The morning call., 1893-12-05
HoKE'S PENSION POLICY.

The Secretary of the Interior has the super
vision Of so many important subjects that his
report is OF especial value and interest. On the
3Oth day OF June. 1893, there were on the pen.
slon-rolls 966,012 names, an increase OF 80, ,944
over the number Of the rolls on June, 80, 1892
or these there were II widows and daughters
OF Revolutionary soldiers. SO survivors OF the
war OF 1872, 5425 widows OF soldiers OF that
war, 2l,5lS survivors and widows of the
Mexican war, 1882 survivors and widows OF
indian wars. 2S4 army purses and 475,645
survivors and widows and children OF deceased
soldiers and sailors OF the war of the rebellion
The greater number OF these represent pen.
Sloners on account OF disabilities aud death re-
sulIlng from army and navy service. The num-
Der of persons remaining on the rolls June 80,
1893, who were pensioDed under the act of
June %, 1890. which allows pensions on ac-
count OF death aud disabilities not chargeable
TO army service was 459, 156.
Ihe number added TO the rolls during the
year wa 123, ,634, and the number dropped
was $500.
Tie first payment on pensions allowed during
the year amounted TO S33,576549 98. This
includes arrears or accumulatons between the
time from which The allowances of the pension
dates aud the time of actually granting the
certlhcate. Although The law of 1890 permits
pensions for disability not Incurred In military
service. yet as requisite to its benefit a dis.
ability must exist incapacitating the applicant
from the performance OF manual labor TO such
degree as to render him unable TO earn a
support.
The execution of this law in Its earIv stages
does not seem TO have been In accord with its
true Int DtloB, but toward the close Of the last
administration an authori alive construction was
given TO the statute and since that time this con.
sIIuction has been followed. This mas had the
effect OF limiting the operation OF the law to its
intended purpose
The discovery having been made that many
names had b en- put upon the pension roll by
means OF wholesale and gigantic frauds, the
commissioner suspended payment upon num-
ber Of pensions Which seemed to be fraudulent
or Unauthorized, pending a complete eXamina-
tiOn. giving notice to the pensioners IN order
that they might have an opportunity to est b.
liSh II possible The justice or their claims not
withstandng their apparent Invalidity.
This. understand, is practice which has
for long time prevailed la the Pension Bu-
reau, but after entering upon these recent in-
yestigarions the Commissioner modified this
rule So as not to allow, until after complete ex-
animation into Its legality, interference with
payment of pension apparently not alto
gether void, but which m rely had been fixed
al rate higher than that authorized by the
law. / am unable 10 understand why frauds In
the penslon-rols should not be exposed aud
corrected with thorOugbness aud vigor Every
name fraudulently pat upon these rolls is a
wicked imposition upon thu kindly sentiment
In which pensions have their origin.
Every fraudulent pensioner has become a bad
citizen; every false oath in support of fraud.
ulent pension has made perjury more common,
and false and uDdeserying pensioners rob the
people. not only of theI money, but of the
patriotic sentiment which the survivors of the
war fought for the preservation of the Union
ought 10 inspire. Thousands of peipbborhOods
have their we'll known fraudulent pensioners,
and recent deveopments by the bureau estab-
lish appalling c0nspiracies to accomplish pen
sion frauds. BY no means the least wrong done
Is 10 brave and deserving pensioners, who GER
tainy ought not TO be condemned TO such asso-
cation.
Those who attempt in The line of duty TO rec
tfy these wrongs should not be accused of
eDmity or indifference to the claims of honest
veterans.
The sum expended on account of pensions
for the year ending June 80, 1898, was $685.
74O,467 IA. The Commissioner estim tes that
$l65, ,00O, 600 Will be required TO pay pensions
during the year ending June 80. 1894