Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-01
A GREAr ABUSE AND AN ExIGENr DUTY.

A GREATABUSE AND AN BXIGENT DUTY.
There is no division of opinion amongst
the people of the United States on the
question of recognizing the services OF
the defenders of the union. The men
who guaranteed the perpetuity of the
premier republic of the world have
earned the everlasting gratitude OF their
countrymen. The debt is a sacred one ;
and, just in proportion to its sacredness,
Is the obligation to see that the un-
worthy shall not be ioisted as pension
ers on the national treasury When
Mr.. Harrison came into Office he placed
Corporal Tanner in charge of the pen
sion bureau. That individual at once
began to "splurge" in most indefen-
sible manner. The most unfounded and
preposterous claims were allowed by
Tanner. In two instances, within a
single month, he allowed sums OF $751;
600 to claimants on account of back PEN
sions. Even Mr.. Harrison saw that il
this interesting gentleman was allowed
to remain at the head of the pension
bureau the treasury would soon be to.
tally and irremediably bankrupt. Tan
ner's resignation was. therefore, called
for and given. There must have been
something rotten indeed that would
lead Republican president to depose a
manned union soldier from that depart
ment OF the government. Tanner was
succeeded by Greene B. Raum.
The scandals and extrayagances of
Tanner were exceeded, if such a
thing be possible, by the ex-
cesses of Raum. There are now,
through the pernicious energy of Raum,
nearly one million pensioners on the pay
rolls OF the nation, although it is nearly
twenty-eight years since the close OF the
war. During the past year over 22S, ,O0O
pensioners have been added to the list.
Not only has Raum been prodigal in his
allowance OF pension claims, but his
administration OF the pension bureau
has been characterized by gross scan
dals in all lines. His son, who occupies
a subordinate position under hia father,
was detected in selling official posts in
the department. Raum himself has
been proved to have had his note for
$4,000 endorsed by one of the iavorite
practitioners before him. This endorser
of Raums note is credited with having
invented the system by which the pen
zion list has been so enormously swol-
len. Claim agents and shyster attor-
neys have waxed rich on the corrupt
game. The obligation under which the
valor OF the union soldier has laid his
country has been made the cloak under
which voracious claim agents have
looted the treasury. 1t is said that the
firm OF which the displaced pension
commissioner, Corporal Tanner, is a
member, is in the receipt of an income
of 100000 a year through fees derived
from practicing before Raum.
Under such system it is small won
der that Harrison has got rid OF the
surplus left by Cleveland and threatens
to leave to his successor a formidable
deficit.
The statement is made on good author
ity that the pension bureau will call,
ior the fiscal year ending June 80, 1898,
for the prodlgious sum OF $180,O00, 900.
To realize the immensely OF these figures
the fact ought to be borne in mind that
the mighty German army, including the
pension list and all conceivable outlays,
only cost last year S4,000,0O0. That is
to say, we shall have paid out in PEN
sione alone this year $96,OOO,O00 more
than the whole outlay involved in the
splendid military esta blishment of Ger
many.
One Of the first things to which the
house of representatives. should apply
itself at the approaching session of con-
grees is the appointment OF a committee
to investigate these pension abuses. II
should be fearless body. and it ought
to hew to the line, let the chips fall
where they may. One of the great ele.
ments of Mr.. Cleveland's popularity
was the intrepidity with which he han
died all special pension bills on their
merits. We were told that the soldie,
vote would annihilate him. This was
on the supposition that the defender Of
the union had no senee. We have seen
how he was annihilated. His courage
GUS patriotism in this line had probably
as much to do with his overwhelming
triumph at the polls as any other single
cause.
All honor to the real soldier, but deal
out exposure and discontinue to the
sham article