The Portland daily press., 1898-03-03

VOLUNTEER Service Roll was LOns-AH0
Man VINO Thus Defends The Pension
system Has Never Asked for Pension
for Himself,
(Letter in New York World.
1 am heartily in favor of any PROPOSE
ton that will clear up the cry about PEN
sion frauds. No one abhors sneak OF a
fraud more than do brave veterans, and
no one can have a more earnest desire to
see all fraudulent pensioners cleared from
the roll than have the loyal veteran SOL
diers and sailors of the nation.
AS to the way to hunt down frauds
am not SO clear. The publication OF the
names of pensioners was tried some years
ago with the objects of ascertaining II
there were frauds among them, but COM
paratively nothing came of it. do not
believe that q similar course at the pres
ent time would result in any considerable
clearing of the rolls.
In my Judgment public opinion, which
has been educated to believe that there
are large number of fraudulent pension
ers on the rolls, is all wrong. I have no
doubt that the pension roll is the purest
roll in the world, not excepting that OF
our churches and our various fraternal
societies. Each pensioners name Is on
the army rolls, and each pension has been
granted under stringent laws, adminls-
tered by careful and experienced officials.
That comparatively few pensions have
been granted on false affidavits is proba-
BILE; it would be wonderful if such was
not the case, with adch q long list Of
worthy pensioners. But If the general
business of the country and friendly
societies, and our churches. even, were as
cleanly conducted as is the granting OF
pensions there would be a new earth in
short order.
do not have much faith in the PROPOSE
ton to give congressman access to the
pension lists. BY what process could
Congressman detect frauds as we'll as
trained Pension Office employees? And
what lively scene it would be to have
several hundred congressman lnousing
about through the files of the pension
records hunting up evidence to prove that
some pensioner was unworthy to draw a
nension! Pensioners are known in every
community already, and the pubi1shlng
apain of the rolls or allowing Congress-
mon access to them beyond their present
means of examining them would not
bring to light many frauds, and for the
sufficient reason that comparatively few
exist.
In NV own somewhat extended observa-
tiops | do not know of single case Of
fraud among pensioners. And believe
the people would be astonished II they
could know of the suffering and causes
which have been the basis Of a pension
being granted to many who are slyly
pointed out as frauds;
l have in mind two pensioners who,
some years ago were selected as frauds,
and both had their pensions summarily
stopped under ruling as brutal as it was
| illegal and unjust. In less than six
| months both died of the disease clearly
contracted in the army for which they
had been pensioned.
| feel confident that remar kably small
nereentsge of go-called pension frauds ii
their pensions We're taken from them,
could live without largs local support.
| If this be true, then3the nation is in duty
bound to care for them. 9r5
Tho pension roll is a losg one, because
the volunteer service Toll was long. The
pensions received go into quick and gem
eral circulation every three months The
money thus spent is of immense service
to needy veterans and our country.
The recent shameful criticisms by Pen
sion Commissioner Evans of pension
agents-as unbeconIing as it was coward
ly-all sprang largely from the desire to
| court the favor of those who have little
real sympathy with the men who now are
worn out by the effects Of war service.
| Long before the holders of Government
| bonds yield up their rich source OF
wealth, the volunteers. who saved the
nations's credit and redeemed 1t from
| slavery will have passed away, in few
years-fifteen at the most-the pension
roll will have shrunk to small dimen
sions: but the glorious American Union
will remain monument to its heroic de
| tenders.
| I have never applied for pension my
| self, although ever since the war have
been sufferer from disability that Ions
| ago would have legally entitled me 10
rension. could live without pension
and SO am not now pensioner. But
know that the loose and frequently
thouahtless criticisms in a vast majority
of cases do great injustice to needy ane
legally pensioned veterans who appeal
physically fairly we'll, buts who are grea'
sufferers Notwithstanding.
[ would recommend careful and homes
enforcement of pension laws, basee
upon precedents, as ours are, and grant
pension to every deserving veteran whe
applies for one, under the law. / woulc
not have spies and informers haunting
the pension office in search Of frauds bu'
I would have the officials of the Pension
Office do thsir honest duty, under thf
law. as 1 believe they are now doing.
4 Besides, I would send Commissioner
Evans home by q short cut and reilevt
the Pension Office of the stigma whlcf
/ his criticisms have put upon it. me
Union veterans of the nation generally
| believe him out of place where he is, pc
| cause he is ameptably lacking in th'
| judicial dignity and fairness necessar,
where the veterans and saviors OF t'l'
Union have such sacred interests at STAKE d
The requirements of the Pension olnc'
In the case of pension application ar
such that fraud would soon be COZ
yinced that his undertaking wouio "
long, tedious and almost surely iatal. ~.
court of law in our country mas eau"
safeguards.
If any who are now crying "frauus
will try to help secure q pension ior
worthy veteran he will have his eye
opened to this.
AS one who carried gun in two-rea1 y
regiment-the Thirty fifth New YORK V3a -,