The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-21
SCORED by u
The PensiOn-Spy system
by an Indiana Representative.

The P~ension-Spy system Denounced
by an Indiana Representative.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Lee. Representative
Waugh has taken Il very prominent part in
the debates in the House during the past
two days upon the pension question. lie
opened out by proposing as an amendment
TO the measure making an extra appropria-
ton Of 100000 for special examiners in the
field, his bill, reported some time ago by
your correspondent, providing that in all
cases where written charges or information
have been, or may be, made ny letter or
otherwise, tending 20 defeat the granting of
a pension, or to the continuation of a pen
sion already granted upon any grounds
whatever, which are deemed sufficient by
the Pension Bureau TO warrant an inyesti-
cation. the Commissioners of Pensions shall,
before investigation is made, furnish the
applicant or pensi0ner a copy of such
charges or information, together with the
names of the person or persons making
them. and such applicant or pensioner shall
be given an opportunity to be heard re-
specting such charges or information. and
that no charges or information tending to
defeat the granting Of or the continuation
of a pension already granted, whether made
~ NA NV VI ~ " NhN GpNNA nv
or private citizen, shall be considered I'M
less in writing and signed by the person or
persons making them.
In his remarks on the subject Judge
Waugh says, among other things: The
whole object or purpose Of this increase Of
appropriation for special examiners is pat
ent. and / am surprised that any Repub-
ltcan can support il. 1t is 70 pay the SPIES,
the secret agents to be put on the track of
the old soldier 10 shadow him, i'm his out
going and his incoming; and in case be
should eat a hearty meal or draw 81 fun
breath he does 1T un'tef the penalty OF sus-
picion OF his pension. Why, / was pleased
the other day, when the evidence of this
House was taken on the proposition or as
sertlon by the executive that thousands Of
communities all over this country have
their ~well-known pension frauds. When the
800 members of this House were put on the
stand and the question was put TO them by
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Cannon
as To the truth of that proposition, We
every one of us-Sat as dumb as a sheep
before the shearer and opened not our
mouths, excepting the gentleman from
Georgia MIR. livingston; and / would like
to see the squad Of soldiers that would be
LETT after the gentleman from Georgia lMr
livingston had gone through and separated
all those that he considered to be frauds.
There would not be a cOrporaPS guard LETT,
and they, under the estimation of the gen.
test in behalf OF every soldier in Indiana
against this legislation as an outrage
against common fairness and decency."
Judge Waugh'S amendment was SubSti-
tuted by Il proposition TO make Denfions a
vested right. and granting authority for the
pensioner to prove this right in the Court
Of Claims, but it was the plethora of
amendments and strong speeches. such as
Judge Waugh contributed, that scored the
success of the Republican fight for the SOL
diers.
The special examination service of the
pension bureau has been seriously crippled
by the lack of congressional appropria-
tions for the work and 1t is possible that
all field work will be abandoned within two
months. The appropriation for the present
fiscal year is $500, 600. At the time this was
made there were five thousand cases pend
ing special examination. Since then the
number has increased to 1920. This in
crease IS due largely to the employment,
up 10 several months ago, of the entire Of
fee force in the adjudication OF these claims
under the act of June q, 1890. Examiners
have not been able TO handle old war
cases during the past few years, and claims
Of this class have been accommodating in
the files. The work of the examiners is at
least a year in arrears. There are 246 ex-
aminers in the field and the expenses per
month average $4,000. At this rate the
funds are expected TO be exhausted in the
beginning OF February. Unless the apDro-
priatioa is increased the entire field force
will be called into the office and the dis
missal of all Of them, numbering 2i6, will be
recommended by Captain Fritts. the chief
Of the division. OF the total number of
cases now being investigated by examiners.
there are three thousand in which fraud is