The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-08

in the ONCE Dec. 81, 1893, about 81, SIZE claims
or these, however, pa, 7o6 are claims which
had been rejected Oh account of lack of evil
dence but which are held in the Office. so that II
| in the future at any time the necessary evidence
| should be produced they can again be taken up.
This leaves 667, s66 cases awaiting action by the
| Department. or this number, however, 209, 3S2
are applications for increase. and if all were
| granted would not make any addition to the
| total number on the roll.
This leaves about $50, 600 cases pending,
nearly equally divided between applications
under the old laws and the act of June q, 1890;
that is, 1914, $50 cases under old laws and 49, 5sI
under the act of June %, 1890. Now of this
| number it is not possible to tell how many are
duplicates 1t was claimed by Gen. Raum that
| very many who had claims under the old laws,
| the moment the act of 1890 was passed, made
| applications under that, and yet there are very
many numbered as separate claims in making
| up this total of $4,000.
! There is no disputing the fact that greater
| number of the claims under the old law cannot
be proven up, and that fact was one of the
strongest reasons for the passage of the act of
| 1890
80 that the number of the claims is decreas-
| ing, and the statement made by the Commits
| sioner of Pensions may be taken for the fact,
| that hereafter the number added to the roll
will not exceed the number that are dropped
| from death and other causes"
Mr.. O'Neil went on to defend the present
Commissioner in his Interpretation of the act
of june 81. 1890.
Mr. Hudson. Is it not a fact that there is an
effort to cut down pensions, because of the
deficiency in the Treasury?
Mr.. Chairman, we have given absolutely
the estimate of the Department. for pensions.
Does that show any desire to cut down the
appropriation ?"
Mr.. Johnson Ind r.. The gentleman is
ask ing whether it is not the disposition of the
Pension Department to cut down pensions.
Mr.. Hudson. Is it not the effort of the De-
psrtment to cut down pensions at the present
time?
Mr. ONeil. AS member of the committee !
must say do not so understand it. This esti-
mate is based absolutely upon the amount of
work done by the Department for the nine
months during which the present AdministTa-
tion has had charge of the office; and believe
il TO be made on the basis of the amount of
money they will actually expend for the fiscal
year 1895.
Mr.. Hudson. Do you believe from your in.
vestigaton that the amount you have desig-
mated here to be appropriated will answer the
demands for all just aud fair pensionsf
81 have so stated. believe it to be ample"
Mr.. Johnson (1nd, r. The appropriation
in this bill is less than it was last yearF
"Yes"
Glow do you account for the diminution2"
=" Because the amount appropriated last year
was too much"
WAS there an excess2"
There will, understand, be very large ex-
cess.
"Where do you get that understanding
From the Pension Department"
Mr.. Tawney. Would there have heen any ex-
cess if they had not suspended great number
OF pensioners?
Mr.. O'Neil. Yes there would have been an
excess anyway. Most of the suspended cases
have been put back on the roll and the sus-
pension of a case does not put dollar back III
the Treasury. Where man who has been
suspended is put back on the roll, he gets the
entire amount due him.
Mr.. johnson. ! know of number of cases
where men who have been suspended have not
been put back on the roll. l can only speak
OF those cases that have come under my per-
sOnal observation.
Mr.. Tawney. We're they put back in pursu-
ance of the act of Dec. q, after the close in
vestigation of the subject which was going on
at that time?
81 do not know anything about that. As
said, the committee cannot go into every min
ute detail of the administration of the Pension
Bureau"
Mr.. Tawney. Is it not fact that since the
passage of the act of Dec 81, the Pension Office
has continued TO withhold the payment of PEN
sions in violation of that act?
do not know anything about that"
Mr.. Hudson. Is it not fact that the Pen
sion Department, at this time, is making some
rather harassing objections to the allowing of
pensions and have you investigated 10 know
whether that is so or not?
I'VE haye-nOt investigated that but we do
not think that is true, because when Gen.
LOchTen appeared before the committee he said
that no man was more anxious to give to de-
serving pensioners under the law their pensions
than he was. Now gentlemen know that the
management of the Pension Office has not been
changed to any extent. There have been very
few alterations made in clerkships in the Pen
sion Office. They are practically the same men
who were there under Gen. Raum."
Mr.. Johnson. Quite number of changes and
reductions have taken place lately.
Mr.. Hudson. Well, the gentleman from Mas
sschusetts understands that those who are now
working in the Pension Bureau, althou Oh en-
plOyed by the former Commissioner, are acting
now under the direction Of the present Com
missioner of Pensions, and will take their cue |
as to their conduct from him.
Mr.. ONeil. He denies that he gives them
any cue except 70 administer the law honestly |
and faithfully, and to render their verdict as
the facts require.
hr. johnson. In making appropriations for |
pensions, is the committee governed entirely by
the recommendation made by the Commissioner
Of Pensons2
why, certainly. We have nothing else to
20 by"
You do not look to any outside or other
source TO ascertain whether the estimated ap-
preparations are sufficient"
Why, no Appropriation Committee could |
make up its bill except on estimates sub |
mitted."
hMG