Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-08-24
REASONS GIVEN
For the Dropping Of SO Many
Pensioners.
Commissioner Lochren Makes
a Statement.

There Is Much BIIsapprebension Concern
ing the Pension Bureaus Attitude To-
ward the Old soldiers-There Has Been
Large Amount Of Fraud and an Investi-
cation Is Being Made.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22.-The follow
ing statement has been given out for
publication by Pension Commissioner
Lochren:
$50 much misapprehension concern
ing the attitude of the pension bureau
toward the old soldiers is current that
it seems proper to make public state
ment concerning matters growing out
of the recent and now pending Van
Leuven investigations. Mr.. Van Leuven
has for many years done large pen
sion business, having his Office at Lime
Springs, La. His clientage has been by
no means confined to his immediate To-
cality. 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, as result
of the preliminary investigation into
his methods, he was suspended by
the secretary of the interior from
practice before the department. While
it would not be judicious to enter into
details at this time as to the facts
brought to light in the preliminary in
vestigation, will say that it was clear
ly shown that for years he has support
ed the claims which he has prosecuted
by highly developed and successful
system of dishonest practices. At the
time of his suspension evidence was be-
fore the bureau showing beyond ques-
tion instances of purchase of testimony,
fraudulent preparation of affidavits,
bribing of sworn officials of the govern
ment and wholesale deception of appli-
cants for pensions, by means of which
they were induced to show their graft
tude by the payment Of fees and annui-
ties beyond the amount allowed by law.
1t was apparent that all claims allowed
upon ex parte evidence furnished by
Van Leuven must be investigated.
''In the few cases inquired into al
the time of the preliminary investiga.
tion evidences of fraud were SO plain
and so numerous that every claim filed
and prosecuted by him became inevita-
bly, an object Of suspicion. According
ly, all his cases which could be at oace
identified in the files of the bureau were
drawn and examined, and nearly
500 of these have been sent tc
Special Examiner Waite, at Mime
apolis, for investigation. In such al
seemed to rest wholly upon evidence
prepared by Van Leuven- -somewha
more than 200 in all-suspensiono of pay
ment was ordered, pending the neces
sary 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 thai
the majority of the suspended pen
sions were drawn in a few adjacent
counties.
Special Examiner Waite has beer
for several weeks engaged exclusively
upon these cases. In some instances il
has been found practicable to rescin6
the order of suspension in advance oi
thorough investigation. 1t such cases
there has been but brief withholding
of the pension. But in most of the
cases the evidence upon which the orig
inal action OF the bureau was based il
now known to be so worthless thai
it would be breach of officia
trust to continue the payment before
| the facts have been thoroughly sifted
Doubtless there are some cases in which
the temporary loss of the pension work!
hardship to worthy men, but no pains
will be spared to ascertain such cases
and make the period of suspension as
brief as possible. 1t is not charged o.
believed that in such suspende4Scase thu
| pensioner himself has been gdilty O
misconduct. 1t was Van Leuveni
| practice to take the prosecution of hi
cases quite out of the hands of the ap
plicant. and thus it often happened
| that honest claims on his charge wer,
| supported by dishonest means.
-Four special examiners, experienced
employees of the bureau, are now en-.
| gagged upon the Van Lenyen cases il
| Iowa and Minnesota, and the work will
| be carried forward with the creates
possible diligence and dispatch. Tn,
ex parte evidence upon which eacl
case is allowed will be fairly tested
| and if found honest and reliabl,
payment will be at once resumed
| Special Examiner Waite has been We
hemently denounced in some quarter
on account of the way in which he il
represented to have obtained importan
evidence in the Van Leuven matter ii
| May last. His conduct of the case is
however, fully known to the bureau
and is approved"
| READY TO RUSH.