Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-23
THE PENSION OFFICE INQUIRY.


Testimony In Behalf Of Commissioner Rsum
introduced Before the COMMITTEES.
The Raum congressional investigation was re-
sumed at 1880 O'Clock this morning in the PEN
sion Office building. The examination today
was conducted by Mr.. Payson on behalf Of Com
missioner Raum. Mr.. Warner white. the
chief Of the eastern division Of the pension
Office was the first witness called. He
said that never had he known Of one attorney
receiving any advantage over another in the
adjudication Of pension claims. He believed
from his own personal observation and
experience that the completed files order
worked admirably IN practice; indeed the eff
fciency of the work Of the Office had been
materially increased since the issuance Of that
order. The letter recently published in the
Washington Post from Reconnaissance
Tanner was submitted in evidence. In
this letter he explained the absence of medical
testimony on the W. W. Dudley case by the fact
that he knew Of his own personal knowledge
that the location Of the amputation Of the limb
was such as in his opinion would entitle
the claimant under the law TO the in
crease which he had been allowed. Mr.. r. H. Al
len, the chief Of the southern division, was
called and stated that never, in his experience,
had any favoritism or preference been shown
any attorney OF attorneys, and 1t was hi: ex-
of very great benefit to claimants for pension.
II was his recollection that George E. Lemon
did not take advantage ofthe permission given in
the completed fles order q soon q some other
attorneys. In fact, some Of the attorneys
living outside of Washington had fled the
necessary certifcations a. early rs any. Refer
ring to the work of the record and pension
division Of the War Department under Col
Answorth, Mr.. Allen said that in his opinion Il
was not done with proper care and efficiency.
Very often the evidence furnished was not
SUFFICIENT or correct. The errors. however,
Mr.. R. A. Durham, the chief Of the western
division, WIS recalled, and IN answer to in
quities stated that It would not b practicable
to advance any case or give il advantage over
another except by collnsion Of several clerks.
He fraced each case through mine hands, and
explained that any attempt to give II or the At
tortey any undue advantage would very likely
be detected early in it. career.
Mr.. Durham had never known Of anv sttof-
nsy having been given any preference ger an
ooher, and he believed the completed mes sys-
thai the once had ever known. THIS tsstimoV
va substantially repeated BY Charles W. Filsf,
chief Of the old war and navy division; W. n.
Reynolds, chief Of the middle division; Louis
Rhtneburg, the assistant chief Of he Cd wsr
snd navy division; p 2. 1inehan, vhe -
division; ,. r Van Mater, chisf q ~
board Of revisw; Nr. Bailey, shisf - IL ~
division, and several others, 10 each Of whom
the questioa vas pat - 10 whsehse any favor
ifialn q partially bad eyer. - bic kpewisdge,
ben seown 70 any attorney uadsr the com
: Is each cass ne answer NJ ssso.~ h saoh
60, too, ~ Nitnes exPeeupsd = very Savoeabls
epihloa q - psaStioSl valus q ~ sedsr.
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