New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-05
NEEDLESS CRUELTY 10 OLD SoLlIk

ILLIBEEAL CONSTRUCTION PLACED ON THE TIES.
TIMoNY OF CLAIMANTS FOR PENSIONS.
Washington, Aug. 4 CspeciaD.-of course tho cam
pagn orators Of the Democratic party viii now follow
the role Of Representative C. c. Mstson, and endcavor
to persuade throughout country that this Is
prominently soldicrloving7 Administration. 1t
is therefore proper TO show Just how the Physical
Wreck who poses the typical soldier OF the late
war; treats tho pensioners. Ono would naturally sup
pose that this Reform Administration would I'M
prove upon the methods and regulations Of It's Repub
hcan predecessor in vital matter the organiza
ton of the United States Pension Office. and especially
In the medical division. where the ratings made.
AS this division is composed Of medical men. their de-
cisions necessarily cx-cahedra, and both humanity
and common sense would appear to dictate that IL
should follow the ratings recommended by those
geons who carefully examine the claimant I'm person,
at least decrease such ratings except upon
sefevdent and incontrovertiblc grounds. Such how
ever, is not the case Under the management of
Colonel W. W. Dudley the last Republican Commits
sloncr Of Pensions, very different system prevailed
and every effort made to do Justice to the claim
ant, the following order issued TO the medical dvis
ion by Dr. Hood. the Republican medical referee, Will
clearly show:
Department Of the Interior, Pension Once.
Washington ID. c., April 81, 1884.
The medical referee desires TO ask the attention Of the
medical reviewers propriey Of greater beraty in
the adjustment OF claims. Instead OF rejecting claim
II the evidence will permit and instead OF fixing the
lowest rating the evidence will allow exactly
tray practice should obtain. that is say the highest
rating consistent with the evidence is that which should
be allowed in every Ne claim should be defeated
upon purely technical grounds Indeed all techncalites
should be eschewed and every claim should measured
by its merits, determined by liberal construction Of the
testimony. The law is libera-intentionay 70. The
public sentiment is liberal and recognizing this be
medical reviewer should attempt TO oppose libeIal
view OF such facts Hereafter, then
matter what might have been his in the past IL
is directed land 1t should understood that the Com
missioner directs ~ that the medical reviewers shall not
look for medical grounds upon which to reject claim.
but for medical reasons TO deal justly with the claimant
and IL all the evidence lay well professional,
claim may be admitted, there should be such liberal
view TO allow the highest rather than the lowest rating
which the law and testimony will
Il. b. HOOD. NJ. D.. Medical Referee.
Orders were given under the present regime, how
ever, of very different character. Each examiner in
the medical division is instructed-or until
very recentynot TO accept the ratings Of the boards
Of surgeons and nle surgeons who had examined the
soldier personally but TO rate lower The result or
these instruction has been most pernlcous and need
lessy cruel and has been not only the cause OF mich
unnecessary suffering and misery TO disabled soldiers
throughout the country but has also in addition 10
Blacks hundredday circular, and other extraordinary
schemes necdessly retarded the legitimate labors OF
the Pension Bureau through the thousands OF com
plants of unustly low rating new claims for inc IeaSe
and efforts 10 reopen cases which are continually HE'D