The National tribune., 1897-10-07

" is about as unwelcome piece of news
as could be told"
The Globe goes on to say:
Aside from that the reason given by the
Commissioner indicates that the spirit OF Tan
ner ard Raum actuates him. The increase IS
to come from 200, 600 old claims, (which Ii Is
the intention of the Bureau to adludicate as
rapidly as possible" To adjudicate means
TO pass upon and allow or reject. 1t Is very
evident that the Commissioner means to allow
them. as he SAYS that the claims allowed
would call for something like So, DOC, 600, /"
about the amount of his estimated deficit
These will send the number on the roll above
the million mark, and that at time when
whole generations span has elapsed since the
close of the war What can be the nature,
what the justice of these 100000 claims that
are still pending 81 years after Appomattox!
They can hardly be made under the general
act that pensioned for disabilities incurred IN
line of duty. Thirty years is a long while for
man to discover that he received pension
able injuries in the service. There should be
a Limitation TO the right of such discovery.
We should like to remind the Globe
that something like four years ago Com
missioner Lochren made loud procla-
nation to the effect that he had dis
covered about 100000 claims arising
under the old laws-that is, for dis
abilities proven to have been incurred
in line of duty which had been COM
pleted, and were ready for adjudication,
but which chad been side tracked, in
order to make way for claims under the
act of June 81, 1890" He announced
that he proposed to at once give these
their rightful preference, as was just to
the long-wating claimants who had been
actually injured in line of duty.
The object of this proclamation wa;
to throw odium upon his predecessors
and also TO incite bitterness between two
classes Of pensioners.
At the time the announcement wa
made The NATIONAL TRIBUNE con
graduated the Commissioner upon hi
discovery that pensions were really du'
to SO large a body of Union veterans
his recognition of the fact that these
had been unjustifably withheld for s
| long time was commended, and h
was urged to 90 On with all speed in th'
execution of his purpose to prompt,
/ settle them. That was the last tina
anyone ever heard from COMMISSIONS
: Lochren about those 100000 claim
, under the old law which were a
5 ready for adjudication" AT regula
4 intervals, as long as he remained g
the head Of the Bureau, THE NATIoNA
TRIBUNE reminded him Of those 10000
claims, and urged him to carry out b
l promise Of settling them without della.
D But his good intentions were exhauste
i with the first announcement
y Now, if Commissioner Lochren tol
e the truth, and there were at that tin
/ 100000 claims for injuries received
|, the service, viii Oh had been proved L
e and were ready for settlement, VIII
II monumental cruelty and injustice it b;
been to keep them out of their dues fol
years longer? If Commissioner Loo
Il ran told the truth, ought not Commi
1t sioner Evans TO take the most extr
ot ordinary steps to remove this reproac
j. upon the justice and gratitude Of OF
Of Government?
III In effect, Commissioner Lochrcr
IS statement was that 100000 Union W
i'll Grams, who had served their country
IN the very front, and in the performan
n, of their duties had received wounds al
Ike other disabilities from which they st
Is. suffer. Years ago they succeeded
n furnishing all the proof that the Pc
lis sion Bureau had required of them as
VS. the origin of their disabilities, the &C
DIS tinuance of the same, and their pensie
able character. They had done this
an thoroughly as to satisfy even Lochr'
he Yet he did not grant them their pr
he sions during his incumbency, and
nd work of doing it is left to his success
M. / Now, We will ask the Globe to be f