The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-08-10

anu tndD Is 10 pTOtect tueIH stSaluS5 tue
charge that what they receive as pensions is
through fraud.
Now, it cannot be possible that the Com
missioner does not know that the country
at large has been made to believe that the
pension rolls are made up largely of cases
that are fraudulent. The pensioners are
entitled to have the country know that they
are not mob of scoundrels, and it is not
sufficient for the Commissioner to say that
he "does not believe that any large number
of them are scoundrels who have sought
and obtained pensions dishonesty" The
country has been made to suspect or believe
that they are scoundrels, and that they did
obtain their pensions dishonesty. We de-
sire that that suspicion or belief shall be
removed if it has no foundation to rest upon,
and that it shall be verified by the records
if it has any foundation. We want this in
formation freed from any faint of partisan
ship or political consideration, and hence
we have asked and again ask that the test
of the records shall be applied in two Ad-
ministraiioBs-the Democratic under Com
missioner Black, and the Republican under
Commissioner Raum. Let these records
speak the facts; these facts will be more
satisfying to the country than what the
Commissioner thinks"
But while we believe that he had every de-
sire to meet the proposition squarely, yet,
curiously enough, he has completely missed
the leading reasons for such an investigation.
The one burning question before the
American public is:
Do the men and womem on the peaSion-roU
deserve, as a rule, to be there, and at the rates
they are aito,ced, or do they not
If they deserve to be there, then the ag
gregate amount paid them is not in question.
No sum is too large to pay if it is owed
them; and no amount is too small if not
owed.
The friends of the veterans say that they
do so deserve, and the Commissioner ex-
presses his entire agreement with this view.
Anti-pension writers and speakers say
that they do not, as rule, deserve what
they are getting, and so the issue is joined
Unsupported by any official facts, the Com
missioner's favorable opinion goes no fur
Their than that of any other friendly dis
posed person.
charges against the pension rule is set forth
in the following specific accusations, con-
stantly reiterated throughout the country:
1. That the large proportion of the pen
sioners are men who rendered the country
very little service, serving generally but
short terms.
9. That they received but little injury in
consequence of their service.
3. That in entirely too many instances
pensions were allowed on slight and INSULT
cleDt evidence.
T. That evidence of all kinds has been
entirely too easily secured from kindly
disposed or corrupt witnesses.
5. That large percentage of the pension
ers are deserters, bounty-jumpers and SINH
lar disreputable characters, who did not
receive honorable discharges and who dare
not allow their names to be published for
the scrutiny of their old comrades and pres
ent neighbors.
6. That in at least moiety of cases the
allowances made are extravagantly in excess
of the disabilities incurred.
That this is fair statement of the case that
has been vehemently made against the pen
sioners for years by more than half the press
Of the country, we call upon every well-in-
formed man TO witness.
1t is to meet this assault fully and fairly
with comprehensive official statement, that
we have urged the investigation.
We believe that the publication of the
exact facts concerning 1000 sample cases
taken consecutiuely-will satisfy the public
mind as to the character of the whole mass.
We have asked there should be given of each
claim in the 1,000-more or less-taken:
I. The number Of the claim. This is to
show that they are taken in regular order,
SO as to make fair presentation.
9. The name aud address of the claimant.
This is to identify him among his neigh
bors and acquaintance.
3. His company and regiment. This is to
identify him with his associates of the war
and receive the benefit of their knowledge
of his services.
a. Dates of enlistment and discharge.
These will show length of service, and at
what period of the war he entered the sery-
ice. .a5
5. Has he an honorable discharge OF
course he has, or he would not be on Che
pension roll, but it will be well to repeat the
fact each time.
6. When was the original claim filed, and
when allowed These dates will ebo,v bo,u