Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-01
EVANS LEADS THE REVOLT.

continues TO be vigorously conducted.
Inc northern papers that opened hostfli-
Ties are being rapidly reinforced bv con-
temporaries throughout that section and
the West and the assauting forces are
being led by tho new Commissioner of
PENSIONS, ii. Clay Evans. with several
prominent Union veterans as his lieu
tenants. Here and there may be found
a paper engaged in attempting TO bush
whack and discredit the Commissioner
by appealing TO the gratitude" OF the
country, and cooking up figures designed
10 show that there are no fraudulent
pensioners on the rolls, but for the most
part the prominent journals North and
West, irrespective Of party. openly sup
! port him. or are discreetly silent Fur
thermore, as a rule, the Inspiration of
the papers attacking the Commissioner Is
easily traceable to the pcnsIon-shark in
huence or to politicians whose hopes are
centered in maintaining their grip upon
the soldier vote and the only effect upon
Mr.. Evans Of their attacks has been TO
warm him up to more steady and sweep
ing shooting.
Commissioner Evans has been in bad
odor with the pension vampires OF every
class ever since he took office. He start
ed out by advocating that the pension
rolls be published and posted in public
places so that the masses might become
acquainted with the number Of fraudu-
lent pensioners carried under the system,
and thereby be aroused to demanding re-
form. Next. when called before the
Committee on Appropriations of the
House, he proceeded to demonstrate that
the appropriations for pensions for the
coming fiscal year would fall short some
100000 of the actual amount that would
be required under the systems. In other
words, he showed that instead of Ni. OOO,-
900, nearly sl50,OO0OOO would be necessary.
This was for the Republican leaders a
most uncomfortable exposure of their
game of suppresson-a game being played
on account of the Treasury dehcif-and
subjected the committee to considerable !
criticism. Mr.. Miers, OF Indiana, was
led TO remark
IF l were to crltcse the chairman OF |
the committee presenting this Oension) |
bill, II would be for presenting q bill |
which approprates only Sli1e0.000 when |
the amount ought 10 be 1851. 10000. Why? |
Because all the reports from the Secre
tary and from pension agencies show
that there is need for $lJ0U0,o0O to pay
the pensioners borne on the rolls"
And this remark, together with Com
missioner Evans's way Of putting the
pension facts and figures, forced from
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the committee,
the following confessions:
Fourteen months from this time after
almost two thirds of the coming year
shall have expired, Congress will be in
session, and by deficiency appropriation
VIII provide for any shortage that may
perchance occur"
Now, 10 cap the climax and make things
more lively, the Commissioner turns his
guns upon the pension sharks or attor-
neys, and literally pours hot shot into
them. He shows that 100000 has been
paid out during the past thirteen years to
pension attorneys by applicants for the
of their claims, and under
his own signature declares that the ordi-
nary pension attorney is worse than the
most pestiferous 'varmint' that ever in
vaded a hen roost" He lays hare the
operations Of the law under which the
attorneys find It easy to compound out
RACES, estimates that the pension attorney
army numbers 5000, and does not hest
tate to assert that the vast majority of
these soldiers friends are sharpers. No
one who may read the scoring the Com
missioner gives the 'varmints' can get
away from the fact that the pension sys-
tenn, as it now exists. is to a great ex-
tent a copartnership Of pension sharks,
Dseudo-veterans. politicians, and the gov
eminent for robbing the masses.
In leading the charge on this citadel
If fraud, Commissioner Evans has shown
/ holiness and courage that challenges
he admiration and good will OF every
ax-payer. Considering the forces open
II secret. he has antagonized. be may
all-he may be Observation-Disclosures the
,itadel shall have been taken. But
whether that is to be his fate or not,
lnless all signs fail, he will be INDICATED
n the end by the press and the people
Whether he falls or not. he and those who
re standing by him have thrown a re-
upon Congress, the Sinking :
# which by that body will sooner or !
alter cause the issue involved TO be pre-
ented squarely at the polls.