The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-28

per day as they were i'm 1857. I have no
>ct Sc to offer for the pensioneI who mas
obt"1 eu his pension by fraud, or for au%
man who violates any law AMI I here
10y Cfc" a reward uf $2i for proof hat
viii show that any v"tcra I'm the city
of Scranton is drawing "A pension which
he has obtained by fraud. Here Is
chance for those taxpayers who have
come to mans estate since the wars
close"
one of these men asked me yesterday
why he should be compelled to help pay
pensions. He did not realize the superior
advantage he enjoyed i'm this land of
freedom, or the opportunity aud possibi-
tiles attainabe I'm no other land beneath
the sun. lie knew nothing of grim war,
which saved this nation, aud guaranteed
to him these privileges and made pen
siuns possible. Nor did he know how anN~
Ously this government sought soldiers;
how the Young men were pleaded with
to enter the fght how this government
promised to take care of them. and that
their wives or families should always be
cared for. The government is fulfilling its
obligations and carrying out its promises.
But to return to the question of fraud,
! do not deny that there are some cases,
bur that they are extensive | 40 not be.
lievc, COMMISSIONS of Pensions Evans
says it is Impossible for any great amount
of fraud to be praCtircd successfully on
the pension bureau. Here Is what he
says as told 10y Il Washington dispatch
dated Dec. 81: commissioner oI Pensions
Evans CharaCtcTZcS all stories Of extern
sive pension frauds as pure fiction. The
figures used are official regarding dis
bursements but the allegations based
upon them indicate TO the commissioner
a vivid Imagination, coupled with a woe
fui ignorance regarding the method of
granting pensions. The commissioner adj
mits that some frauds exist. but he says
that the department is exposing them.
Every guilty person discovered is prose-
cuted openly in the courts. The percent
age of fraudulent cases is so small that
they do not Justify the outcry being
made about them, The Cleveland admin
istration began It's career with the an
nouncement of purpose to purge the
pension rolls of the frauds 1t supposed
We're there. After years of the closest
investigation and inquiry. 1t was com.
PEELED to admit that, on the whole, nearly
every dollar paid out had been obtained
legally. AS to the charge that there are
more pensioners on the rolls than there
are survivors of the rebellion. the COM
missioner says this is not true. While the
total number of pensioners seems large
1t must be remembered that thousands Of
widows and soldiers orphans help to
swell the list i'm addition to the veterans
MT. Evans says II Is Impossible lot any
amount of fraud 10 be practiced success
fully on the Pension bureau. For himself
he would rather spend $4,000 in running
down fraud than save 800 by perpe-
tuating them
But to return to the publication of the
pension list BY all means let the list be
published. This will do more to stop this
idle chatter than anything ! can think of.
1t will show that there are men attend
ing to their daily duties, but have dis
abilities which enlitle them to pension.
This il hard for some people 10 see, with
out the aid Of an N-ray apparatus. Let
he list show what is the matter with
each penSionrr and for what he receives
pension. Then the entire people would
know the reason why every pensioner
was receiving support from the govern
mcnt There ar" pensioners In this city
! who have suffered more than either Cen
cral Siclilps or General Beaver: and whose
life will be shortened by score of years.
/ yet tn, public may know nothing Of their
disability or suffering.
\. g. Stevens.
J Scranton, Dee. -.