Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-01
PROVING PENSION CLAIMS
The Methods by Which Adjudication is Ac-
complished.
The Authority of the Commissioner
Greater Than That of n
Cabinet officer.

There are on the pension rolls of the gov
eminent within a few thousand of one mil
lion beneticiaries, and yet it is doubtful if
one of these thoroughly understands the
process by which a claim for pension is
adjudcated by the government. 1t seems
strange also that few of the taxpayers Of
this great country, who contribute in round
numbers $15O,H0,O0O year for pensions,
know anything of the operations of the
pension office.
In point of Importance as an administra-
tive officer the commissioner of pensions
exercises an authority greater than a cab
met officer. Although nOminally under the
direction of the Secretary Of the Interior,
the commissioner of pensions can pass a
pension claim awarding thousands of dol
lars without the consent of any other ottl-
clal The Secretary of the Interior, on the
other hand, before he can make any appro-
priation or draw any money, must first get
the consent of the Secretary of the Treas
ury.
Another story.
But the influence and Importance of the
commissioner of pensions as Rudyard Kip
ling would say, is another story, in connec-
ton with this one, whose purpose il is to
give the several avenues through which an
application for pension must pass before it
finally receives the official signature of
the commissioner of pensions, which Is the
last step prior to the writing of the check.
When a claim for pension is filed it
reaches the department through the mails
and is received in the mailing division,
where it is properly stamped. From there
it goes to the record division, where it is
examined Is to formality of the declaration
and attOrneyShiD. If the declaration is IN
due form, and the attorney of record in
good standing, the claim is referred to a
searcher whose business it is to see that no
prior claim has been filed. If such is the
case the application is jacketed, numbered
and recorded in what is known as the
state book" which agrees with the state
from which the applicant enlisted. When
an original claim is filed a notification card
Is sent to the attorney of record. The APP
plication is then sent to the division TO
which it belongs. For it must be known
that the pension bureau is divided into divi-
sions, well as any other great office.
There are the eastern, western, middle,
southern and old war and navy divisions,
respectively, which latter adjudicateS
claims arising from service in wars prior
to the civil war, and all regular army and
navy claims.
First Action Taken.
The first action taken by the pension
office in adjudicating claim is to deter
mine whether the allegat tons contained in
the declaration are sufficient, if sustained,
to constitute claim for pension. 1t is of
the greatest Importance that the declara-
ton shall contain clear and intelligent
description of all the disabilities for which
the pension is claimed, well as the man.
ner in which they We're contracted. This
constitutes the first important considera-
ton in the adjudication of the claim, for
upon the decision of the proper officials in
this matter depends the life Of the claim.
IT, upon investigation, 1t is found that the
allegations are insufficient that the causes
and no n jCaa IONS INJ1zln
the declaration is not admitted and dies.
If, on the other hand, the allegations are
accepted sufficient the claim is placed
on the list. and call is Immediately made
upon the War or Navy Department. as the
case may be, for the military or naval rec
ord of the soldier or sailor. In many cases
1t is the widow who is applying for pension.
Upon the receipt of this report, if favor
able the applicant (if 1t be the soldier or
sailor HIMSELF is ordered before board of
medical pension examiners for examination.
Each state has several of these boards.
The District of Columbia has three. The
members are paid by fees for each eXamina-
ton.
When the applicant presents himself with
his papers the doctors make a careful eX-
animation of him with especial reference
to the diseases for which he applies for
pension, and the board makes its report to
the pension office in due time. When the
evidence Is all completed the examiner to
whom the case IS referred prepares 1t for
admission or rejection. From the examiner
it goes TO the board of review, where the
evidence is again scrutinized and the claim
finally passed upon.
Renders Assistance.
Where it is found upon examination that
the evidence is insufficient, the bureau
assists the claimant by referring the case
to the special examination division. There
is large force of special examiners in
the feld, and one Of these examiners is