The National tribune., 1893-06-01

only the law under which these Commits
sioners acted, and under which you are act
ing, and its application to the cases pre-
sented. We expect that you will interpret
the law with the same passionless precision
that has characterized your application of
the laws of Minnesota to the cases brought
into the court over which you presided for
many years.
Comrade Lochren, we cannot too strongly
impress upon you the Importance of doing
this, and at once. There can be no doubt
that it should precede all other important
action by you. The facts developed will
give an impregnable basis for the policy you
may adopt. If shall appear that the 1000
OF 9, 200 selected cases are tainted with fraud,
that they were rushed through on insufficient
evidence by political influence or personal
favoritism; that the pensioners were de-
serters. bounty jumpers, shirks and towards;
hat the allowances were in excess of the
disabilities, then it is your imperative duty
10 apply the knife heroically through the
whole roll, and not only prune off the
worthless men from the list they disgrace,
but visit exemplary punishment upon all
who were instrumental in bringing about
this robbery of The Government having
guilty knowledge of the fraud. We promise
you that THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE will
give yon cordial assistance in the work. and
the widest publicity to the facts.
II, on the contrary, you find, as we are
Hot od
cases prove that the pens'on-rs.il is really
roll of honor, that the percentage of fraud is
as small as in any other portion Of the GOV
ernment disbursements, that the men who
have been allowed pensions have been put
through an ordeal such as no other person
is subjected 10 TO whom the Government
pays money, and that the ratings allowed
pensioners have been mockingly inferior 10
their needs and disabilities then you will
not only have yiBdicated your comrades in
the eyes Of the pubic, but you will also have
popular support for the policy you may
adopt of putting your whole army of EN-
ployes into the work Of closing up the
pension business as rapidly as possible, and
the prompt settlement of every case now
pending in the Pension Bureau.
Comiade Lochren, we want the names
given of all these men, and the names of
their witnesses, with the address of each, us
well as full answers TO all the other qHes-
tiens proronnded in this tabulaiion. That
the comrades and the public be fully in
formed. If these men be honestly on the
roll there can tie no objection to the pnbli-
cation of their rames. If they are on the
roll fraudnlently, then the names and adj
dresses Of the pensioner and his witnesses
should be known to the country.
You have over 1000 employees On the
Pension Bureau roll in Washington. You
have over 1900 Examining Surgeons in the
field. You can make this investigation in a
few days by turning a very small portion
of this army on the work. Why not do this
next week, ard let the country know the
result?
Believe US, most empiaiically, this is the
only way 10 bring the pension system, and
your administration of it right before the
country The public is strong y moved over
The matter, and demand to know the absolute
facts, and that quickly. This is the only
way that the facts can be given it 20 inspire
canfidence. The present heralding of "pen-
sion reforms" only satisfies those who believe
that any cutting down of pensions is re-
form, and The greater the reduction the
greater the reform. A very large majority
look upon these alleged reforms with strong
suspicion as being dictated by the element
which was always hostile to the maintenance
of the Union aud TO those who main tanned
the National integrity by force OF arms.
We feel most strongly that you owe it to
the country, to the 100000 surviving
veterans, to the memory Of the 100000
others whose graves are being decorated as
we write this, and TO yourself, to make
this investigation Immediately. The con-
it cannot be made too soon. When made
it will furnish a rock-iike basis for the
future policy of the Pension Bureau. If
it shows the existence of widespread
Fl aud, the country will give hearty sup
port TO your reforms. and Congress will
1urHlSn you aDuDdant power ana means
10 purge the pension list from top to bot
tom. Ii, On the other hand, it shall show,
as we firmly believe it will, that the
Pension Bureau has been honestly and care
fully administered, and the men who are on
the roll are there by absolute right, then
the country will insist that Congress pro-
vide you with abundant means to carry on
the good work to a prompt conclusion.
We are urgent for haste in doing this for
another reason The veterans are dying at q
rate exceeding 100000 year. Every two years
an army passes away larger than Meade COM
manded at Gettysburg Whatever is done
must be done quickly, in order that the
grim hand of death may not anticipate it
for myriads Of notwithstanding men,
With a heartfelt wish that you will at
once proceed to act on this suggestion, NTH
out fear, favor or affection, we are
Yours, in F. C.. and L.,
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.