Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-24
NOT SERIOUSLY REGARDED
Commissioner Evans View of the CHARGES of
Pension Frauds.

THE cry of pension frauds has become so
common of late that the people do not re-
gard it seriously nowadays" said Pen
sion Commissioner Evans to a reporter of
!, Inc Star this morning. And it was for
the express purpose of proving the faiiacy
OF This charge that / recommended TO Con-
gress, and Will urge in a bill after the hoii-
days, the publication of a complete list
showing each pensioner, his address, disa-
Dility and amount of pension received And
this will do more to stop this idle chatter
than anything this department can say.
The possibilities of disabilities are great
and every one knows a man apparently in
the best of health, attending to his daily
duties, may have disability which en-
titles him to a pension. This is hard tor
some people to see. Perhaps if they had an
X ray apparatus with them there would be
no difficulty. Well, the list would show
what was the matter with such men and
why they received pensions. Then ii would
give the reason why that woman or that
man was being supported by the govern
ment.
But best of all, it would bring to light
the frauds which do exist. and we all know
that there are frauds. But L say without
fear OF contradiction, that in no business
enterprise where SO large an amount of
money is diSburSed are there few mis-
takes. And it is because of the safeguards
we throw about the office that this is pos
sible.
Cost of the List.
Now about the cost of publishing this
pension list. 1t may be that it viii cost
Saoo,00o, but who can estimate what it
will save the United States in unearth-
ing frauds. Applications are received every
day from all over the country for LIST
of the nenSiOr!erS of certain county,.
This is impossible to furnish. Why, the
publication of a complete pension list Will
stir up neighborhooiS and set the SossiDs
to work. They will detect the frauds and
will notify us.
This great pension list and enormous
appropriations appear to scare the people,
and with the publication Of every aru-
Gle setting forth the number of applica-
tons awaiting action, the calamity croak
ers talk of bankrupting the treasury. That
sounds well enough, and personally / agree
with many of the arguments advanced.
For instance, 1 do not approve of all the
laws which have been passed. pension
should date from the filing of the aplica-
ton. / am opposed TO arrearages of pen
sions. Look at that case allowed yes
terday, where a resident of Norway, who
had never been in this country, will receive
in back pension some $1,000 or 5000, be-
cause her Johnny fought for the Union.
Promises to Recruits.
"You fellows who write about pensions
know nothing of the grim war which made
pensions possible. You dc not realize that
our army had 2,75O.OOO enlisted men; nor
do you know how anXiously this govern
n ent sought soldiers. How the young men
were pleaded with to enter the fight; how
this government promised to take care of
tfem if they were wounded, or if killed how
their wives or families would be made COM
Portable. Nor do you know of the large
boGnties which were paid for soldiers, in
some instances as high as $500 to each man
who would enlist. Oh, the government was
glad enough to get men in those days at
any price. Now it is fulfilling its obiga-
TORS, and carrying out its promises. The
government has been most liberal, and
while, as l have said, some of its laws
have been, in my opinion, too liberal, yet
1t demonstrates the respect and duty we
owe the Union soldier.
But to return to the publication of the
per sion list. Do you know that one of the
newspapers of the city some time ago
wanted the privilege of publishing the en-
tire list and furnishing this department
with 1900 bound copies? 1t doesn't seem to
me II 1t cost so much to get this list in
shape, newspaper would undertake to
publish 1t, and be so generous with its cop
les. Yes, 1 shall urge the publication of
this list in bill before Congress. and
hope to convince the congressman it would
be good thing for the service