The morning times., 1895-12-01
CURIOUS PENSION CLAIMS
Department Files Are Full! OF
Unique Bits of War History.
GUARDING AGAINST FRAUD
,,,,.re~,iu,, Anecdotes Cleaned From
ttI, Notebook Of an Examiner ne
Funniest Case in His sEAperience-ah
Eve Lost In Three Different ways
EccrIrricities of ClaimHnis.

The flies OF the Pension OIfice hide rom
public view great many na rratlVes WHICH,
If hereft of the personal features, would De
% interest TO the averagenewspaperrea
Into tie original declaration of the appii-
cant. which is not always on printed
blank nor always made up 10y Il practiced
hand there often Crecps The evidence ol
rare cha ra eristics, and lf not there'
then in his correspondence with the exam
juer detailed to look after his claim, or Win
the office direct.
Many a claim that is queer in more
than the slang term implies and in a differ
ent sense. goes monthly into the office
archives perChance to the bourne whenceno
claim can ever be recalled; for while any
sort of a declaration may be filed, there are
many that may not be proved, and many
alas! that are backed by justice and equity
which the weary waiter, either through
lack of means OF because of his ineHperl-
eRce. is never able to establish.
The list of such claims was once long
one They had remained in the hands OF the
office examiners from year TO year, ana
every proper facility given the applicant
to make the case plain enough for the ap-
pruvai of the Commissioner, until finally
Ii was placed in the deferred list, whence
the transition to the neglected files was a
natural one.
CLERKS IN THE FIELD.
At this tuncture Gen. W. W. Dudley de-
veIoped the system of special examins-
ton '.iD the field" the mana cement OF
which under his and several subsequent
administrs tiops OF the Pension Office
required large force OF detailed clerks.
Special agents there had been before,
but there was q wide difference between
the functions discharged by special ex-
amiDer and those of his predecessor, the
special agent. Gen. Dudley recognized
in a large number of claims very often too
much merit to admit OF rejection, but not
enough proof to Justify admission"
The special examiner was. and is. charged
with the responsible duty OF ascertain
ing the exact facts that should be con-
sidered in adjudicating any given claim.
lie must personally see the applicant and
his known witnesses and take their deposi-
tIons, as well carefully guard against
fraud upon the Government by hunting up
witnesses ON his own account. To this
duty he must bring TO his aid his own best
Judgment. not only as to the discovery of
new evidence for or against the claim,
but In accurately estimating the value Of
the testimony and the credibility Of every
person who gives "a deposition on either
side.
The examiners task is one OF infinite
variety and covers a wide field.
An examiner OF long service and expe-
Hlcuccu IN Ifle arts OF tue Ifduu-fOT tHeTe
are such In the ranks OF the applicants
Tut who is sympathetic when in contact
with worthy petitioner, has many curious
tens iotted down in a diary which has
.icSu his constant companion since he
first entered upon his duties as an investi-
gator. From IL he has aided The Times
IL transcribing number of entertaining
.i;."g.iutcS. with the special stipulation
H.; names anglda ties and other data whereby
the identity Of the principals might be dis
closed. shall lie eliminated.
The funniest case l can now recall" he
said. lis the one of railway engineer
whose name find here under certain da te
in Ss4 The man approa ched me in an
uncertain way. one day, as though ex-
tremely doubtful of his proposition.
Ills courage wa $ finally exercised. how
ever aud he asked me il | thought he
was entitled to Il pension. At first glance
should have worn not. hut as lie had not
yet disclose, the basis % his claim. pru-
IDENTITY refraTed from c5fniin ii;. lnd b3de
him stat" his cas-.
TOLL iT ni:'Fr., INtiLY.
- Whcu . o. - ti'. ~ army WAS
out in We. = ..i.'l --.t!. I WAS run
ming an g. . = - ., "a;
-. Y"S --..t-.
Wei! =, .. l-o,fi WAS
pretty - 'ii'' t'i'
fcderat. ;cni:
sent the. ...
H .,.l.'sc'.
htR To -
.'l -. II.