Middletown transcript., 1895-08-03
DO THEM JUSTICE.


door, Peter w. Miller, an aged and
disabled veteran of the late Rebellion,
made the journey to Washington on
foot, and alter having shown Pension
Commissioner Lochren the scars from
wounds received in battle succeeded i'll
having his paltry pension of $6 per
month restored. The tramp was a
hard one for the poor old soldier, but
the officials of the Pension Bureau,
realizing that he had been done great
Injustice, fed him while at the nations
capital and furnished him with trans
portation back to Shamokin.
Several months ago Mr.. Miller WI s
notified that his pension had been an
nulled, but as he was unable to work
any longer he wrote to the department,
asking why he had been deprived Of
his small but honestly earned and neces-
sary stipend. He sent letter after let
ter, but no attention was given them,
and on Monday he left here for Wash
ington. His comrades furnished him
with money enough to carry him to
Harrisburg, from which point he re.
sumed on foot the journey that he had
taken as one Of Uncle Sans volunteers
more than thirty years before his in
firmities rendered the long tramp a
difficult one, as he was not strong
enough to board passing freight or coal
trains. Upon arriving at Washington
he insisted on an interview with Pen
sion Commissioner Lochren, and strip
ping to the waist exhibited the scars
left as souvenirs of Confederate bull
let's. This had the desired effect, and
his pension was Immediately restored.
He returned home this afternoon.
Philadelphia Press.
1t is said that Pension Commissioner
Lochren is merely a figure head in
the Pension Bureau and that "gang,"
Of which every department under the
government is cursed, is running the
business. The changes in methods Of
work, the untying of red tape merely
to tie it again into different krot,
would be ridiculous if it were not so
costly in the various branches of the
government service. There is true
reform of the civil service needed,
The member of Congress who gives it
to the people will be public benefac-
tor.
There is a general impression that
the Pension Office covers up great
deal of fraud; that fraudulent pensions
are granted and are now being paid.
We believe this is very unjust to the
old soldier. That fraud exists no one
doubts. From Mount Sinai the COM
mand was given centuries ago, "Thou
shalt not KILL" and the law Of the
land is against the taking of human
life, yet murder is committed daily.
There are old soldiers or those who
represent them who would and do
violate the law. For such the Pension
Office has organized Law Division in
which there is ''criminal section" to
which is referred all charges and COM
plants made the Bureau of a fraudu-
lent nature. Congress has provided
ample funds for investigation and
criminals have been caught and con-
victed. This has been true for years.
1t does not prove that fraud is rife in
the Pension Office. 1t is only in evil
dence that in all transactions the dis
honest man must be looked after.
In every community there are those
who profess to believe that fraudulent
pensions are numerous. They will in
some instances undertake to name
cases which prove the charge in their
judgment. While some talk thus be-
cause of their prejudice to all pen
sions, or would make political capital,
others are sincere. 1t is the duty of
all such to lay their charges and such
evidence as they have at the doors Of
the proper tribunal and if in the judg-
ment of xperts the evidence is suffi-
cient. investigation will be made.
Justice demands that such course be
followed.
1t is not against fraudulent pensions,
however, that such a course as the
Philadelphia Press of last Sunday de-
scribes in the above clipping, that the
''gang" who are running the Pension
Bureau are cunning for. 1t is an
obsequious willingness on their part to
reverse their rulings and methods of
accepting evidence under former ad-
ministration with the hope of currying
favor with the powers that be. 1t is
this that has given notice to many an
old soldier that the business of his PEN
sion is held in question and he must
show cause why it shall not be
suspended. And it is suspended in
few days, and the poor and defence
less defender of the country's
flag finds himself without the small
pittance which is justly his, while these
same government servants are TAX
ing thirty days vacation with an ad-
ditional thirty days sick leave at some
mountain or seaside resort. There are
many such cases as the Press reports.
Thousands and thousands of pension
ers have had their allowances called in
question, but not many of them have
the strength or the courage to make
march to Washington as did Mr..
Peter W. Miller, of Shamokin.
But what does the Pension Office
gain by this course? 1t saves money
to the government or in other word it
holds in the Treasury money that Con-
gress has appropriated for pensions. 1t
does it in two ways. 1t suspends pen
siOns already granted and puts the
force in the Office to work on re-
viewing the old claims. While the
force is reviewing the old claims they
are not examining new claims, hence
no money is being paid out for new