The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-02-12
PENSION ArroRNErs FEES.

can possibly afford 10 work for such fee,
and he will refuse TO do SO. If he takes
the case at all il viii he as a matter Of
charity and humanity, just as a competent
physician gives advice and medicine free TO
some poor sufferer. Veterans who are too
honest and proud 10 have attorneys work for
them for what is virtually nothing, will be
deirauded Of their just dues because, how
ever good may be the intentions Of the Pen
sion Bureau, ii viii take it vastly longer TO
dispose Of a case that is sent in imperiectly
prepared than one which is properly pre-
scented, and at the age which all veterans
have now reached, time is ali-important.
They cannot afford TO give yeals TO rectiiy-
ing errors that should not have been made,
and TO supplying proof that should have
been furnished at the outset They object
strongly TO being treated as paupers and
n-competeuts, and rs they sec more Of the
workings Of this bill they viii object still
more strongly. They believe that they have
the right to employ competent men TO look
after their interests, and to pay them fair
wages for doing so, and they will oppose
bitterly being deprived OF the inalienable
right Of representation by adequate counsel.
As we have said before, the veterans have
not asked for any reduction in these fees,
They have been entirely satisfied with them,
for they knew by personal experience that
the ability and labor involved in the prose
cution Of their claims were but mod
esty paid for by the schedule Of fees.
They understood, and they will understand
still better, that the campaign against at
torneys' fees was instigated and followed up
by the enemies Of all pensions, who hope to
enormously diminish pension disbursements
by cutting of from the veterans the assist
ance ofeEpert counsel. Some good men, aud
true friends of the soldiers, have thoughtlessly
"aiNM1a bh1diHG@N1a 10 w N1AiANo away ~
this clamor and taken steps the consequences
Of which they did not foresee. When they
look at The matter in the clear, sober light Of
common sense, they will see that blow at
thepcnsi0n attorneys is really a deadly blow
at the sacred rights Of The clients Of those
attorneys, aud these are the ones who are
most cruelty injured by ii. Then we shall
have prompt reversal Of this injurious
Legislation.
Let us illustrate this by few cases taken
almost at random from a great mass:
Henry d. Wrighter, Co l. 5lst n. " ap-
piled for a pension for total blindness, and
asserted that this was directly due to his
service, and that before he was mustered
out the sight Of his right eye was en-
tirely gone. Alter the case had been
pending SIX years it was rejected in
1885, on the ground Of insufficient evi-
dence. His attorney appealed from this
decision, and after five years more Of hard
work secured new evidence and the allow
anoe Of the claim, with rating Of So a
month. The FIRST payment was $4,000. In
such a case as this in any civil court the fee
would have been at least $1,000, yet his
attorney only received SIS.
Samuel Newsom, Co. X, Seth Ky, Robin
son Creek, Ky, secured an allowance Of s.
month, Sept 1G, 1865, for severe injuries
to back, right-shoulder and hip, received
while in line Of duty. This was manifeslly
far below what be was really entitled TO
since he was utterly disabled, and
4 required the constant assistance o.
another person. His attorney worked al
the case for IL years, aud at last Sc
cured him his proper allowance Of So
collecting over $1,000 on first payment
4 For the ahount Of labor involved in this
and the sums collected for the claimant
any court in the country would have al
lowed his attorney a fee Of at least $1,000
while be only received So.
Another case is that Of Henry Armstrong
95lh H., who filed q claim for an increas,
Of pension on account Of deafness resultin;
from disease Of the throat and lungs. Thi
was rejected Dec. -, 1889, on the grount
that So, which he was receiving, was com
mensurate with his disability, the Ba
reau holding that his deafness was not th
result Of his disease Of the throat and lung,
His attorney secured expert medical eyi
deDcc, showing the connection clearly. o.
this, The case was reopened, and, July II
I 1880, the Bureau allowed him SO i month
For an this labor in his behalf his attorne
received bat SO.
We could cite thousands Of similar case
in many cases, II IS true, the work and tim
required are but moderate, but in man
they are enormous, and experience show
clearly that SO in increase claims-taltiH
the average, simple and intricate-and 81
in original cases-taking the easy with III
dilicult--is but reasonable compensation
The employment Of competent attorney
at fair compensation is clearly to the adyar