Evening star., 1897-08-26
MR.. EVANS' MEANING
Explanation of Instructions Recently Given
to Chiefs.
10 Insult to Veterans Intended
Efforts to Expedite Action on
Certain Cases.

A report has been circulated that the
pension Office is Insulting veterans
through instructions lately given TO chiefs
of divisions requiring them to refer FOR
special examination all new disability cases
IN which there is an absence of medical
or record evidence showing existence of the
alleged disability in service.
When Star reporter referred this charge
to Chief Clerk Bayly of the pension office
today. he was informed that the action
taken was simply i'm line with the policy to
thoroughly sift all cases in which the Office
was not perfectly satisfied with the cvi-
dence submitted, and that in doing no
insult was intended or implied to the veter-
ans who apply for increase of pensions.
The instruction. Mr.. Bayly said in no way
abridged the right of a veteran to an in
crease of pension, but on the other hand
really operated to expedite final action On
cases about which the office was not in
formed sufficiently to allow the passage of
a claim.
Speaking of the Instructions which were
given TO the chiefs verbally, Mr.. Ba.ly
said:
THE part of the instructions not quoted
in these reports. and probably intention
ally omitted related to the order in which
claims should be taken up for exam
ination. The part referred to is as fol-
lows:
Chiefs of divisions were instructed to
occupy four days in a week-Monday
Tuesday. "Wednesday and Thursday--in ex-
animation of original claims under the old
and new laws, until the same should be
brought up 10 date, and Friday and Sat
urday in the examination Of increase and
new disability invalid claims these in
s,rIctlons not affecting the examination
OF widows claims in any particular
1t having come to the attention of the
commissioner of pensions that cert ain
classes of increase claims We're beirg
worked over time and time again to the
disadvantage and delay of original claims
IN winch no final action had been taken
he was specially desirous of giving the
pene!lt or the pension laws to the class of
claimants who had not vet become mar
'iciPants IN the bounty of the government
. III tHe same connection it was deyeloped
mat no class of claims was so hard to a,i-
1udicate, with justice to the soldier and the
people, as those involving claim for new
disability. The long time that has eIanssd
since tHe close OF the war necessarily tends
TO discredit the testimony of any indi-
Vidual or class of individuals undertaking
TO prove the existence of such disabilities
as rheumatism. heart disease, lung disease
etc, IN service All claims sent to the field
Tor special examination, where the merits
OF the claim are simply in question must
be shown TO have merit before they are
sent to the field. This class of claims are
prlma facie cases, and it is simply to pro-
tect the government and help out the indi-
Vlduai chat Is the soldier in his efforts to
secure a pensfon), that these instructions
were issued.
The commissioner of pensions occupies
dual position. His duties are to protect the
government from imposition resulting from
the filing of illegal claims and at the same
time to give every worthy claimant the op-
portunity of proving his claim. He stands
between the people who furnish the money
and the claimant who is asking for the
bounty. He simply asks, in the instance in
question, that in the absence of proper
record or medical evidence the claimant
furnish a special examiner detailed 70.
that purpose, with full knowledge of the
law and requirements in the case such
data as will enable him to determine the
merits of his claim, and aid il 4 speedy
adjudication.
THE proposition is a simple one. one that
should commend itself to every good SOL
der and loyal citizen, and one that GER
tainly cannot be twisted or distorted for
partisan purposes into any form or shape
OF unfriendlineSs to the soldier. Surely
there has been no intention to place diff
culties in the way of soldiers proving their
claims, but merely a desire to have them
adJudicated promptly and correctly