Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-01
SOME PENSION PROBLEMS.
The Disposition of the Rerated Pension
Cases Is Still the Hardest Nut to Crack.

Gen. Raum, the commissioner Of pensions,
sits each day g Q sort Of presiding judge Of
court. Associated with him are Col Butter
field, the chief Of the board Of rereview, and
Mr.. Van Mater, the chief Of the board Of re-
view. Pension cases involving large sums Of
money are considered and discussed before
they are finally approved and the certificates
ordered to be issued. In this way the commits
sioner keeps track Of the more important cases
that are decided in the pension Office. These
gentlemen are thoroughly familiar with the
cases and they present the facts and the Law
briefly, and the commissioner, with his legal
training, h able to decide whether
the conclusions reached are sound. While he
does not question the ability of the officials in
this affair to pass upon important cases, yet
as tney must all finally receive his approval he
Is OF the opinion that he ought to know some
tnlng about the cases. He finds that this
method does not delay the business of the
once ana that the cases are finally adjudicated
as rapidly as under the old method
SOME RATHER PERPLRxISG QUESTIONS
have arisen in connection with the cases of the
rerated employees. In a number Of the cases
reported upon by the commission the conclu-
sion was reached that, while the claimant was
undoubtedly entitled to the increase of pension,
yet the method was irregular. 1t was found
that some cases had been made special unneces-
sarily and that they had been adjudicated with
too much haste. The question now is what
disposition can be made OF such cases. 1t is
argued that the pensioners cannot be called
upon to refund the money thus received, but
on the other hand it is said that if the pension
cannot be reached that the pensioner who may
happen to be an employe of the government
can.
WHAT WILL BIZ DONE WITH THE RERArED en-
PLoYEs?
There is a good deal of discussion going on
in quiet way in regard to the disposition of
the rerated employee cases. Secretary Mobiles
letter to Captain Smith is quoted in support Of
the view that, as far as the Secretary of the
Interior has his way. all the rerate' employees
will have to go. But il is said tina an intima-
ton has been received from the v lite House
that a wholesale punishment of Il l. kind is not
Regarded with favor. This is, u course, q
mere rumor, but it is rent today
and some who are familiar wit the matter
go SO far as to say that the Who'll flair will be
allowed to simmer down and L hing will be
done IN the rerated cases. exec where they
are found to be plain violations tine law
From official sources it is le d that moth
ing has been done and that .urther steps
Will be taken until the Secretar, f the Interior
has had an opportunity for fur Ter conference
with the commissioner.
RUSHING THE BUSINESS
Since Commissioner Raum took hold of the
pension bureau there has been rush of appli-
cations to the board and pension division of
the war Office for records in support of pension
claims. Yesterday Capt. Ainsworth received
from the pension bureau LOAF calls and from
the auditors Office GOO