The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1893-08-25
PENSION CASES.
An Explanation from Commissioner Loch-
ren-The Methods Of One Claim Agent.

An Explanation from Commissioner Loeb
ren-The Methods Of One Claim Agent.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22.-The follow
cation by Pension Commissioner Loeb
rem:
So much apprehension about the attitude OF
this bureau toward the old soldiers is curren,
that IL seems proper to make a public state
ment concerning matters growing out OF the
recent and now pending Van Leuven in.
vestigations- Mr.. Van Leuven has for
many years done large pension
business having his ONCE at Lime
SPRINGS, Ia. His clientage has been by nc
means confined to his immediate vicinity, but
has drawn from all over the states Of Iowa and
Minnesota even from the remo.e parts of the
country. In June last as result Of the pre-
liminary investigation into the methods Of this
man, he was suspended by the secretary Of the
interior from practice before the department
While IL would not be judicious to enter into de-
tail at this time to the facts brought 10 light
in the preliminary investigation will say it was
shown that for years he has supported the claims
which he ha prosecuted BIZ highly developed
and successful system OF dishonest practices At
the time Of his suspension evidence was before
the bureau showing Instances of purchases OF
testimony. fraudulent preparations Of am
davits. bribing Of sworn officials OF the govern
ment and wholesale deception Of applicants
for pensions by means of which they were in
duced to show their gratitude b. payments OF
fees beyond the lawful amount. 1t was appar-
ent ali claims allowed upon ex par'e evidence
furnished by this man must be investigated In
the few cases inquired into al the time of the
preliminary investigation evidences Of fraud
were so plain that every claim flied and prose-
cuted BY him became an object Of suspicion.
Accordingly all his cases which could be at
once identified in the files of the bureau were
drawn and examined. Nearly ) 0of these have
been sent to Special Examiner Waite at Mime
apois for investigation. In such as seemed to
rest wholly upon evidence prepared by Van
Leuven-somewhat more than 2O in an-sus-
pension of payment was ordered pending the
necessary inquiry.
This was in accordance with the uniform
practice Of the bureau for many years and is
singular in this instance only by reason of the
fact the majority OF the suspended pensions
were drawn in a few adjacent counties
Special Examiner Waite has been for several
weeks engaged upon these cases. In some in
stances it has been found practicable to rescind
the order of suspension in advance Of the inveS-
zig Ition IN such cases there has been but a
brief withholding of the pension But in most
Of the cases the evidence upon which the orig
in action Of the bureau WAS taken is now
nown 10 be worthless Doubtless there are
some cases in which the temporary loss of the
pension works hardship to worthy men,
but pains will be spared to as
certain such cases and make the
period of suspension as brief as possible. 1t is
not charged or believed that in each suspended
case. the pensiOner himself has teen guilty OF
misconduct 1t was Van Leuven'S practice 10
take the prosecution Of his cases quite often
out of the hands OF the applicant, and thus it
often happened honest claims in his charge
were secured by dishonest means.
-Four special examiners are now engaged on
the Van Leuven cases in Iowa aud Minnesota.
and the work will be carried ON with the great
est dispatch. The eX-parte evidence upon
VI ich each case is allowed will be fairly tested
and il found honest, payment will at once be
Special Examiner Waite has been denounced
in some quarters on account of the way he is
said TO have obtained evidence in May last
His conduct Is fully known to the bureau and is
approved.