The times., 1899-09-07
FACTS ABOUT Pensions
Extracts From the Recent Report
Of Commissioner Evans.
Many Reasons Advanced for the Dis
barment of Attorneys-During the
Year Ended June so, 1919, the Num-
ber OF Solicitors Who Were Denied
the Right to Practice Was 24.GG2.

ber OF Solicitors Who Were Denied
the Right to Practice Was 24.GG2
The annual report of the Commissioner
of Pensions, an abstract of which was pub
lished in The Times a few days ago, has
been printed, and limited number of
copies are now ready for distribution. The
full report makes 112 octave pages and
contains many features of local and general
interest not heretofore given TO the public
Commissioner Evans recommends an ap-
preparation of $500 for the purchase of
books for law and medical library CT the
bureau, and calls attention to the impor-
tanee of this small expenditure. He also
calls attention TO an appropriation of So,
900 which Congress made at its last ses-
sion for an areaway about the Pension
building. Since then, he says the plans
have been changed and coal bin and an
ash vault should be included. which will
add additional cost, and the whole work
should be done at the same time.
On June 80, 1898, he says, the productive
force of the bureau was reduced by the dis
charge of 10 clerks, by reason of reduc-
ton in the appropriation, aud yet, consid-
ering the character OF the work the output
last year was equal to that of the preced-
ing year. Since April 1, 1897 there have
been reinstated in the bureau 157 and in
the agencies twenty three former Union
soldiers and sailors making $50 in all. Dur
ing the same period there have been pro-
noted 287 former Union soldiers and sail
ors in the bureau and twenty in the
different agencies. Mr.. Evans defies his
critics In the Grand Army Of the Republic,
by asserting that 'I am quite satisfied with
the results of last year, confident that
good, Intelligent work has been done con-
sidering the complications surrounding the
adjudication of the many old claims of
long standing the bureau has to deal with.
No new rules of evidence have been intro
duced, but the work has been done under
prescribed rules Of many years standing.
The laws are generous. The Interpretation
OF the laws by the department has always
been to liberaliZe, and the administration
OF the laws by the bureau officials has been
and is now under the established practice
far more liberal than the generous laws
always giving the benefit of the doubt in
favor of the soldier
OF class of attorneys with whom he has
had to deal and who is held largely re-
sponsibie for the recent complaints of the
old soldier against the administration of
Mr.. Evans, the Commissioner reports as
follows:
Reasons for Disbarment.
During the year 1862 attorneys have
been disqualified. The causes which led
to the disbai ment and suspension of at
torneys, dropped for cause and revocation
OF admission number Is, and are as fol-
lows: Collecting Illegal fees from claim
ants, making false certificates to pension
vouchers, preparing and filing false affi-
davits in support of claims for pension,
forging pensioners names to pension
vouchers and collecting illegal fees, post
dating pension vouchers, collusion with
disbarred attorneys, failure to refund i'm
properly paid fees, disbarred by State
courts for deceit, malpractice, and o.her
gross misconduct; collusion with pension
attorneys in the prosecution OF pensions
while an officer of the Government; col
iecting illegal fees, and incapacity o. PEN
sion attorney borrowing money from
claimants and falling to repay same at
tempts 10 bribe Government officers in
connection with the prosecution of pen
sion claims, practicing under an assun ei
lame and forging fee checks, making false
statements TO department in order to be
admitted to practice, procuring and fling
afidayits not sworn TO. prosecuting claims
while Government officer, interfering
with the work of and assaulting special
examiner of the bureau, Illegally drawing
several pensions after marriage or death
OF pensioners, making and filing fa,se affi-
davibs to secure removal of charge of de-
sertion, collecting illegal fees and procur-
ing and filing papers as evidence which
were not sworn TO; procuring and filing
false. fraudulent, and forged evidence;
Ioaning money on pension certificates.
gross neglect of claimants interests, false
ly representing to be an officer OF the
fad ot4n
ulent pension forging fee agreements,
and blackmaiI.
AT the beginning of the fiscal year the
number of attorneys borne upon the roster
was nearly 80 000. II was found that over
one-Ealf of these had never been admitted
TO practice by the Secretary of the Interior
under the provisions of the act Of July 4.
1884, but had been entered on the roster
prior to the passage of said act The Secre-
tary ordered the bureau to call upon those
who had never complied with the provis-
ions of said act to obtain admission there
under If they desired to be recognized in
new claims. Under this order action by the
bureau resulted in reducing the roll by
"a, AS names, that number having failed
to comply with the requirements. These
were not accorded recognition in any claim
fled after June 80, 1893, unless application
is made to and admission to practice grant
ed Dy tne secretary OF the Interior.
Many attorneys have a practice of ap-
pointing a subagent or correspondent
throughout the country to act for them in
securing pension claims and the evidence in
support of same. A subagent or CORE
spondent should not be allowed TO execute
evidence or affidavits in pension claims in
which his principal is the attorney, for the
reason that if he places jurat upon pa
per and il contains statement that he has
no interest in the claim the jurat is false,
his interest therein being as a rule depend
ent upon his allowance. It is recommended
that the admission of persons who hereafter
apply for recognition before this bureau in
the prosecution of claims shall be limited
10 those who are attorneys at law in good
standing before the courts.
Criminal Data.
cat the close of the fiscal year S2T crimi-
nal cases were pending in the various ju-
dicial districts throughout the country
During the year l75 cases were disposed of
by trial, resulting in 157 convictions and 1S
acquittals. In 1911 per cent Of the cases
brought to trial convictions were secured.
21 cases were dismissed on nolle prosequi
172 arrests were made and indictments
were found in 23S cases.
"A well organized gang of pension swim
dlers was discovered in one of the South
ern cities, and so far 147 of the claims have