The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-04-18
TIE INDIAN WAR VETERANS
And Their widows DO Not Need Attorneys

in Washington TO Get Their Pensions.
Washington April Editor Constitu-
ton: In you issue of the 9th instant
J. II. Brightwen, MID, of MaXey's, Ca, asks
you to tell the poor Old Indian soldiers and
their widows how TO get their pensions, with
out paying a Washington lawyer more than
% per cent Of what the government allows
them"
/ am glad that ] can give the information
that Dr.. Brghtwel calls for. There is no
necessity for these pension claimants TO pay
one cent to amy Washington lawyer. Under
the net granting pensions to the survivors OF
the Indian wars and their widows, which be-
came law July u, 1882, the services of an
attorney at the scat of government are not
needed. Those claimants who have employed
lawyers in Washington will, Of course, have
TO pay those lawyers whatever fee has been
agreed upon they VIII have 10 carry ont their
contracts, but they need not have made any
such contracts.
u hen an attorney have been employed and
no fee has been agreed upon, the law does not
allow such attorney utnFc ib3u $40 II lee
has been agreed ON between the claimant ana
The attorney, the law secures such lee TO the
attorney.
an attorney in Washington in these eases, The
method of procedure is very simple The
person who wants 10 apply for pension
should write to the commissioner OF pensions,
stating what kind OF pension is To- be applied
for. aud asking for = blank Application This
blank will be promptly sent to the person APP
plying. In filling it out the services Of a home
lawyer or some court officer may be needed,
in order to insure legal accuracy; but | sup
nose most lawyers ana court OflICefS at
homo" would do this service free of charge.
Even if a Washington lawyer is employed,
this work of filling out blank application
must be done at home; it cannot be done i'll
" shiGgtou.
thing TO be done is to get 1t into the pension
Office in Washington; and 2-cent postage
stamp viii do this As well as the ablest law
yer in the United States. When the applica-
tion is received at the pension office it is fled
and in its turn. it comes mp for cNamiRG ton.
IT, on examination, of the application, any
necessary evidence Is found lacking, or If
there is any other defect in little pension bu-
reEu will promptly notify the applicant Of it.
and advise fully as to what is needed 10 make
the matter complete. The applicant can fur.
nish the additional evidence. or whatever is
needed by mail just well through 4
Washington lawyer In fact, about the only
thing that the Washington lawyer can do is
TO receive letters from the applicant and send
them to the pension office; and receive let
tcrs from the pension office and Seud them to
the applicant and finally TO collect his fee.
lie Is an unnecessary go-hetWctn. Tuerc Is
no rule Of the pension bureau, that requires
the services Of an attorney: and there is moth
ING in the nature Of the Indian war pension
claims that requires them
have conc into details thus, because I
Wsut TO save unnecessary expense TO the needy
veterans and the widows Let them cominu-
nicate directly with the pension bureau, and
If flew ARE entitled to pensions they can get
them without paving lawyers fees This in
formation | CT from the pension bureau; it
can be relied on.
J. Il. WATERMAN.