The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-22
TIE Agent DID THE REST.
His Clients Merely Pulled the Purse
String for Him.
VAN LEUVEN'S PENSION MACHINE
All Ne wanted Was Big Fees-He Made
UP the Necessary Evidence and Anida.
Wits Himseif-The Pension Bureau Say
He Put Through Hundreds

WASHINGTON, Aug. S>.-lhe iouo"ihg
statement is given out for publication by
Pension Commissioner Lochren:
$50 much apprehension concerning the
attitude OF the Pension Bureau toward the
"old soldiers" is current that it seems
proper 10 mike public statement con
cerning matters growing out of the recent
and now pending Van Leuyen investiga
tions
'Mr. Van Lcuven has for many years
done large pension business, having bis
office at Lime Springs, la. His clientage
has been by no means confined TO his inn
mediate locality, but has been drawn from
all over the States of Iowa and Minnesota,
and even from more remote parts OF the
country. In June last, MS result of u
preliminary Investigation into his methods
lie was suspended by the Secretary of the
Interior from practice before the Depart.
ment While II would be injudicious te
enter into detail at this time AS TO the facts
brought to light in the preliminary inycs
tigation, will say that it was clearly
shown that for years he has supported the
claims which he has prosecuted by a high
honest practices. At the time of his sus-
pension evidence was before the Bureau
showing beyond question instances of the
purchase of testimony, fraudulent prepara-
tion Of affidavits, bribing Of sworn officials
Of the government, and wholesale decep
tion Of the applicants for pensions, by
means Of which they were induced 10 show
their gratitude by the payment OF fees
and gratuities beyond the amounts allowed
BY law.
cit was apparent that all claims allowed
upon ex parte evidence furnished by Van
Leuven must be investigated. In the few
cases inquired into at the time of ehe pre-
hminzry investigation, evidences OF fraud
were 10 plain and so numerous that every
claim filed and prosecuted by him became
Inevitably an object Of suspicion. Accord
ingly all his cases which could be at once
identified In the files of the bureau were
drawn and examined, and nearly 500 Of
these have been sent to Special Examiner
Waite, at Minneapolis, for Investigation.
In such a. seemed to rest wholly upon evil
dence prepared by Van Leuven-souaewhat
more than 200 in all-suspension OF pay
mens was ordered, pending the necessary
inquiry. This was In accordance with the
uniform practice of the bureau for many
years and u singular In this instance only
BY reason of the fact that the majority VI
tho suspended pensions were drawn In a
few edjacent counties.
Especial Examiner Waite has been for
several wcsks engaged exclusively upon
thoss cases. In some instances it has been
found practicable to rescind the order of
suspension In advance OF thorough investi-
cation. In such cases there has been but
: brief withholding of the pension. But
IN most Of the cases the evidence upon
which the original action of the bureau
was based Ii now known to be so worth
less that IL would be breach of official
trust to continue payments before the facts
have been thoroughly sifted. Doubtless
there are some cases in which the temporary
loes of the pension works hardship to
worthy men, but no pains will be spared
TO ascertain such cases and make the
period of suspension as brief as possible. II
Is not charged or believed that In each sus-
pended case the pensioner himself has been
guilty Of misconduct. IL was Van Leu
ven's practice to take the prosecution of his
cases quite out of the hands of the appli-
cant, and thus it often happened that
honest claims In his charge were supported
BY dishonest means.
-Four special examiners, experienced
employees of the bureau, are now engaged
upon the Van Leuven cases in Iowa and
Minnesota, and the work will be carried
forward with the greatest possible diligence
and dispatch. The ex parte evidence upon
which each case Is allowed will be fairly
tested and II found honest and reliable
payment will be at once resumed
Special Examiner Waite has been vehe-
mentiy denounced in SONS quarters on ac-
count Of the way in which he is represented
TO have obtained important evidence In the
Van Leuven matter, in May last. His con-
duct Of the case is, however, fully known
70 the bureau and is approved"