The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-14
The Pension Investigation.

There has been so much talk about irrez-
ularities and corrupt practices in the PEN
sion bureau that the House has determined
to give it thorough overhauling. The
resolution to that effect, which has been
adopted. shows that the House is very much
in earnest in this matter. The investiga-
ton will not be partisan one. 1t will be
made by competent and conscientious men,
and it will be so fair that the republicans
will not be eble TO find fault with it, The
investigation that was made by the last
House sustained some Of the charges against
Commissioner Raum, but tho majority of
the committee were republicans, who made
whitewashing report The report that
will be made to the present House will show
whether or not the condition of affairs in
the pension bureau is as it has been repre-
sented frequently in the public prints
There is another feature of the pension
business that is to be Investigated. 1t is
believed that there is large
number of fraudulent pensioners on
the pension roll. If there is the fact ought
to be known. The pension burden is enor-
nous. amounting to almost Sl6O, 900, 900 q
year, and it is steadily increasing. There
is no doubt that there are thousands of per-
sons on the pension roll who are not en-
titled to the benefits of the pension laws.
but who, through the incompetancy or the
indifference of the examining surgeons,
have succeeded in getting on the pension
roll.
All the fraudulent pensioners do not re-
side in the north. If reports are to be credited
not few OF them are to bs found in the
south. A pension office official is reported
TO have said that Beaufort, S. c., is the
paradise OF fraudulent pensioners.
Toward the close of the war of secession.
| and especially just after Sherman left Sa-
vannah, an immense number Of blacks en-
listed in the union army. At that time the
war was about over, and but few of
these black soldiers ever rendered
any service. But for a quarter of a
| century the most of them looked anxiously
! for bounties and pensions. 1t was only
about a year ago that the pension sharks dis
covered this wealth material at Beaufort
out OF which pensioners could be made, and
| they used it for all 1t was worth. Colored
] ll5u WIN uGu never D6Sn KNOWN 10 nave an
| ache or pain suddenly discovered that
| they were injured during the war.
! in two Instances that have been narrated
/ TO the MORNING NEWS men who we're noted
as being excellent and industrious labor
ers became iders after they were
put upon the pension roll living upon
the small pittance they received from the
! government. And no one can estimate the
number of those who have ceased to work
because the necessity for doing so has been
removed and not because Of any disability.
| There is no doubt that helpless veterans
ought to be taken care of by the govern
ment, but the granting Of pensions jndiscrim.
inately is about the greatest mistake the
| government ever made. 1t has made worth.
less idlers out of men who are capable of
earning living and helping to increase the
wealth of the country. Congressman are
responsible for this state of affairs. For
the sake OF making themselves popular with
the veterans they have placed an enormous
| burden upon the producers