The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-07
ADVANCING PENSION CASES.
Secretary Sobi. Adiressr' n sIgnllear
Letter 10 tho CnmmI,sInnpr:

Secretary Noble Addressr, n Significant
Letter 10 tho Commissioner.
WASHINGTON, March 6,--Secrctary No
bic yesterday sent the foilowin: letter
to Commissioner Raum, in which he
criticlscs the action OF the latter in CIV.
ing precedence TO pensions called up by
members Of Congress:
DEPARTMENT or THE I%SrERioR,)
WASHINGTON, March 8, 1872.
Commissioner Of Pensions:
SIR-lIcicrring 10 your letter Of the
LIST instant, acknowledging department
letter OF the 25th ultimo, calling atten.
ton 10 the fact that complaints worc
coming in Of Partially in tho cxRmina.
ton and final disposition Of claims, you
say:
In drawing cases from tho files for OK.
animation In each class Of cases, the
rule is 10 draw those which have been
completed. Tho rule, however, is con.
stantly broken into through the cour-
tcsy which is extended by tho office to
members Of Congress who call for the
status OF eases, and this has become a
matter OF such serious concern rs 10 re-
quirc m immediate rem dy.
From December I, 1892, to tho 25th
inst. inclusive, 70,lSl calls have been
made by members OF Congress for the
status OF pension claims. These calls
for the status Of cases By Congressman
we're made without reference to the
time oil the filing OF the claims, and so
it constantly happens that claims re-
Gently filed are called up upon Congress
siunal slips, taken from the files and
placed upon the examiners desk,
where they are found 10 be complete,
and are Immediately allowed, thus Civ.
ing them precedence over claims filed
at ar earlier date which have not been
allowed in their order.
have made 4 careful examination
into this subject and find that claims
under the set OF June %, 1899, filed as
late as October 10, 1891, have been
called up in this manner, and having
been found complete, have been al
lowed, which obviously works n great
injustice to claimants whose applica-
tions were filed at an earlier date, and
whose claims are now complete and
ready TO be allowed when taken up in
their turn.
This action obviously works great in
justice TO earlier filed claims, which are
thus passed over and deferred, and was
the very danger feared at the time the
completed files system was adopted,
and against which my order OF the 18th
OF September, 1890, was aimed. The
order was as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF THE %ISTERroR,l
WASHINGTON, ID. C., Sept. %, 1890.
It is hereby ordered that. under the
rules already in force, and those this
day approved for the purpose OF secur-
ing 4 prompt adjudication OF claims I'M
der former acts OF Congress. and that OF
June %, 1890. such action shall be taken
by all officers and employees in the pen-
sion bureau rs will prevent any undue
preference OF any claim in timeoieither
hearing or adjustment; and any agent
or attorney VINO shall have or attempt
TO have any claim put upon the list or
docket OF or among the completed files
that is obviously or clearly not complete,
or otherwise defeats the Just operations
oil the laws and regulations, shall be dis
barred IRON practice in the department.
JoHS W. NOBLE, Secretary.
The evil which You point out does
not arise IRON allowing examination Of
the status OF cases, but in permitting
the examiner 10 approve completed
cases oGt OF their order was thus called
u2. You say the action is taken TO save
a second handling OF the papcrs. The
reason given is utterly insufficient TO
justify the wrong done the claimant
who is being relocated to the rear BY
this process, and | can but feel that
the evil has been allowed without justi-
iicatioR. The information rs to the
state OF the case can be given By such
force rs can be reasonably spared for
this work. But the case mus, even ii
completed be returned to its former
place in line Of those in like condition.
II is not Il case OF favor 10 any. hu; Of
justice to all and Of obedience 10 a
plain order made and known 10 have
been made against just such action. !
am cratiiied at the favorable statement
OF the business oi your bureau, and hone
You may find that the enforcement OF
this direction will add 20 the efficiency
and the jus.uess OF lis administration.
Very respectfully,
JONI ". NCnLE, Secretary.