The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-09-08
SUSP 6NSIONS OF PENSIONS.
COMMISSIONER LOCHREN ISSUES AN
ORDER MODIFYING THE PRACTICE
OF THE OFFICE.
Pensions Go On During Inquiry.

Commissioner Lochren, of the pen
sion bureau, has issued an order modi-
flying the practice of the Office as to
Of pensions. The most
change is that which directs
that hereafter there will be no suspen-
sions except in cases where the record
shows on its face that the soldier was
not entitled to any pension whatever.
1t is believed, however, that the num-
Der who will come under this class
will be very small The order reads
as follows:
In the examination Of all cases
allowed under section two of the act
of June s7, 1890, the practice of the
bureau is hereby changed and modi-
fed as follows: First, where it ap.
pears prima facia on the face OF the
papers that the pensioner was not en-
titled to any rating, the payment Of the
pension shall be at once suspended
and the pensioner notified that he will
be dropped from the rolls after sixty
days from such notice, unless he shall
in the meantime file competent evi-
dence showing his right to pension.
MUST FILE COMPETENT EVIDENCE.
Second. Where on the face of the
papers 1t appears that the pensioner
is entitled to less rate than he is now
receiving, he shall be notified that his
pension will be reduced to such less
rate unless within sixty days from such
notice he shall file competent evidence
of his right to higher rating.
Third. Where it appears on the
face of the papers that the pensioner
had been allowed a pension under a
prior law, and that he is not entitled
under the act of June z7, 1890, to
any higher rate Of pension than was
SO allowed under such prior law, he
shall be notified that his pension un.
der the act of June e7, 1890, will be
dropped and his pension under such
prior law restored, unless within sixty
days from such notice he shall file
competent evidence that he is entitled
to higher rate than was granted by
his pension under such prior law.
Fourth. Every notice shall inform
the pensioner that upon his applica,
tion 10 the commissioner he will be
Immediately ordered for examination
by a local medical board, to cradle
him to obtain the necessary evidence
to show his right to pension.
Fifth. When any pensioner shall
have complied with the requirements
Of such notice, and furnished evidence
tending to support his
CLAIM TO BE CONTINUED ON THE ROLLS
the case shall at once be a especial
case," and be promptly adjudicated.
There will be no preliminary suspen.
sion in any case hereafter except as
provided in the first subdivision of
this order.
In speaking of this new order to.
day Commissioner Lochren said: .'The
secretary has for some time question
ed the fairness Of the old practice Of
the pension bureau which suspends
pensions during inquiry as to the right
of pensioner to the pension rate he
was receiving. At his request the
whole matter has been carefully con-
sidered and the present order modi.
flying that practice, SO as not to sus-
pend in doubtful cases, has been
agreed to as more equitable.
"During the progress of the exami-
nation of cases under the act of June
a7, a larger number of pensioners
were found liable to suspension under
the old practice than had been antici-
pated and cases were found where
persons have been suspended where
disabilities have increased since the
date of being pensioned and who are
now entitled to remain on the rolls.
In every instance, as soon as these
cases were called to the attention of
the bureau, the correction was prompt
ly made but it was feared that the
suspension might work hardship by
preventing the payment Of pensions
to those who at the present time were
legally entitled to the same, though
they were not at the time the pension
was granted