or commissary
stores They are both regulated by law 1t
requires 10 times the evidence to prove the one
that il does TO prove the. other. In the one case
the records are open 10 the inspection of every
body that is interested. In The other the Gov
eminent may have an immense amount of false
and incorrect evidence furnished by the enemy
of the claimant. and he is not permitted even
10 know or see il, let alone an opportunity to
| refnte or contradict il. Ia every case the De-
partment dictates what testimony the claimant
shall furnish, and then orders him before q
medical board consisting OF three competent
| physicians, whose report in nearly every case
is final, provided it is against the claimant, but
IL favorable may be SET aside by the star cham.
Der Examiner Of the Department"
| Pretty strict, aren't they3"
"The public have no Just reason to complain
that their interests are not fully guarded. But
the claimant has very great reason to complain
/ of the practice of the Department and the un
| lust insinuatiOns Of the newspapers, public anC
/ the Department itself"