The National tribune., 1897-05-20
RULES AND ORDERS.
Changes Calculated to Give
Better Pension Service.

Every week Commissioner of Pensions
Evans makes sundry rules and orders, the re-
suit Of which lie has thought out, and ~hich
he believes will inure to the better progress of
the work of the Pension Bureau. dc also
made number of promotions last week, some
in the cases of deserving veterans. and one re-
instatement of veteran is rated
An order of interest issued by Commissioners
Evans reads: /" The practice under Order 210,
dated Aug. q, 1894, of examining powers OF
attorney and fee agreements to determine
whether they are legally executed Will be dis
continued" Under the last Administration
four clerks were kept employed on the work
abolished by the above order. Col. Evans
takes the ground that the powers of attorney
and the fee contracts are matters OF much per-
sonal interest to attorneys. that they can be re-
lied npon to properly execute them, and that
If they fail TO DO so it is not the province oil the
Bureau 10 detect their errors. Tho Commits
sioner is using every endeavor to put as many
clerks as possible on the adjudication OF origi-
nal pension claims
The Commissioner has also issued an order
aboiishng an order issued by Acting Commits
sioner Murphy on May g. 1893, directing that
no answer be made by the Army and Navy
Survivors Division to calls by attorneys Tor
lists of survivors. These lists frequently
called for by claimants who wish to secure the
names of the survivors in their regiments IN
order to get proof of their claims. The last Ad-
ministration acted on the belief that attorneys
took advantage of these lists in securing names
of soldiers TO whom they might send advef-
tising circulars.
An order has been issued reading:
Hereafter details for field service VIII not
be made of clerks receiving a salary IN excess
of 81, 400 per annnm."
Clerks doing field service in the Pension Bu.
reau receive s. per diem for expenses, for
which reason field service is sought by very
large number of employees ip the office The
Commissioner has considered that il is best to
keep the highest grade clerks in the Office
although many of them have applications on
file to go into the field. There are over 3U0
examiners in the field at present. and it is
likely that those whose salaries are IN excess oil
s.. 400 per amman viii gradually be called IN,
and anyone who desires TO continue field work
will be able to do SO only by consenting TO a re-
duction of his salary to $l.ae0.
Complaint was recently fled at the Pension
Bureau against the Soldiers Home at Rose
burg Ore. alleging that it is violating section
4745 of the Revised Statutes, making II a mis-
demeanor for anyone picdgng or receiving as
pledge the mortgage. sale. assignment, or
transfer of amy right, claim. or interest IN any
pension certificate. or to hold it as security for
any debt or promise.
The Bureau has made an investigation and
There are legal authorities both ways, and
decision constituting strictly the statute cited
would. it is stated. be not only unjust. but lead
TO serious consequences The evidence shows
that the Home directors have required aii
pensioners 10 surrender their pensions to the
Treasurer OF the Heme. Four dollars month
is then allowed each Pensioner for personal ex-
penses, and the remainder is paid TO dependent
relatives; or. If there are none, the money is
accumulated for the 6ene6t of the Pensioner.
The Pension Bureau takes the position that it
is not expedieut to intervene in the case, as the
act of March 3. 1893. by implication, sanctions
the requirement. which has been in force in
most of the State Soldiers Homes
Commander Z. C. Stali, of the New Jersey
GAR. had an interview with Commissioner
ef Pensions Evans. IN which he unsuccessfully
protested against the practice OF the New jersey
Soldiers Home in retaining a part of the pen
sion of the inmates. The money he claimed,
WAS retained by the institution for the benefit
of the State and amounted to about s., 600.
Commissioner Evans went over the case very
thoroughly with him. aud pointed out similar
practices in other States and their objects
Commander Stahl was advised that the Bureau
had no jurisdiction, as the issue is purely 8
State matter, dependent upon the action OF the
legislature and the Homes.