New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-28
PENSION ATTORNEYS FEES
THEIR BEARING ON THE SETTLEMENT OF
CLAIMS
AN ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF LESS RESTRICTIONS
UPON CoMPDNSATIoN-soME SUGGESTIONS
BY ONE OF THE LAWYERS.

UPON COMPDNSATION-SoME SUGGESTIONS
BY ONE OF THE LAWYERS.
Washington Dec - (speciaD.-The following com
municstiOn laid before the senate Committee on PEN
ions by one Of the better class of pension attorneys in
this city gives novel against the adoption
Of the Dockcry amendment 10 the Pension Appropria
ton bill which proposes large reduction in the fees
allowed to attorneys. This letter refers only TO that
large class Of vOuminous pension which involve
considerable time and labor at the hands OF those
attorneys who have them in charge
Washington, D. c., Dec. II. 1890.
Hon c. X Davis, United States Senator
The question Of attorneys fees in pension cases
being, a. understand before your Committee, take
the liberty of addressing you the subject. not
largely engaged this business, nearly much
question Of fees In increase most
attorneys for have made effort to secure that
class OF business Whatever have done the increased
has followed properly and leatimatv from
have had in hand
But while this matter before your Committee. wish
the prcpety OF revising this whole business
u attorneys To show how great injustice the
present arrsnR works the soldier nco-" brief
a which have spent weeks OF time This case
iInpo t.c., does H. Involve greater labor
and care than hundred other cases Of th" same character
which have, aud which have been pending for years
Of them, might all OF them. have been in tho
hants half dozen different attorneys pre-
vioisly. i've SiX o these the claimant have
recently died poverty and distress before their eases could
be dudcated This affairs ought not 10 be-.
Their thousands OF such the files .: The Pension
Once most of them Iucor.ous, and Tie reason they arc
there l. that the Law will not permit the claimant to pay
competent attorney reasonable fee for digging out The
taking the necessary step, to conp"t" the
The questions cOvcr IN these embrace nearly
every point the laws Of clicnce marriage divorce, pre-
sumption 4 death cicfiiahty o Witnesses and
Sow every reputable attorney that l know and have
heard express rinsr the subject hc cannot anoid
to spend the time on these for fee Of
- Il Ia, Mt f.
In n, Pension Bureau, and 70, often d." poor
claimant dies. crushed with disappointment aud poverty.
| d. BE- understood f"h",'inc - he
sclt.-t manner upon Commissioner Of Pensions for
hl, condition Of tmng- There thousands upon uon'
sand, rrJrctrd nrrCrou- IN that Pension ohco
rejected simply the within OF the pf'j'dce Of soino
ucomp'tnt rNamnrr totally ignorant OF the laws ot
evidence and HI pla'e through CNil service
II beyond the bound Of human possibility Tor any
Commit Toner Investigate. these me inN"~tl-
Of la. ,ourtucr taheu two weeks Of vain.
ablo time.
Now what want TO suggest Is thI.: Ic, Congres,
change tint, law Of fcc> from beginning 10 Cud lN N"
Zee FOR straight cs.>. II + thought best,
but liac to.r have called 10 your attention
whe'r increase original Civ N" claimant u" same
right that i, to other free nan. allow MIN 70
MAKE contract with hs attorney for reasonable f"r
subject tn approval ~ Comm ,,oner q Pensions
and Tioportioned nc"hat on IN ntor and SIKH m
tol,ra. have conferred with ,'rlcfil Bu,,'y
ibis matter. pnd he -u,h action
would throw ne Goor- via" open tn soldiers ."
become ne ca-y pfcy Gr,isuing iui me-, ftp4l,r,
claim agent. DO Lot uuk think ~ rule rr
sod have much intelligence other men aud
sharp o. diving q bsrgan. Thou. iu sddilon.
would -ugf., tho' tc interior Department: p,-~
quan, alton, ~ character ahitr upon tn attorneys
who allowed 20 l-i ti,- ia the r,-ion Department.
f..i mat something @; t> A'nd q, absolutely n,,es
-ay. POP the conduct u many claimants AID pension
attorneys u.n such mat o'nr LAWYERS - standing
and have begun 70 fr ashamed OF being known
engaged 800 pension tI-'u'--.