The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-03
TO PREVENT ABUSES.
A BiM RsiAsiug to Rstirsd Army aat
Navy Otasers.

4 &Ia#N1H
Bin Relating to Rstirea Army aad
Navy Otasers.
WARRINGTON, Got. Aft ID very likely
that there will be soms vigorous laws raised
at the approaching session Of cpnggsaa IT.
fecting retirsmenta Ia The army and navy.
II has been ! matter Of opsn comment 6nd
scandal for years In Washington. this thing
Of rstiremsnts In the army and navy for tbs
purpose Of taking service under the govern
mont In civil capacities after being placed
upon the retired list 90 40 TO draw two
salariss. When, a few years ago., oon-
gtsas thought 10 would do all IL
could in the way OF recognizing the
Veterans, II passed I Law giving them pre-
bed of imposition and fraud which ID very
difficult to fumigate. Knowing that they
have this law In their favor. officers in the
army aud navy are constantly going upon
the retired list with a view to securing
places in the departments hero or with Gus
toms or internal revenue officers, or in the
consular or diplomatic service. n they
have succeeded and are succeeding re-
markably well. The public service is be-
ing gradually occupied by men who
in tho army. or navy or simply serving on
the retired list. The idea of a retired list
Is to care for those who have in any way
become disabled in the limo Of duty. II
was never contemplated AZ = sinecure or
soft snap" for designing men. The oper-
tired list degrades the honorable SER
vice of the army and navy, and makes
it sinpossible in many instances for
deserving men, soldiers. to get appoint
ments. II has been found that in a great
many instances graduates of West Point or
Annapolis have gons out on the frontier or
to sea simply to mRkea record In the SER
vice with the sole idea in view of applying
for retirement at an carly day, affecting
disability, and that many Of them work up
credentials and recommendations to assist
them in securing appointments in the OWL
service before they get upon the retired list.
A general bill is to be introduced in CON
gress covering these points, 80 no to make it
impossible for a fraud to be praoticed upon
the retired list of the army and which will
keep mon out Of the OWL employment OF
the government till a given number OF
years have elapsed after going upon tho re-
tired list. Some of them have shown vulgar
haste to get into the civil service OF
upon the retired list. This question was
agitated to a degree in the last congress,
but, being a delicate subject, was not
One way around this fraud has
been suggested, and that is to place tho
bureau under the control of the
Tor retirement n 1t is found that he is
lot much disabled, assign him As a
in the pension bureau. Then
Ill of the men who are now clerks under
he civil service and are drawing a salary
IN the retired list could be assigned to the
bureau and their appointments I'M
Ter the civil government cancelled. There
$ only one thing in the way of tho transfer
# the pension business to the war depart
nent and that is tue fact that nearly all OF
he work would be done by mon on the re-
ired list and the active list and there
rould be an army of clerks thrown out of