Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-06-16
The Great Pension Swindle.

~H& following special dispatch from Wash
ngtSh 70 the Baltimore San gives some
startling truths in regard to the manner in
which the government has been robbed by
fraudulent pensioners
That the administration of the pension
office under the last administration was
reckless almost to criminality is well known,
but few persons were prepared for such a
disclosure throughout the whole system as
that made in his letter TO the President by
Mr.. j. M. Burnett, former employe of the
office, who resigned his place rather than do
the things he was directed 10 do by those in
authority over him and in sympathy with
the Tanner and Raum methods. Luckily
he carried away with him memoranda of a
large number of cases, and he supports his
statements 10 the President with the names
and number OF pensioners and the particu
lars about their cases, making an array of
proof that is simply overwhelming Pen
sions have been apparently granted under
the act of 1890 without any regard what
ever for the law. The entire system of rat
ing clerks and exami ners in the penson
office is doubtless responsible for much of
the bad work, as they have been graded not
on the basis of the number of cases exam
ined, but on the basis Of the number allowed,
thus fixing penalty for honest work and
Offering premium 10 those who would rush
cases through and allow them upon the
merest superficial examination and without
any regard whatever for the facts.
Mr. Burnett shows that where medical
boards have recommended the rejection of
cases because II did not appear that the ap.
plicant was suffering from such disability
as would entitle him TO pension the office
has ordered a new examination by another
board, and in many cases have sent out vir-
tual instructions TO this board 10 find the
applicant suffering from certain specific all
ments. The result was invariably return
that would justify the granting of the pen
sion, and 1t was oftentimes granted for dis
ability not alleged by the applicant, from
which he had no idea he was suffering, and
which the board would have had difficulty
In finding the existence Of without their in
structiOns from the pension office 10 examine
him with view to finding out whether he
was not suffering from such q disability.
The law of 1890 specifically exempts from
| its benefits all those persons whose dsabili-
ties are the result of their own vicious habits,
and yet Mr. Burnett shows that applicant
after applicant has been granted pensions
for disabilities directly resulting from loath-
some diseases, the result of their own vicious
habits. To what extent the pension rolls
have thus been improperly burdened it will
be impossible 10 determine until a thorough
review is made Of all the work done In the
office under the four years Of recklessness
that prevailed there while Mr.. Harrison was
in the White House, but if one man who re-
signed while the work was still going on is
able 10 have personal knowledge Of 80 much
Of ii, how great must the sum total be- Mr..
Burnett, himself, estimates that If the rolls
are carefully revised there will be enough
rankly fraudulent pensions weeded out to
reduce the annual appropriations by at least
$50,000,000
| In view Of the revelations made In this
letter, as well as the facts already officially
discovered by Commissioner Lochren and
Assistant Secretary Reynold, there is no
more pressing duty now confronting the
administration than an immediate and
thorough revision Of the pension rolls. In
making this revision the administration can
be depended upon 10 see 10 IL that no worthy
pensioner is dropped from the rolls, for
every case Is 10 be re.examined, and In
many instances the examination they will
receive now will be the first real examina.
ton these cases have ever had. To make
this examination promptly, as II should be
made, will necessitate the withdrawal OF a
large number Of officials from the work oI
examining new claims. The result may
cause some delay 10 the applicants who are
now waiting 10 get on the rolls, but they
have only 10 blame the methods Of the last
administration, which has made such az
examination necessary There will be pro
tests from all the hoard Of pension attorneys
and professional pension agitators, but when
the country once understands the enormity
Of the frauds that have been perpetrated In
the name Of gratitude 10 the men who saved
the Union the President and his subordi
mates will have the support and approval o
every right minded man In the United States
including tens Of thousands Of the men who
risked their lives on the battle.i field actuateC
only by the spirit Of patriotism, and not b!
thought Of bounty and pensions