The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-05-21

rTbe foIlowing ngcommunioation in reply TO
the slanderous attack on the Board Of Pen
sion Examiners for this county in Gen. VIM,
II. Koontz' personal organ, was handed in
too late for publication in last weeks HER-
ALn.-Ep.l NO
Mn. Enron: The personal organ Of Gen
eraI William II. Koontz, in its last issue, Tor
tte purpose Of injuring Mr., scull with the
soldiers Of the late war, makes vile, msilg-
nant and false assault upon the Board OF
Pension Surgeons in this county, wherein
Il Is charged that the soldiers are not even
allowed one man on the Board, and as a
result nearly ali who are examined by the
Somerset Board have TO 60 elsewhere to get
Justice done. A very large proportion OF
the men who are rejected go elsewhere and
are granted pensions This short sentence
has lie piled upon lie, apd slander heaped
upon slander, assagldng the personal integ-
rity and professional standing OF three oil
our best known physici ans.
Who are the gentlemen thus outrageously
vlHhed? DR.. Kimmel has served accepta-
blv on this board for four years, received his
appointment through the influence ofGen-
ersi CoiFroth. and until this time no man
dared to assail bis professional character.
DR.. Coyode was the friend and co-aborer for
nearly forty years OF the lamenCed DIR. Brg-
baker and of DR.. f.. S. Patterson, ana IS
held in as high esteem personally and pro-
fessionally throughout the caunty- DE-
/ Gardner was gallant soldier OF the late
war. He enlisted when bu' sixteen years OF
age and during part of his term of enlist
ment served as a private in Company h. 5ih
Regiment Pa, Heavy Artillery. Of which
company VIM. NJ. Schrock, managing editor
1 of the personal organ, was 2nd Lieutenant.
He succeeds on the Board another brave
soldier and eminent physician, Dr. }. n
1 Miller who's sudden death is m0arned
by hosts Of loving friends. Surely Mr. scoii
can tale the responsibility Of procuring ap-
Dointments like these, and the soldiers OF
the county are to be congratulated that they
are referred 10 such men for examination.
I Ile malignant lol1tAtlA sAeA n fff1 - e.
proportion Of the men who are rejected 60
elsewhere and are granted pensions is a:
( TRANSPARENT A. il is untrue. Any one having
knowledge Of these matters knows that q
soldier can only be examined by procuring
an order from the Commissioners Of Pen
sions. that the examining board simply re
ports bis condition and disease, or the nature
Of bis wounds from this report the pension
ofaoe makes up is findings and fixes thu
psnsionable degree. II any, Of the applicant
and il is very certain that Il the home board
by iis repor, shows that the applicant Is nol
injured In a pensionable degree, that he can
not get an order for another examination
elsewhere and be granted pension" Oc-
casioually. only, men Who are applying 10
increased pension or re-rating, requiring tvs
or more examinations. are sent elseTher'
for examination. TO test by COMPARISON tn
finding of the home board Of examiners
The assertion can be safely made, and tn
records will show IL. that If our board o
examiners have erred Al all, the soldier ha
hal tie benefit Of the error.
Bot what need 10 defend three reputsbl