Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-26

The commissioner Of pensions is probably
called upon to see more persons in the course
of day than any other bureau officer of the
government. Claimants come to see him about
their cases; the manned soldier seeking a PEN
sion, or perhaps an increase of pension, is a
familiar figure at the door of the commission
er's Office. There is no actual necessity in a
great many cases for an applicant for pension
to see the head of the Office, but they want to
call his attention personally to their cases. The
commissioner. of course, signs ali decisions of
the office, but he has not the time to 20 into
the details Of each case. He has q trained
force or employees to do that work The COM
missioner, however, frequently takes a case in
solving an important decision. examines the
evidence which has been briefed or goes
through all the papers himself. Appeals from
the decisions of his subordinates can be taken
to the commissioner. As even q casual reader
OF the contributions to the recent controversy
between the late commissioner and the Secre-
tary Of the Interior no doubt understands, all
the decisions OF the pension Office can be re-
viewed by the Secretary Of the Interior. All
appointments and promotions in the clerical
force OF the office are subject to the same ap-
prevail 50 that, while the pension Office is big
institution, it forms q part only of the bigger
institution-the Interior department. 1t holds
precisely the same official relations to the Sec
Rotary OF the Interior as the general land Office
the patent office. the census Office and the other
large bureaus Of the Interior department
SPECIAL"
There has been o good deal said recently
about making cases special in the pension
Office. That means that certain cases are taken
up out of their regular order and are con-
sidered and adjudicased. While the practice
Of making cases special may be abused, YET
under certain circumstances this practice il
not only allowable under the rules of the
Office but is recognized by law. Perhaps some
may conclude that any favoritism which
places one case in advance Of others il irreeu-
lar. But when IL is shown to the commissioner
under oath OF the claimant. or some reputable
person acting for him, that the claimant has
reached extreme age or In threatened with
speedy death or is dependent upon charity or
other urgent reasons, make the case pecu-
liar, then the commissioner can in the ex.
ercise Of his discretion. make the case special
and have IL adjudicated at once.
During the past few years the time required
for the adjudication of a claim has been very
much reduced This has been mainly owing
20 the efficient organization Of the branch OF
the work which II carried on at the War depart
ment under the direction OF DIR. Ainsworth.
He has charge Of the military records and
under the present system the information in
regard TO the army record OF a claimant can
now be furnished the pension Office In twenty
Hour hours after the application has been re-
ceiyed Formerly 10 was months and weeks
before this information could be obtained. and
The result was that the pension Office was far
behind in its work. IL 10 estimated that wha,
Is called plain case can be sdjudicated and
the certificate issued within one week after the
application has been fled, and that, too, in the
regular course Of busiuesa