The National tribune., 1898-09-08
THE COMMISSIONERS OF PENSIONS.

lished his second annual report. Wher
he published his first report year ago
we expressed our disappointment at it
but found the excuse for Mr.. Evans
that be had then been but short time
in an office to which he came with bu
scanty knowledge of its ways, principles
methods and needs, and that we could
expect much better things from him
when longer experience had given hin
fuller knowledge of the subject of pen
sions. We are sorry to say that thi:
second report is no more satisfactory
than the first. 1t is even less So for il
gives no evidence that the past year has
brought to Mr.. Evans the knowledge
that it should of the dire needs of the
veterans, the imperative necessity of
greater activity in allowing their claims
and giving them their just dues before
death claims them. Nor does he show
the slightest sense of blame or reproach
in stating the scandalous fact that, 50
wears after the close of the war, there
are still $500 unsettled claims pend
ing in the Pension Bureau. OF these he
estimates that about $4,000 have never
received any pension at all. Mr.. Evans S
estimates have always to be received
with a great deal of caution by those
who remember the astonishing state
ments he made to Congressional Com
mittees last year, and the character of
the matter he furnished the soldier hat
ing papers until he received an intima-
ton from his official superiors that con-
tributing TO the press was not considered
part of the duties OF Commissioner Of
Pensions.
When, therefore, Mr. Evans says that
Of the 635,059 claimants, 10000 have
so far received no pension, we may
be sure only that there is fully that
many. When Mr.. Evans undertakes
to give figures he tries to make them go
his way. Consequently, there are at
least $4,000 claims that should have
been settled years ago. 1t Is an official
Scandal shameful reproach to the
business methods OF a great office of the
Government-that they were not Such
any other Department of the Govern
menL Such slackness would speedily
bankrupt any private business in the
country. OF course, the presumption is
tudI jISlC are lels vi lHOuSdHuS more
than $4,000, for Mr.. Evans's idiosyncra-
sizes with statistics never take the form
of stronger showing against himself
than he can help.
We must assume that every one of
these 10000, or 100000, or 10000
whatever may be their real
number-have much real merit. Other
wise, they would not still be pending
after four years of Lochren's industrious
activity in finding reasons for rejecting
them, and two years more Of similar
effort by Mr.. Evans.
1t is hardly necessary to allude to the
limitless misery which has been endured
by these $4,000 or more meritorious
claimants in all the years that they have
waited for the Pension Bureau to do its
plain duty, and give them the rights
they bought with their blood on the
field of battle. The subject is too cru
ely painful to enlarge upon.
Mr.. Evans gives no hint as to how
many of these deserving veterans have
died bitter, heart broken deaths in the
long years since the Pension Bureau
began mumbling over their claims.
We give a few excerpts from the
statements and statistics in the report
The roll is not only increasing in numbers.
but In value. IT is believed that il will in
crease from the war of the rebellion. az
there are probably 200 600 ex-Uuion soldiers
living who have never had pensions. and 1t
will increase greatly in amount naturally by
reason of increased disabilities, Us provided
by law.
The amounts paid ont at the several aeen-
cies for the year Oh account0 OF pensions under
the general laws we're 80, Z15.3-} and on
account Of pensions under the act of June
q, 1890. 500 100, $40. The number OF pen
siOners in foreign countries at the clos,. OF the
fiscal year was 4,37l, having increased 300.
The total amount paid TO pensioners living
abroad WAS 5000. S62.
There Is a lack OF system in the established