Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-05
PROPOSED PENSION REFORMS.
Reducing the Fees of Attorneys-To Prevsn
Successive Examinations, Etc.

Reducing the Fees of Attorneys-To Prevsue
Successive Examinations, Etc.
Secretary Noble has been having numerous
consultations of late with members of the House
committee on pensions with view to effecting
some reforms in the pension administration;
There has been a considerable outcry against
abuses in the pension Office, the existence Of
which to some extent is acknowledged and this
has aroused the department TO action. As re-
suit of the conference with Secretary Noble Mr..
Belknap introduced his bill yesterday approved
by Secretary Noble and Commissioner Raum.
cutting down the fees Of pension ATTORNEYS
from $40 to s1 in cases of increase Of
pension. Last month the department kept an
account of the amount paid to attorneys for
fees in pension and the item for increase
of pensions alone s30.OO0 or payment Of
so by each of 1000 soldiers in one month IL
is said that the service rendered by the attor-
ney is purely nominal as an applicant need
only send TO The department physicians GER
tificate that he deserves an increase Of pension
and the department will thereupon issue an
order for his examination before the local
pension board.
died is that by which applicants for pensions
secure successful examinations Of their casee
When the result of their first examination is
sent here some pension attorney gets hold Of II
and sends the results OF the medical testimonv
TO the applicant. IL il is unfavorable he een.
orally complains that the medical men Ssx.
been unfriendly to him and asks for an ex.mi.
nation in another county. This is granted 80
il il is again unfavorable he asks snotber .
animation which is granted. These examins.
tions are kept up, each time costing the GOV.
ernment six dollars, and in the end the sn,,I;-
cant, with a very poor case, is able 10 ser,,-.
some examining board which will report -
case favorably. The purpose IL TO secura so,..
rule or law which will cut OF q Claimant vho
has been once discredited by an examinino ~ -
from securing successive examinations-
Another step Is particularly directed .~,;r~s
the Washington claim agents. There are sh-,s,s
thirty thousand people in washineton n 49,
been stated, engaged in the claim hn.;,s.-
They have been treated with every conrtes~ -
the pension ofice, and in many cases a - -" -
found that they took advantage of fbis co,,rsss.
II 10 said that there are cases In vhich &C
have stolen papers from The az.
order TO destroy the evidence vb;ch m
vented the allowance Of unmeritorions II. h
Some means Of preventing hi. as xns
dom or handling the conSa.ns;e,
papers OF the department Ii 20 be devi.sd ~
seems 10 De conceded that general rs~;ssa. - -
the pension ruies would show a I.r.s ..
OF unmerltorious claims. Such an ;,.S.x.e
uon would De very costly, but II a thor.Sx -
IN tne END the savings il would br;nc as - ~
tne governments would fully varr-n. - m 70
question OF having such an invest;s.ssr ,ne
ing CONSIDERED now and Can't Reifnas. ~ -
Gay tnat ne thought the first stcn snPP.S - -
extensive movement would - 49, -.
the present ssssioa. o3en ouFan9