The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-09
THE COMMITTEE
ON PENSIONS
Report to the National En-
campment as to Desired Re
forms and Legislation.
T S. Clarkson, esq. Commander-in- Chief

CoYNANDrR-IN-C CHIEF: Your Committee on
Pensions legs leave to submit the ioiio"ihg
report:
First Your committee desire TO congratulate
the Encampment and. Through yen, the entire
membership of orr Order, well as all the
sorrowinp comrades. upon the dawn Of q new
era IN the history of the Pension Department.
of the National Government. Thanks to the
thoushtffintss ard wisdom al the Chief Tx
ecutive OF the Nation, whose soldier heart felt
tic great need of justice towards the men who
had saved the Government, lie selected Tor The
administration of the Pension Bureau COM
rade OF tic O. A. L. whnse feelings are in iHil
accord with the rights ami wants oil ms i1te
comrades whose experience and business
training have fitted him prominently for
business-lke aud practical CONJUNCTION OF the
great Office in his charge, ana whose keen sense
of justice and full appreciation OF The RESPONSE
bilities lie Herewith assumed prompt him 20
desire 10 discharge these important duties with
su coually -p0sed scale OF justice to the Govern
meut and the millions OF tax payers il repre-
SCENTS. and also TO the men who have or may yet
become The wards and beaefciaries of this
great Nation, in whose services they have &C
ouired legal right and a jus; claim for recog-
milton for themselves whilst living ana LOT
those dependent upon them alter their DEATH
THE COMMISSIONER or PENSIONS.
in the Hon H Clay Evans, a comrade Of the
Department OF Tennessee, President ComTade
Mckinley has selected the right man Tor the
right place, and the comrades may safely look
forward under his administration Of The Pen
sion Office, 10 just and ~ the same time
liberal, Interpretation OF The pension LAWS, 60
far as snch Interpretation lies in his power.
With Il view of arriving mt results IN har-
mony with his views. the Commissioner has
already made many important changes not the
least OF which was the placing Of an ola soldier
at the head of every adjuGicatTug department
OF the Bureau, thus securing for the service a.
harmony OF feeling that. cfnaDatlng from lhe
Chief pUrvades the administration of every
branch. Regular weekly conferences OF these
heads OF departments with tie Commissioners
have been inaugurateo, and at these meetings
every item OF important interest, every newly
developed phase in the conduct of The Bureau,
is discussed and the best results obtained from
that exchange of views
The abolishing of that most obnazious OF -a3l
rules ever made in the Pension Office titnic
229l was one of the FIRST fruits OF Commissioners
Evans's administration, followed IT was
ty the strict order ifat Boards of Examiners
must report at once upon ali cases referred TO
them, and both these rulings wall greatly tscli-
itate the claims pending aud hereafter TO he
FLED.
Knowing the new spirit of Justice and equity
that hasiaken possession OF tile Pension Bureau,
your committee resolved to turn Its attention
10 the accomplishment of practical reforms
rather than the subm ission OF vague possIbIll-
ties and schemes in probable legislation, chOos-
ing rather to work for a liberal application OF
existing laws than TO attempt the introduction
OF new ones. To this end your committee met
in Washington May 20 aud 81 last, and took
into consideration the rulings made and prac-
tees IN vogue in the Pension Bnrean, in
Ruguraied by former administrations. After
8 careful examination OF the subject, we
submitted TO the Hon. Commissioner OF
Pensions on Nav q the following memo
1sfr
that every point submitted should have his
most careful consideration.
TIE COMMITTEES COMMUNICATION TO THE
COMMISSIONER.
Toahe Hon. H. Clay EVANS,
Commissioner Of Tensions:
The undersigned, members OF the Pension
Committee of lie National Encampment, Grand
Army OF the Republic, most respectfully pre-
sent for your consideration the following sug-
suggestions. the result OF the official action Of
the Committee al their meeting on May 90 and
May q, 1897.
We are fully persuaded that many unneces-
sary difficulties and hardships have been caused
30 The ex-soidiers, survivors OF the great inter
nal war which resulted in saving the Union
and giving new life and vigor 10 the great Re-
public, by ihe adoption OF unnecessary rules.
and clothing the machinery incident 10 results
IN the Pension Bureau with sunsrfiuuus gar
ments; and we call your attention 10 cerlxin
rules which embarrass the pensioner in the
pursuit of his rights Ia your Bureau. aud
which, IN orr judgment accomplish otter
purpose than that OF LInderiug delaying, aud
Embarrassing the claimant Tor pension. without
producing any good results to the Pension
Bureau and which, think. should be en-
tirely and at once repealed, or at least, mocI-
Eed.
DROPPED PENSIONERS.
i. We submit that The rule relating TO the
discontinued pensions should be:
That all pensions reduced or discontinued
since Jan. Z, 1873, shalt, upon application, be
reconsioered aud acludicaied ia accordance
with the provisions OF existing laws aud the
pension, II restored or allowed shall commence
from the Gate OF such reduction or discomt iltl-
ance, from the date subsequent thereto at
which lie disability is shown by the evidence
20 have existed Fro0ided, That in The event OF
death OF peusioner after such reduction OF dis.
continuance. any accrued pensions that may be
found due under this section shall be paid as
provided by existing law IN cases OF death .
Vol 2S, Stat. at Large, p. ISL
TAKING TESTIMONY
2 The rule permitting Special Examiners 70
take proof OF witnesses aud record 10 in their
own language and eoloring is. in our opinion.
extremely injurious aud pernicous and shou Id
be substituted by rule in effect as follows:
hat hereafter, IN the al Iniu istration Of the
pension laws, all investigat ions into the merits
Of any pending case or pension previousl Y
allowed, shall be in deposition form. i. e by
question pFoponDded and answer given upder
oath, ia open session. after due notice TO the
person or persons who may be affected thereby
who may be present personally, or by attorney
and such person or persons shall have the right
30 cross-examine. and fair and full oppor
tunity 10 rebut or snbstantiate any fact,
alleged disputed; and when fraud is al
legged, Tie allegations shall be reduced to writ
ing, aud under oath. and the person or persons
affected thereby shall be furnished with a ccrti
FED copy OF the charges made, together viii
The names Of the persons making the same, a
least 80 days prior 10 such investigation. anC
shail DC furnished with the names OF the wit
nesses by whom the said charges are TO b,
proved az least five days prior TO such c1ami
nation such inyes, igation to be conducted n
the County seat of the County in which III,
person affected resides aud the depositjops O
witnesses residing outside of said County shaI
be taken as near as may be in accordance w M
the practice OF the State Territory in which
said witness resides" Vol. &c, Stat. at Large
pl6.)
EVIDENCE OF COMRADES
g. The rule relating TO the evidence Of com
missioned officer and of private soldiers shout,
be so modified as 10 read In substance as follows
in The administration Of the pension laws
the oath OF a person who has served as a non
commissioned officer or private shall not hav
any less weight than III such person had serpe
Is comm issioned officer: frorided That Al