The National tribune., 1899-09-07

of pensioning may be simplified, and to Sc
cure Il more uniform practice IN the future,
the appointment of a commission on the re-
vision of the laws, rules and regulations Is
recommended.
Reference is made to the loose manner
in which guardians of pensioners execute
their trust and the Commissioner suggests
that regulations be adopted holding guard
| ianS to a strict accountability in order
| that the pension money may be USED 1or
| the benefit of the pensioner. Payments are
| now made to about 1000 guardians OF
minor children and insane pensioners, and
| in many instances these guardians make
| no report to their trusts, and the pension
is often practically swallowed up in bills
OF expenses, costs and fees.
| Legislation is suggested extending the
| benefits of the act of June 81, 1890, to per-
sons who served in the Confederate army
and afterward voluntarily enlisted III the
| Union army or navy prior to Jan. 1, 1860,
and were honorably discharged.
The re-enactment of the law requiring bi-
ennial examinations of pensioners VINO
have been recently discharged from the
in which the recovery of a pensioner from
the pensioned causes can be determined.
The repeal is urged of the act OF June Z,
| 1888, which removed all limitations as te
| date of filing claims by widows. Leglsla'
ton is asked for to the end that no pension
Sfldl NC SEdhteu W ueibo PiiOi W sAAo NeAsS S>
| filing the application.
The act Of June 7, 1888, holds out induce
mentS and offers a premium to the VICIOUS
| to file fraudulent claims carrying Large
| sums as arrearages. 1t is bad law tina
encourages crime, and the Government has
| but little opportunity to disprove carefully
prepared fraudulent claim under this law.
- sroPPAGE OF PENSIONS.
Complaints have been made against thu
Bureau for the stoppage OF the pensions o.
those who enlisted or accepted commissions
in the war with Spain. These pensions
ceased by operation of law, and not by any
order or instructions from the Bureau.
| Up to this date the number Of re-enlist
ments of pensioners for service IN the wal
with Spain has been reported as IL OF thu
navy, A of the Regular Army ano 66 OF th'
war of the rebellion.
| Out of 4,941 cases in which action has
been taken by the Depa rtment in appeal:
from the action of the Bureau the Bureau
was reversed in 81, and many OF thes'
were cases in which the adverse action hat
been taken before April 1897.
/ There are now l ,361 medical boards o
three surgeons each, 21S single surgeon!
and 10 specialists for examining claimant!
for original pension and for increase o
pension.
Two hundred and two Of these boards
were placed in the classified service in May
1896. In May, 1899, at the suggestion o
the Civil Service Commission, these sur
geons were withdrawn from the classifie'
service.
Eleven hundred and thirty-seven claim
have been filed under the provisions OF tn
act of March 3, 1899, which provides tha
one-half OF the soldiers pension shall b
paid to his wife or minor children in cas-
of abandonment and other specified cond
tions.
This law will afford considerable relief
very deserving class of people.
The Commissioner expresses his satisfat
ton with the results for the past year. N
new rules of evidence have been introduce
in the adjudication of claims, bu. the wor
has been accomplished under prescribe
rules of many years standing.
In his conclusion the Commissioner state
that the pension laws are generous; tina
their Interpretation by the Department ha
always been to liberalize and their admir-
istration by the Bureau officials has bee
and is now far more liberal than the ger
erous laws-always giving the benefit Q
the doubt in favor of the soldier.