The National tribune., 1886-05-06

1
the increased amount commencing with the
June payment, without even the formality
Of an application. The Commissioner, view
ing with alarm the great number Of rejected
cases, and fearing that injustice might be
done worthy claimants, has recently estab-
lished Rejection Section" the duty OF
which is to carefully examine all cases re-
jected by the Board Of Review" and see
that no injustice is done. Heretofore it has
been the practice for single member of the
Board of Review to reject case, thus leav-
ing it in the power of one man to defeat, if
so Opposed, a worthy claim. Under the new
arrangement, no case can be rejected until
the claimant is given the benefit of the judg-
ment of two careful and conscientious men.
In all cases where there is question, the
Commissioner himself will personally de-
eide. This is certainly move in the right
direction-the kind of reform in which we
| believe.
The Law Division, recently established,
has systematized the work involved in cases
of appeals and in questions affecting the
recognition Of attorneys and the certifcation
of their fees. The first quarterly report of
Mr.. James M. Ward, Chief of the new Di-
vision, is very satisfactory showing. The
90,S0l pension certificates issued during the
past year, the 7,479 that have gone out dur
ing the past month april is an evidence
of what the Pension Office is doing for the
survivors of the late war and their depend
| ents, and taken in connection with the other
work of the Office makes splendid exhibit.
No bureau under the Government reaches
the people as the Pension Office does. The
money it disburses goes directly into the
hands of the poor and distressed ; goes where
it does the most good.
AS we remarked before, the reform ex-
hibited in the workings of the Pension
Office under its present management is the
kind of reform in which we heartily believe.
The report of Mr.. Fl. c. Bell, Chief of the
Agents Division of the Pension Office which
we here present, shows how Commissioner
Blacks orders have supplemented the recent
act of Congress increasing the pensions Of
widows and dependent relatives.
Agents Division NJ MI Copy
DEPARTMENT THE INTERIOR,
PENSION OFFICE.
WAsHINGTos, d. c., May I. 1886.
Hon. JOHN c. BLACK.
Commissioner of Pensions.
SIR: have the honor to report that the work of
this Office, made necessary by the passage of the
act approved March 10, 1886. granting increase to
Sl2 to widows minors, and dependent relatives.
has been completed and all the necessary certif-
Gates and circulars have this day been forwarded to
the U. s. Pension Agents, and will be In the hands
Of the pensioners whose rates have been increased
by said act when the checks for the June payment
reach them
The method pursued in authorizing this increase
has been taken by your personal direction and it
may not be uninteresting to point out briefly the
results thereof
Under the former practice of this office whenever
an increase of rate was granted by act of Con-
gress, pensioners were required 10 make an appli
cation for the additional benefits. either with the
formality of an oath at least by letter their
own signatures, and in many cases it was also re-
quired that the pension certificates should be
rendered
Every case favorably affected then drawn |
from the admitted files. the application and GER
ticate attached thereto and brief prepared the
ton reviewed and certificate, order to inscribe,
notices 10 the Auditor and one to the pensioner |
were prepared and forwarded, is the practice in
current work, in due time to the Pension Agent, |
and the case returned to the admitted files.
Had that practice been pursued in the present |
case some Of the results would have been as fol-
lows:
II would have necesstated the printing of one
hundred thousand orders to inscribe costing $50;
one hundred thousand notices to pensioners,
costing Sl25: one hundred thousand notices to
Auditors. $50; one hundred thousand envelopes.
$40; one hundred thousand pension certificates,
s., 700. making total of i.27d.
The information to the cost of this stationery
have obtained from Mr.. Hadley, Chief of the
of the Interior Department. and from Mr..
Miller. the Stationery Clerk of this Office
Mr.. Johnston, in charge or the Certificate Diyis-
ion of this Office, informs me that clerk can
make in day the pension certificates orders to
inscribe, notices to Auditors and to pensioners and
address envelopes in IS cases.
To perform this part of the work under the old
system, WHtin IL peIioo oi tHTce nOntnS, WOulu |
have required. it will be seen. 33 clerks To have
prepared the necessary briefs in three months, |
presuming that each clerk could have prepared 100
per day. which is believed to be fair average it
would have required IL additional clerks.
1t would, of course have required at least three
clerks to have reviewed the work of these IL clerks
and would also have required at least three clerks
TO have drawn the cases from the admitted files and
properly apply the evidence filed in the Office
This would have necessitated therefore the en-
pIoyment Of 81 additional clerks or it would have
required that that number of clerks should have
been withdrawn from the current work of the Office
Again, this statement Is prepared upon a pre-
sumption of entirely favorable conditions. If for
anvreason the average of work was not kept up,
the time required would. of course, have extended
beyond the three months, and when il is consid-
cred that at least the June payment would have |
passed and the increase not granted in vast ma
jority of the cases. it will easily be seen that an
immense number of letters from pensioners would
have been filed in this Office, addressed directly
to the Commissioner and through Congressman
all of which would have required responses and
the work would have been still longer delayed
and it is probable that even the September pay
ment would have passed with thousands of cases
upon and the increase still withheld from
these beneficiaries of the act.
Under the system pointed out by you in the cir
cular letter addressed to the Pension Agents March
o. 1885, every pensoner whose rate is increased
by said act will receive the amount due to June A.
c