Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-30
STRIKE OFF THE FRAUDS
Gen. Goblin, Chief Of the g. A. r, DISGUISE,
Pension Question.
His Order Wants Only Justice for II,
Memorable Can Scarcely
Credit Some Figures.

In an interview with the representative
OF the New York World at Lebanon. Pa.
yesterday Gen. John p. S. Goblin, COM
mander-in-chief of the G. A. r., gave his
views on the subject of pensions Gen.
Goblin SAID:
The pension question has never plaved
so important a part in the Grand Army
OF the Republic as is popularity believed
outside the organization. We have not
Kept up the cry of more pensions There
mas not been a continued grabbing
Ihere are in the Grand Army as there
are Iii all organizations, men whose GU
puity is their strongest characteristic and
VINO are willing to wiring the last cent
possible out of the government But such
ilieihpers are rev. In our encampments
year atter year the demand for a service
pension was voted down; year after wear
every effort to make an official demand
LOT outrageous pensions has been crushed
4. n. X. Men Ask Only Justice.
The members Of the Grand Army are
not seeking gratuities. but justice The
soldier is not beggar. He regards the
pension roll as a roll of honor He more
than any one else. is interested in main.
tanning its purity. The Grand Army be-
heves that no one should receive a oen-
sion who is not suffering from actual dis
apiiity Some of the ablest men in the or
ganization are opposed TO pensions alto
Sether except in cases of total disability.
and they have never hestated to speak
Their minds openly.
"Of course l have noticed that tho
amount expended in pensions has increas-
ed from year to year. but L explained 1t
IN my own mind by saying that increasing
years made 1t impossible for many men
who have hitherto. supported themselves
10 make living, and that they were there.
lore compelled to apply for a pension.
mat wholesale frauds have been COM
mitted, and that the pension fund was be-
ing robbed right and left, never occurred
10 me- ana am sure that it was never &C.
cepted by other members of the organiza.
| uon My little experience in securing pen.
slohs Tor men whom | knew TO be desery-
ing went far toward convincing me that
the roll was safeguarded with red tape
rather more than is necessary
Too Many .Survivors."
| neither there is fraud or not do not
| Know. Statements and figures to which
| my attention has been drawn seem to be
| stamped with truth, yet they are so start
| ling as to be almost increditabe 1 cannot
| accept the statement that there are 40.7l5
| more survivors and widows drawing
| pensions than there are actual survivors
ana WIDOWS of the wer. This indicates "A
state of affairs beyond belief Still I cam.
not combat the assertion. l nave been so
impressed with what appears to be an ar
| idy VI pfOot tHat nave begun a thorough
and searching investigation on my own ac-
| count.
Z purpose finding out the actual condi-
| ton of affairs, not for my own salts faction,
but for the benefit of the organization If
my investigation shows that there is any,
thing like the padding in the pension roll
that is claimed, shall lay the matter be-
| fore the executive committee, and the or
| eanizdtion will take emphatic action.
| Strike the Frauds or.
IF there is single person on the pen
| sion roll whose name does not belong there
| the Grand Army of the Republic wants /:
| stricken off. As an organiza ton it can
| stand up and say: Cut off every person
| who is drawing pension without deserve
| ing it l am sure that if the rolls are
| purSed of the fraud said to be on them the
| Grand Army will not suffer in the least
| The number of survivors should be far
| fewer now than at the close of the war.
| The veterans are dying fast. And then the
| great number of men who passed through
the war and have never applied for pen
| sions should be considered. For instance,
| have never applied for pension. nor
have any of the members of my staff al
| though nearly all of them are entitled to
| be placed on the rolls. l am very certain
| that more than 10 per cent Of the members
| OF the Grand Army have never applied for
| PENSIONS.
| Il am sure that the publication of the
Pc nsion rolls would meet with 10 opposi-
| ton on the part of the Grand Army even
| though it should show that there is fraud.
IT the publication will do any good, if it
will result I'm the detection of the unworthy
| and the striking of their names from the
roll and the punishment of the guilty, /
| believe that the Grand Army would advo-
| cate the publication