New-York tribune., 1895-02-11
THE NEW PENSION RULE.
CLAIMANTS HARASSED BY COMPLEX AND
OBSCURE REQUIREMENTS.

COMMISSIONER LocHREN's ORDER so - WILL
c,rsr HONEST VETERANS UNNECESSARY
EXrENsE AND WILL not PREVENT
FRN.DrLENr APPLICATIONS
lnY TELEGRAPH TO THE 1ainrSEI
Washington Feb. lO.-Just as the average man
would rather be kicked by mule than worried IN
definitely by gnats. greater iniguiy than 'rop-
ping p.rsioners frJa the roll is contained IN order
30 20 promulgated by Commissioner ~ Pensions
I.orhren which reads follows
In the preparation OF testimony In SUPPORT ot
Gains N pension cases all statenen,s ai"crms , " H.
written or prepared to be typewrtien ~ ~" pr,S-
encc of the witness and from rs ora dec'a,at. ~
then made 10 The person VINO then r,luc'S IN, - ",
timony TO writing OF then prepares the SANE 10 De De
typewriter Ana such TESTIMONY must emooiy a a
statement By the witness that such testimony "as
all written prepared for typewrltns 'aH tne case
may be- In his presence ana only IRON, H., ms o'a
and person. when. where and to whom ne maze hurh
oral statements, ana that IN making ,nr s1me I'm a ~ ~ =
did not use and was not hFei or proinp,ei 10y a'l, -
written printed statement or recital prepared or
dictated by any other person ana ny ,, IN
exhibit to his testimony Any needless ucI'E - ~, u
iAe preparation OF such testimony after such oral
statement by the witness or In forwarding the same
10 this bureau. and sny material alteration or cras-
ur- VIII be cause Tor rejecting such testimony.
In hard times. slch as these even rlnins eN-
penses are great burden to poor people. and from
tns point OF view the order becomes almost mall
clous for no, half much oss has been inflicted
upon pensioners by stopping their pensions as upon
ps nslon claimants by the issue OF this order. No
other agency of evil is doing much to debauch
ami demoraliZe the people OF this country. ior th-
order Is formulated on the suppOstlon that no pen
sion claimants are trustworthy. and experience has
shown that treating people though tney were as
honest tends strongly to make them 90.
For many years certain forms have been oo-
served in the preparation OF testimony and have
been accepted By the OF many countries. but
has found that these time honored forms with
which lawyers and n0tares familiar are insult
hcient The result H. that. although a witness In
pension claim may employ the most careful notary
or the best lawyer In his re!ghborhood to prepare
his affidavit. the chances are two to one that II
will not be wrttep out and executed according to
this rule. Intricate. complex and obscure are
Its provisions. The affidavit must perhaps be re-
turned and perfected or rewritten. al. or when
causes additional expense and delay In settlement
OF the claim. Apply this process to one-haf the
twenty or thirty afldavts needed to complete a
single claim, bearing In mind that case Is reached
about once In six months and the reason why no
claims worth mentioning being allowed nova
given for anything apparently absurd and the
official excuse for this arbitrary exercise OF author
y IL that prevents fraudulent afdavits but any
one on moments rejection will SEE that II does
no such thing. for II can just easily be compiled
with In "A fraudulent claim as In an honest one.
The promulgation Of this order is a shining exam
pie OF the too common exercise Of arbitrary power
by small people In big places.
Clerks or court. notares and justices OF the peace
may In time realize that this order Of the Commits
sloner OF Pensions is official reflection upon their
honor and integrity as public officers A great deal
more might be SAID OF its hypocrisy and cruelty.