The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-26
PRINT THE PENSIONLIST.
Commissioner Evans says lie win Urge
Congress 10 DO IL.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2J.-Ihe following
interview with COMMISSIONS LNans, on
the Pension Bureau, Is punished u tHt
star this afternoon.
The cry of pension frauds has become
so common Oh late mat the people 90 AJl
regard 10 seriously nowadays. AND IL was
Tor the express purpose OF proving t"c
Iallacy oil ,uis charge mat l recommended
TO Congress, ana Wlll urge in "a blli alttf
the mondays. The publication OF COM
plctc list, showing each pensiOncl, ms
address, disability, and amount OF pen
sion received, and TINS VIII 90 more 10
stOD this idle chatter than anything tAls
department can say. Tie IOsslDuurs OF
disabilities are great. ANA every onS
knows that a man apparently ~ tAc D-at
of health, attending 10 hla Odly "".4D'f
may have disability which entities nm
10 Il pension. This ls hard for some leo-
pie 10 see. Perhaps " they had an Array
apparatus with them there would be no
difficulty. Wen, the list would show what
was the matter with such men ana WY
they received pensions. Ihen III Woule
give the reason why that woman or tAal
man was being supported by tAe Govern
ment. But. Bot 81 OF al, IL MOuid DING 10
light the frauds which 90 exist, ana we
an know that there are frauds But 4
say, without fear of contradiction, that
In no business enterprise where so large
an amount of money IS disbursed are
there 50 few mistakes, and II Is because
OF the safeguards we throw about the
office that this Is possible.
Now about the cost of publishing this
pension list. IL may be that IT VIII cost
$4,000 but who can estimate what IL
will save the United States in unearthins
frauds Applications are received every
Gay from all over the country for llst
Of the pensioners Of "A certain county. rms
is impossible to furnish. Why, the pup
LEGATION 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 lisl and the enor-
nous appropriations appear 10 scare the
people. and. with the publication OF every
article setting forth the number or APP
plicatiOns awaiting action, the calamity
crOakers talk of hankrupting the Treas
ury. That sounds well enough. ana per-
sOnally 1 agree with many Of the arSu
ments advanced For instance. | do not
approve OF all the laws which have been
passed A pension should date from the
filing OF the application. l am opposed
10 arrearages of pensions. Look AT the
case allowed yesterday. where resident
Of Norway. who had never been in this
country. will receive in back pension some
81 Geo or 5000. because her Johnny fought
for the Union.
You fellows who write about pensions
know nothing Of the grim war which made
pensions possible. You do not realize that
our army had . 10000 enlisted men, nor
do YOU know how anxiously this govern
ment sought soldiers: how the young men
were pleaded with 10 enter the fight; how
this government promised 20 take care
q them n they were wounded or, II Kill
ed how their wives or families would be
made comfortable. Nor do you know OF
soldiers in some instances as high as ST.
500 10 each man who would enlist. Oh,
the government was glad TO get men IN
those days at any price. Now II 10 fui-