The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-23
HOW THE NATIONS ROBBED
AND NOW MOST OF THE PENSION
FRAUDS HT BE PREVENTED.


was reminded by THE SUNG story OF the robbery
Of the nation. which 10 beinG carried on through
the pension system, OF Efforts which he had
made to Induce Congress- to provide the ma
chinery to eliminate these frauds from tho PEN
sion rolls. With the Pension Bureau In Its ordt
nary running Mr.. had nothing to do.
but when there was obvious fraud or glaring In
dications OF suspicious circumstances about a
claim. then tho secret service was called
upon to make an investigations; and It was
In this work that the chief of the service be-
came familiar with the conditions which breed
fraud through tho all.inclusive pension laws,
and the almost total lack Of provision In them
for Its discovery ami prevention. Alter years
OF experience in running down the swindlers
who chanced TO arouse suspicion IN the Fen
sion Bureau, and coming upon evidence
enough OF tho existence OF large numbers
OF others whose claims passed inspection
and were paid with never q question, Mr.
Drummond became convinced OF the need OF
some sort OF protection for Government and
people alike, and for tho soldiers as well. and no
euggestod q way to provide IL. de suggested
MS plan 10 congressman from oinerent sections
OF the country, but they declined to court what
they believed would DO political death BY advo-
eating IL In congress.
Tho plan was. In orief, that Congress should
establish o bureau OF investigation In connection
with the Pension Bureau. the bureau of inves-
t,Oation To look nm everv annlicant for N nension
ana av.rv claimant of bonntv or hact nav 10
THE end the investigating bureau was to estab-
lish offices in large centres throughout the
-"S r'DNS
districts all over. According to the plan, as
muster Ioiie ana records OF inc regiment OF snip
Si.,m "a, ha,sd yvo, renre.entoa AZ. having
$500 w . = NH"ta ~. ....
investigation. Armed with this information
fhe bureau.s detectives were to hunt nm the
~ uuseau ~ um. s,u, . w. =
examination as to the movements of his com.
pany or vessel. and besides making inquiries In
and condition.
said Yesterday the Pension Blu
whether an app.can. ro FORA a penS, 1ni. Is a sw'naier
ton. unless some indication of fraud or irregu-
iarity is apparent at the surface. Under tho
operation of the law. If a specifically perfect
claim is made out, IL a set Of papers perfectly
regular reaches the department, the pension mon
Is PAID without =" n'ton OF q question. rne
.n,ou rumhsr 81 snecial agents m Ioot nn cosesin
which fraud is charged or suspected. and cannot
question the large number of apparently regular
claims which reach It; Every Congressman to
sort of an inspection bureau to mako a syste.
claimants, expressed the heartiest approval Of
that anybody, in Congress who attacked the
soldiers would be slnnghtered. ~
soldiers; its attaching the buns and beats: rs
prooeotinG the soldiers, VINO h hoy are sunerinF
&c Ssi Sart. q r fnis1 pi s15% IS seizure enc y seid asn't 'a pos:
sibly work an INJUSTICE to u soldier by throwing
saieg1ards around thS pension 1s system. No IN.
CATION and no innocent man fears It, But the
proposition =, to establish the bureau was never
I'll tell you a little Of how the thing works.
or 10 worked. now. Congress passes laws, one
pensions. b%ounties. or back pay. or for expenses
OF last Illness and burial, As soon az they are
Country. especially in 'WashipGton, get them.
Ihese men nave access 70 al inc RECORDS OF ths
S er sss IN fhs % ss Is 'e Th %sn e ssG the ssF psas sH Of a' aii
wsE spo 81 the new w9 lsW. s SHm SEND %p to the sSs m ps1.
and their own business card: One Of these com.
HHunifa1ions comes e. to Pstf 4 Mccarthy in
TOR witnesses, my own relatives being barrsdi
eoaid get tHs coIoSel Of my TssImsnt. Soy: But
mes dead. The Majors dead. TOO. and the Cap.
vt two years aEo. il j could get John q
nj e O. on 4 a. d %or : khH TSi wh mSn t dsS,t are ret , Uh.
ns.ssss. and the result is he dOssn't get lis pen.
sion h.r ., .h... communication. :. 3D.
Another OF Lnese communications ID al
dressed 70 John burns. IN spring street The
SarrieT Ask tSr MN az inc nunher given. he
doesn't i've there, put there's a John Burns Nv
Ing q couple OF doors away. or one IN another
StrGet VINO useo 70 i've a. inc next corner: One
OF tnSse men gets the letter. ne may % an uh-
prlhcipiea IeHoW reaay ior anytnlnR tnere .
money IN, or inscription enough 70 turn the
papers over 70 afriend VINO IS 80 Tar down mel DO
anythlng. one OF them gets some Irlenas 70 90
ING hecessary swearing 70 laentlty, OF they 90
u themselves. with the AID OF compliment, or az
least careless notarles. Ihey enlist the AID OF
Somo tricky lawyers. not hard 70 nno: inc
pAperS, apparenuy pertect!y regular. are sent
on 70 Washington. and the things done;
we nad one case. a lew xears ago. OF q man
VINO put IN twenty one appllcatlons ana Vas ms
own principal ana Witnesses under alnerenG
names IN every one OF tnem: ana MS tramo
was detected only oy the merest accident: he
had drawn one payment or $33 ODD. and there
was nothing IN the way or more Payments peing
\ W ni ~ ILL y .n@ :, an Il hoa Hn -
eiioWance OF otneT OF tne claims; When inc accl'
aont happened. he represented hlHseiI as nav
ing served on q Bltp IN the mexican