The times., 1899-08-17
TRIVIAL PENSION CLAIMS
Thousands Investigated Annually
at Great Expense.
4 sample Case shows the Expendi-
ture of $1,000 by the Government
Where the Applicant Could Get
Only S22.4o-said to BE the Work of
uliterate and Dishonest Attorneys

Notwithstanding the fact that "a 900 pen
sion attorneys and agents were dropped
from the list during the past year, there
still remain $4,000, of which number there
are in Washington alone. 1,OS6. With this
vast number OF attorneys and agents
eager, hungry, and anxious to file claims
and reap the sums allowed them by law.
The officials say there can be no wonder
that of the $4,000 claims for pensions fled
during the fiscal year just closed, fully
ore-half of that number was for increase
Of pension, or for claims already adjudi-
Gated or refused.
The illiteracy, inoapacity. and dishonesty
which, it is alleged, has characterized the
work of some of these "aiders- get PEN
sions" has been a constant source OF
trouble to clients and to the bureau The
misconstruction and msconception of the
requirements of the bureau. the filing of
confused, irrelevant, and contradictory evil
dence, and the frequent exactions OF sums
of money from claimants for alleged ex-
pense on the part of ignorant and unscrup-
ulous attorneys and agents have, it is said.
caused delays, increase of work, and doubt
less resulted in the rejection or abandon
ment of many meritorious claims to say
nothing of the tremendous and unneces-
sary expenditure of Government money in
searching out such claims
case in point which shows the injus-
tice of filing such claims as referred to.
and the expense incurred by the bureau in
giving all claims a thorough investigation
is the following:
In the summer of 1867 James johnson
made his appearance in Philipsburg, Cen
tre county, Pa, where he was employed
as saw-mill engineer by a gentleman en-
gagged in the lumber business. October 5.
1872. Johnson married Sarah W Westley.
OF that place. and on July 3, 1889, he died
| suddenly. while living near MisscuIa.
Mont. In the following October his wild
ow filed, through an attorney in Wash
ington, claim for pension, alleging that
her deceased husband had served in Com
pany G, Fifty eighth Pennsylvania In
fantry, and that he had died OF dis
ease OF the heart contracted while a pris
oner OF war at Andersonyille, Ga. One
year later the widow fled through the
same attorney, claim under the act of
June n, 1890, alleging the same service.
February 2, 1891. she REMARKED Four
days after the nuptial knot was tied she
filed, through the same attorney. a claim
as guardian OF her two children April IA.
1894, she filed an affidavit alleging that
after her husbands discharge from Com
pany G, Fifty eighth Pennsylyania Infant
~. he enlisted in the Fifth United States
Artillery. and was discharged therefrom in
1863 or 1856, at Fortress Monroe, Va. Two
| years later, in July. she fled an affidavit
10 correct that, alleging that her husbands s
second service was in Battery II. Fifth
Pennsylvania Light Artillery. from which
he was transferred to Company D. and she
gave dates Of enlistment and discharge.
Fepruary 10. 1885. she filed affidavits in
! which she swore that the soldier was not
married prior TO his enlistment in Com
pany G, Fifty--eighth Pennsylvania Infant
| ~ AS lt appeared from the records that
I the James Johnson who served in Com
pany G. Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Infant
ry, resided, after discharge in New Jer-
| sey, that he was born in ireland. and that
ne was at least twenty years older than
/ her husband, or the James Johnson who
served III Batteries II and d. Fifth Penn
| sylyania Light Artillery and that the lat
ter was a miner, and was born in Fay-
ette county, Pa, the claims were sent out
| in 1897 for special examination.
Upon taking the claimants deposition II
appeared that she had not known her first
| husband, James johnson, until about one
year before they We're married; that all
she knew of his former life was that he
nad told her that he was born in Buffalo.
1 ~ anu budt NE IiNeQ at HQrSeneaQ. N.
! T., before coming to Pennsylvania. She
had no papers and possessed no knowledge
| whatever as to his military service, the
| information contained in her various sworn
statements and affidavits being supplied by
| her attorney, who, ii is evident had OBJ
| tanned the data referred to from the roster
OF Pennsylvania soldiers
| IL was evident at this stage of the in
vestigation that the claimants husband
! was not the man who had served in either
| OF the Pennsylvania organizations alleged.
! and 1t was also quite clear that her hus-
bands sudden death in 1889 could not be
| connected with his service during the war
| OF the rebellion, even IL it were known
| with what organization ne was connected
! Ii was apparent also, that the minor g
/ claim must fail for want of satisfactory
PROOF OF the dates OF birth. thus leaving olly
the widows claim under the act of June
! Y, 1890, involving title to pension for the
| period OF two months and twenty-four
! days. And this dependent upon the aues-
| ton as to whether the bureau could and
If 1t could whether it should undertake
! to identify her late husband as James
Johnson. who served during the war in
some unknown organization, and this, not
withstanding the fact that there were prob
ably hundreds of soldiers of that same
name. 1t Is said that all this time the
bureau would nave been JuStlfled IN clos
ing the investigation and rejecting the
claim. Instead, however, the investigation
was continued, resulting In showing that
the James Johnson who served in the Fifth
Pennsylvania Artillery. the second service
| alleged, was alive and pensioner. The
claimants husband was identified by a
photograph as James johnson. who had
formerly lived in Horseheads, NJ Y. and
| had moved from there to Philipsburg, Pa.
1t was shown that he had been previously
| married at that place. and that his former
wife had died the last of May. 1867.
Finally information was obtained show
ing that he served in Company c. Fifth
New York Artillery, and in Battery l.,
Fifth United States Artillery.
While the Pension Bureau paid out more
than $1,000 Investigating this claim or
claims. had the widow secured pension
it would only have been for two months
and twenty four days, which at SS PER
month would have amounted to 500. 49, out
of which her attorneys fee would have
| been paid first.