Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-17
THE PENSION QUESTION
Member of Camp of Sons of Veterans Gives
His Views.
Less Loss by Pension Frauds Than in
Any Other Department of
tho Government.
10 the Editor of The Evening Star:


tine. and the tone of the metropolitan
Gailies seems adverse to the present sys-
TEN. The Star has given prominence to
the views of the commissioner of pensions,
wko seems to be catering to the press sem
timent. 1t goes without saying that there
is strong feeling among the veterans that
the press and the commissioner are against
their best interests. The more conservative
believe that Mr.. Evans means well, but
that his lack of information respecting the
pension system is responsible for the va
carries in which he is indulging. His use
of the files of the persion bureau to show
the number and character of-pensio1 frauds
is not only bad taste, but exhibits poor
judgment, because the methods exposed in
dictate in how many ways and with what
facility the government may be dcirauded
in spite Of the vigilance of its employees.
To group the number of fraudulent claims
discovered during period of five years
makes good showing, perhaps, for the
pension bureau. and will undoubtedly aid
superficial observers in coming to the con-
ClrSIon that these cases the rule and
not the exception. but. compared with
the number of meritorious cases, the show
ing OF fraud is Insignificant. Another fact
that is overlooked because the commits
sioner does not mention it, is that thous-
andS of claimants die before their Just
claims are settled, the delay being the fault
of the government. l think it woul not
be difficult to show that for every dollar
improperly paid out for pensions. the gov
eminent saves two dollars by delaying the
settlement of just claims.
This, of course, does not justify the i'm
proper payment of the dollar, but it shows
that the same complicated and antiuulteG
machinery through which the government
loses the dollar saves the two dollars 50
that the net result to the poor taxpayer
is on his side.
As compared with the total amount paid
out. | venture to say that the government
through mr. oh
any other form of government expendi-
tGre. To be just comparison should be
made with the losses through the violation
OF the internal revenue and customs laws
through appropriations for river and har-
Dor improvements: through postal subsidies
to steamship and railway lines; through the
erection of public buildings and public en-
terprises such as our celebrated .'Lydeck-
er tunnel through bids for government
supplies; through private claims and pub
lie lands. ard through the many other
agencies by which the government is E";ng
daily defrauded. / am convinced that an
pEcants for pension no worse if not
any better, than those who constitute the
benehciarics under the above headings.
The commissioners Propositions.
With regard to the commissioners propo-
sition TO publish the list of pensioners If
he is seeking popularity with the 5000 PEN
Son attorneys or .buzzards" as he terms
them he Will get it by having the list pub
be forgiven" This army vas recruited and
fed as the direct result of the former pub
licat:On of pensioners. and as the commits
sary is running low new list would be
the means of repienishins the stores. For
every penSIUner dropped from the rolls,
ten new claims would be presented for in
crease of pension. Every man who gets
less than ST. month under the act of
June %, $500, would be persuaded that he
should have that rate. Every widow who
gets s. under said act would be advised
Ia L.,
nal law. Applications would pour into the
pension bureau and would have to be con-
siderci whether the claims We're allowable
or not. The pension attorney would get
from 30 cents 10 81 for postage expenses
In each case, which would be very fair
return On his outlay for circulars, even if
he never received any fees. Every pen
sloner cropped from the rolls would apply
Tor restoration. and this would mean more
postage money for the claim agents. If
necessary, l believe that the agents would
agree to bear a part of the expense of pub
fishing this list The objection to publish
Ing the list on the part of the old soldiers
COMES from the fact that many of them
nave wounds and injuries of Il peculiar ma
tUre. the existence of which they do not
care to have advertised. If the list could
be published without describing the disa-
bilities. there would be little objection to Il
on the part of the pensioners.
4 Mistaken Idea.
The idea of abolishing pension attorneys,
out. and to protect the claimants from the
rapacity of the 'buzzartis" is the most
mistaken one advanced by the commission
er- Under the present law and practice
Inc pension bureau has control over the
pension attorney, both as to his conduct III
the prosecution of claims and his charges
therefor Take away this control, which is
incident TO the recognition of the attorney
before the pension bureau, and he becomes
Tree lance as the agent of the claimant or
e. .-Ia,tS
government cannot prevent. He could
then charge what he pleased and the
claimant would Toe his victim, without any
protection NIECty-five per cent of the APP
pllCants for pension unable to present
and prosecute their claims without assist
ance from some one more or less familiar
with the rules and laws governing pen
slons. They cannot get this assistance
without paying for it. The commissioner
of patents officially recognizes the value of
the services of competent attorneys in the
settlement of applications for patents, and
recommends that inven Tors employ such,
and at the same time he exercises discre-
tiOn in the recognition of applicants to
practice before his bureau. The commits
siOuer of pensions has the authority to ex-
ercise such discretion in the matter of pen
sion attorneys. but he seems to lack the
ability to maxi a proper discrimination. To
adjudicatc the pension claims now pending
in the pension bureau within the lifetime
Of the claimants, without the aid of pension
attorneys. would require five thousand
clerks ana involve an immense increase in
admins trative Expenses. 1t should be re-
membered that this increase could not be
pail out Of the pensioners money, as is
done IN the case of his attorneys fee but
would have to ccTle out of the appropria-
items. II is true that there are many ras-
caily pension agents, and that they are
spCnsible for the filing of many improper
claims, but the pension bureau has the
power to disbdr the and ignore the
other. If the commissioner of pensions
wants to make record of which he may be
proud lei him initiate the example of the
commissioner OF patents in dealing with
dishonest attorneys. If he wants TO add to
This some original work. let him turn his
attention to the personnel of his bureau,
and. Instead of casting about for notes
among the pensioners. discover the beams
il the eyes CT his official family.
How Make Record.
In view of the fact that - per cent of the
work now being done in the pension bureau
Is the answering of congressional calls for
the status of claims-work which interferes
with the settling of claims which have been
pending from three to five years-if the OBJ
ject of the pension bureau is to settle