Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-24
WORK AND WAGES,
Civil Service and Spells System i'm
Connection With Pension Claims.

C1S1 service and spells System I'm
Connection With Pension Claims.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
As there is at the present time much dis
cussion of the civil service work of the
various executive departments, allow me to
state some facts relative to the work of the
pension office. the Importance of which does
not appear to be generally understood, nor
does the value of the work dore there ap-
pear to be duly appreciated by the people
generally. and not by all members of Con-
gress. judging from the reported speeches
of some congressman when the salaries of
clerks are referred to in the discussion
In the first place. pension claim amounts
TO a call upon the government to pay a
soldier, his widow, parent or minor child
anywhere from 800 to $4,000, according to
the period that the claimant may live and
be entitled to the pension.
Inc great mass of pension claims are of
such value that each one will excel the
claims usually adjudicated in the common
pleas courts of any county in the various
states.
The proof required to prove each claim
covers more facts than is usually needed to
establish claims within the jurisdiction of
common pleas courts, and aside from all
this the pension claims are generally ad-
Judicated on ex parte testimony, which re-
quires great experience to detect the false
testimony offered to establish claim. The
falsity of the evidence may consist not only
in the statements of the witnesses, but IN
the preparation of their affldavits. A wit
ness may think he knows fact and testify
to d fact without intending to commit per-
jury, while upon proper cross-questioning
II will appear that he has no judicial knowl-
edge of what he asserts to be fact Again,
the witness may be competent but the writ
ten affidavit may not show 1t. because the
writer does not know Row to show the
competency of a witness.
Another affidavit may be worthless, be-
cause the turat does not show who swore
to the truth of the statements contained in
II. for many notaries and justices have lit
tie knowledge of the manner In which writ
ten evidence should be prepared.
1t often appears that no venue is laid, or
an incorrect ore, outside of the jurisdiction
of the judicial officer. appears in an affi-
dayit and 1t is worthless on that account.
Yet these are the characteristics of the
Claims against the government, where the
facts upon which the claim is based oc
Cured thirty years or more ago.
Before a claim Is recorded a search Of the
made by reliable persons, to see that 1t is
not a duplicate of another claim already
filed or claim of another party for the
service of the same soldier.
When that is determined the claim is re-
ferred to the adjudicating examiners, who
call for the evidence required, and when
the same Is finished must judge of it's COM
potency and prepare the claim for final con-
sideration.
The examiner should have had judicial
education before he is competent to adjudi-
cate claim on the written evidence which
will be furnished. This he may have OBJ
tanned before he was appointed to the posi-
tion IN the pension office, or by acting as
an assistant examiner until he has had ex-
perienCc in the position, so that he becomes
competent to act on his Judgment.
But in either case it will require years of
experience to fit him for the work. so that
he can do justice to the claimant and The
government.
Under the "spoils system man is likely
to be removed before he can become an
expert examiner, and he will be supplanted
by another man who is without any ex-
perience, but who may probably receive
higher salary If he has strong political
friends than the man who was competent
to do the work of an examiner of claims.
j have known chief clerk in the office
that did not know whether the justices of
the peace in his own state were elected by
the people or appointed by the governor.
This was only a sample of the efficiency
obtained under the 'spoils system and it
was not the only man in the office who
was receiving one of the best salaries. but
not competent to do the work or teach
others what was law, or what was COM
petent evidence of the facts to be proven.
For many years the pension office has
been adjudicating claims at the rate of 200
or more day. and the commissioner of
pensions can only attend to the few or
many of what may be called Office appeals,
as TO the competency of certain evidence
or construction of law.
Of course. a commissioner has the gen.
eral supervision of all the branches of the
work in the Office, and cannot give his per-
sonal attention to the adjudication of
claims. He must depend upon his clerks to
do the mass of work accomplished daily,
and they are supposed to be competent to
judge of the evidence and laws which apply
TO all the classes of claims presented for
adjudication.
Shall these men who are we'll versed in
the pension laws be subject to system
that will displace them in a few years after
they have become well acquainted with the
business of the office and the laws pertain
ing 10 pensions?
Will the people of the United States be
better served and their money disbursed
more equitably by turning out the compe-
tent men and supplanting them with green
bands to do such work every four years. or
every change of the administration, whether
four or eight years?
The common-sense of the voters In this
country will determine whether the ''spoils
system a fair civil service system will
best conserve their interests. whether the
politicians sec merit in the civil service or
not.
Why should not the employees in the ex-
ecutiye departments of the government
have permanent positions long as they
are competent and act as becomes men in
such positions? and why should they not
have pay to correspond with the duties
fortably and as becomes respectable MEM
bers of society, and become owners of their
homes in or near this city?
Men who perform like duties are re-
quired of examiners in the pension office
and in the several auditors offices and
many other positions IN the executive de-
partments are now being paid the same sal
aries that were established forty years ago
for like work, while the PROBATE and COM
mon pleas judges throughout the country
are receiving greater salaries, and they can
generally support their families for one
bali the amount that 1t costs to live In this
Sty of Washington.
About one-twentieth of the salaries in the
executive departments were increased about
twenty years ago to 5000 per year. but the
salaries of forty years ago are the prevail
ing rates il we except the still lower rates
that have been established for copyists.
Boys and single men can perhaps save
few dollars at the old rates, but men or
women with families cannot save any
money at the old rates and live respectfully
and do their part citizens in Christian
community. l.. ii.
February g. 1898.
To License Bicycles.
To the Editor of The Evening Star: