The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-27

there will be 100000 subject to one increase,
and 10000 subject to two increases, and
Is GOO subject to three increases; SO that IN
the three classes there will be chance OF
So 900 increased claims, which at the usual
attorney fee, will cost the claimants Ss5U,-
COO.
Here is the recapitulation:
Under existing laws on original in
valid claims now file under the 49,, -.
old laws, 100000 at q ice OF ao..;..s o'Vc'ooo
Original G ms under laws OF June ~, 900 900
1880. s. 0, 10 at q fec OF Sl0each. .. a,3OO,ooO
Foes on increne claims now on file ooo ooo
An a9 ~ q" e lin number Of in '
creased claims that will be filed
under thu law OF June y. 1890 ...... s,I0u u
Which makes the sum of. 21,s0aWO
| In connection with the above startling
statement it must be remembered that new
cases are being filed every day. The pension
| Office under its present organization and
system is settling 1000 cases month, or
about 1870. 900 year. At this rate the cases
on hand will be put through in five or six
years, and the $2l, 100000 will be learned"
in that time.
It is with a view of saving the pensioners
a large proportion of these unnecessary
fees that certain patriotic congressman are
now working. At glance II seems us II
there ought not to be any delay to such
meritorous law making. But does any one
suppose that the men who are milking the
pensioners will let 90 voluntarily: Your
committee" says the report, has no desire
to crticise the claim agents. There are
many honorable men in the business. men
: who would spurn dollar not honestly
earned; men who are true friends OF the
soldier, and who despise the methods used
by some others in the same business, name
", those who care nothing TO. the soldier,
!, his past or future: they are after his money,
and they stop not when they have his
money but steal his bronze button of honor
: that he wears in his coat. They. would
> take the man who dared death itself on a
dozen battle fields and force him into dis
grace and beggary."
, And that is the plain truth. There are
] men in this business who Will hesitate a.
, nothing. They have made fortunes. They
are willing to spend money freely for the
other fortunes in sight. Ever since the
soldiers went out to fight these men have
: been enriching themselves at his expense
The committee has had abundant oppor-
a lous pension attorney. I'm the tirst veal
n of the war" says the committees re-
n port, ''the soldier was paid the magnificent
y sum of $l3 per month, and eacl
! regiment had regularly appointed
> to supply the small things needful to sol
dier's comfort and decency, such as paper
, envelopes. thread. buttons. ink and hun
~ d1ed other little things. not forgetting to
a DaCCO ana COmIulS6uIN WHISKY pAACe
;s that yielded 1000 per cent. profit to tn
~ sutler.
M 1.-The government for which they fou9l
in LOCALIZED this robbery, and the soldier
n themselves rebelled against this custom an
e' drove from Its lines these plunderers.
, And then when the time came for Il
n government to care for the wounded an
or SICK it did SD with Il bountiful hand. Wit
he an empty treasury and an immense We
40 debt to meet, the first pensions we're small
IS. but God blessed our land: the treasury W
ill filed, tho debts were paid, and the bonn
pw of the nation was incr eased to the unit
to soldier. his widow and orphans. And tn,
i'd. the pension agent came into existence.
IRE first, in a modest way, he only claimed ii
mt per cent. of the amount secured, but pra
27. tice, and u knowledge that tine governme
NO would permit it, induced him to raise
on fees, and it was only few years when
Mt soldier was very fortunate who received fl
of per cent of the amount allowed.
net "These practices became 40 scandalo
ed that laws were passed fixing certa in fl
nd that might be paid. and severe pen alt
his prescribed for the violation of such Law
Ids New laws we're passed at nearly every a
nd sion of congress, increasing the amount
OF be paid on certain disabilities. From til
red to time new classes have been added to t
to roll. until at the present time no disabl
Vii. soldier. no soldiers widow. his minor oh
est dren. or his dependent parents are forR'
ten but with all this work and loving q,
hat crosby congress has forgotten -