The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-12-28
ROANOKE. VA. TUESDAY. DECEMBER 90 1897
NOT SERIOUSLY REGARDED.
Commissioner Evans View of the
Charges of Pension Fraud.

Washington 6tai: ''The cry of pension
frauds has become SO common of late thu,
the people do not regard it seriously now
adays," said Pension Commissioner
Evans to reporter of The Star this
morning. "And it was for the express
purpose of proving the failacy of this
charge that l recomm ended to Congress,
and will urge in a bill after the holidays,
the publication of complete list show
ing each penstoqer his address, disability
ana amount of pension received. And
this will do more to ston this idle chatter
than anything this department can say.
The possibilities OF disabilities are great,
and every one knows II man apparently
IN the best of health, attending to his
daily duties. may have n disability which
entities him TO pension. This is hard
tor some people to see. Perhaps if they
mad an y ray apparatus with them there
would be no difficulty. Well, the list
would show what was the matter with
such men any Why they received pensions.
Then it would give the reason why that
woman or that man was being supported
by the government.
But best of all, it would bring to light
the frauds which do exist, md we all
Know that there are frauds. But | say
without fear of contradiction, that in no
business enterprise where so large an
amount OF money is disbursed are there
SO few mistakes. And it is because Of
the safeguards we throw about the Office
that this ls possible
Now about the cost of publishing this
pension list. 1t may be that 1t will cost
10000. but who can estimate what it
will save to the United States in unearth-
ing frauds. Applications are received
every day from all over the country for a
llst OF the pensioners OF q certain county.
This is impossible to furnish. Why, the
publication Of complete pension list
Will stir up neighborhoods and set the
gossips to work They will detect the
frauds ana will notify us
This great pension list ard enormous
appropriations appear tn scare the peo-
pie, and, with the publication of every
article setting forth the number of appli-
cations awaiting action, the calamity
croakers talk of bankrupting the treas
ury. That sounds we'll ENOUGH, and per
sonally aGree with many of the argu-
ments advanced. For Instance, do not
approve of all the laws which have been
passed. A pension should date from the
Hing of the application. am opposed
to arrearages Of pensions. Look at that
case allowed Yesterday, where resident
country, will receive in back pensions
some $1,000 or 81, 900, because her Johnny
fought for the Union.
'Tou fellows who write about pensions
know nothing of the grim war which
made pensions possible. You do not real
ize that our army had 2,150,000 enlisted
men; nor do you know how anXiously
this government sought soldiers. How
the young men we're pleaded with To en-
ter The fight; how this government prom
ised to take care of them If they were
wounded. or if killed how their wives or
families would he made comfortable. NNI
do you know of the large bounties which
were paid for soldiers, :nsome instances
rs high As 5000 to each man who would
enlist. Oh, the government was glad
enough to get men in those DAYS Mt any
price. Now it is fulfilling it's obligations.
and carry out its promises The govern
ment has been most liberal, and while, as
| have said, some of its laws have heen
in my opinion, too liberal, yet it demon
strates the respect and duty we owe the
Union soldier.
But to return to the publication of
the pension list DO you know that one
of the newspapers of the city some time
ago wanted the privilege of publishing
the entire list and furnishing this depart
ment with 1.j00 bound copies: 1t doesn't
seem to ME if it cost so much to get this
list in shape. II newspaper wonld under
take to publish it, and he so generous
with its copies. Yes, shall urge the
publication nf the list in bill before
Congress, and hope to convince the Con-
gressmen it would be good thing for the
service"