The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-07-24

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last twelve months, and espsss4..y tnOs,
OF pensioners in the government service
with view of ascertaining whether any
such re-ratings have been made in viola
ton of the law.
The members OF the commission have no
idea when they will finish their work
Ihey have Instructions to make q thor
ough Investigation and report the facts 70
the secretary without regard 70 who is
hurt IL is understood the scope OF their
WORK Will be enlarged so as TO include the
matter OF making cases special. COmmls-
sloner TANNER has given instructions that
the record OF cases made special, with the
names Of the attorneys, be furnished. IL
Will De submitted 20 the commission and
they can include that IN their report II de-
There Is unquestionabIy a very decided
difference Of opinion between the secretary
| OF the interier and commissioner OF pen
sions as TO the policy which Mr.. Tanner
has adopted in the payment of pensions.
a gentleman prominent In public life,
WHO has takeE pains 10 ascertain what the
actual facts are, says 1t is q fact that the
pOncy which Commissioner Tanner has
adopted Il giving the president, secretary
q the interior and Assistant Secretary
this:
''Under the arrears OF pension law there
nave been great many applications for
increases OF pensions, and large numbers
reasons, One Of the most frequent causes
Is that the pension Office decided that the
pensions as originally granted were made
quate and that IL should have been for
total disability instead of One-half OF two
thirds disability. The difference in a
given case may be $40 or S12 per month.
II an increase simply is allowed this extra
allowance dates from the time the certid-
cate OF allowance Is issued and grants in
crease only in the future
"Whlle these increases amount in the
aggregate 70 very large sums, they ara not
what are giving the administration the
greatest concern. at this point the effort
Is made not only TO secure an Increase
from date OF allowance, but % have what
ls technically called In the pension Office q
re-Tating.
THAT, in plain language, is q decIAra-
tlOn that the original award was wrong in
every case in which re-rating is ordered.
that the Judgment which has been acteo
upon Tor nearly twenty-five years shall be
reopened; that a total disability shall be
allowed from beginning instead of a one
hslf or One-third disability, and that claim
mt Is entitled TO increase and 10 arrears
siOner.
''It is this system of re-rating that is
giving the secretary of the interior and the
president so much concern The amount
OF arrears given BY the pension Office in
these cases ranges from s., 500 to S. 900 in
each case The pension bureau seems to
nave definitely adopted this policy OF re-
''It appears that considerable number
OF The prActicinR officials Of the pension bu-
reau, who are soldiers and who have been
drawing pensions, have taken advantage
OF the situation and had their cases read
Judlcated and rerated in like manner.
y am advised that great many clerks
N the pension bureau have received from
SZ,OOO % $1,000 under the reratfng. Old
pensioners, who understand the situation.
claim agents have not left ignorant Of this
fact This Is the situation, and 1t is a very
serious one.
"The adoption of this policy seems tc
have put the administration in q position
OF being compelled 10 choose between two
courses. III the policy adopted by Commits
siOner Tanner shall be followed there will
not be much longer a question Of a surplus
IN the treasury. The granting Of arrears
IN cases Of applications made and TO be-
made would exhaust the surplus and en-
danger The entire pension system. On the
contrary, II the policy should be discOntin-
ued there will be additional cause for com
plant OF faV0TItism as 20 the cases of Ar
Tears ALREADY adjudicated, and there will
be dissatisfaction among the soldier ele-
ment, which does nOt 50 mucn regard the
surplus that II will willingly renOunce a
right 70 re-rating.
This is a state Of facts which is giving
he administration a great deal Of concern
This was the subject OF long conferences
between the secretary OF the interior and
he commissioner Of pensions. What the
result will be can perhaps only be asceF-
aimed a nom closely watching proceedings
n the pension Office.
'aThe fact that some of the medical ON
.ials who have been so liberal in rs-ratinQ
he papers have been discharged is perhaps
Tot without significance. IL would seem
o Indicate that there is a disposition TO al
east call halt In the policy OF rs-ODeuing
ases."