The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-06-15
Grand Army Men DenOunce the Zen
sion Commissioner.

HIHuu hTmy mth 4NAVeeNN
sion Commissioner
Commissioner of Pensions Evans Is
being sssailed on all sides by Grano
Army Of the Republic posts for his In
depreciation Of the pension laws ana
MANY complaints have been made 10
Senators and Representatives to the
effect that the veterans and widows are
NOT receiving of his hands the liberal
treatment contemplated by Congress in
the various pension acts. At the state
Encampment Of the Pennsylvania
Grand Army Veterans, at Wilkesbarre,
Pa. recently, resolutions denouncing
Commissioner Evans were submitted,
but afterward were withdrawn and the
whole matter was referred to the ma
tiona encampment of the order.
In a letter to Senator Hayward, OF
Nebraska. Commissioner Evans gives
an explanation Of his conduct OF the
Pension Bureau calculated to disprove
the assertions made by those who have
attacked him. Senator Haywood mad
received complaints from his constitu-
ents and wrote to MIR. Evans. In his
reply Mr.. Evans gives detailed state
ments of the operations of the Pension
Bureau. He says that Of the l,74l
employees of the bureau 566 are ex' l mon
soldiers and 452 are drawing .pensions'
There are 80 widows of ex-UniOn SOL
diers employed who are pensioners. All
the chiefs and section chiefs of the
board of review, 20 Of the / 10 reviewers
the medical referee, one of the two
surgeons, one of the two principal ex-
aminers and 20 of the 4S medical ex-
aminers are also ex-Union soldiers or
sailors.
From July l, 1898. to April /, 1899,
Mr. Evans says, &c. S2l original pen
sions have been issued, while the total
number Of pension certificates issued
in that period, including increases, re-
newals, restorations. reissues, accrued
pensions and duplicates aggregates
81. 529.
1.-The bureau has been extensively
criticised for adhering to this rule, but
as my functions are strictly confined TO
the execution of the law as find it, am
powerless to grant relief in cases that
do not come within the rule.
The Commissioner then explains at
some length the difference in rating
under the old law and the act of 1890.
The soldiers mourning disabilities in
the service are given preference by law
over those whose disabilities have
arisen since the war and are not due to
service causes. In this connection he
saws; 1.-The law creates these condi.
tions. and it is not within my power
10 do otherwise than execute the law
as construed by the department, but in
nearly all these cases the Pension Office
R6lH hIth ~ oNAOAhHNo W
carry out the law as it exist.
Mr.. Evans further says; '1n cases of
invalid claimants it II held by the
department that disabilities under the
act Of 1890 are placed by that act upon
a different basis for rating from those
under the general law. Under the
general law disabilities are pensionable
without regard to capacity TO earn q
support and are graded without refer
ence to this condition, while disabili-
ties under the act Of 1890 are only pen.
sionable when incapacity to earn sup
port, and the grades of rating are de-
pendent upon these two conditions.
81 am convinced concludes Mr.
Evans. that the foundation Of the
terrific howl Of which you speak in
your letter will be found in my refusal
TO allow the claims agents to run the
bureau. have endeavored to afford
claimants who are not represented by
attorneys every facility for the prosecu-
tion Of their claims, and have often
found ii necessary to take action which
the attorneys do not like, and as a re.
suit they appear to have organized a
systematic attack upon the bureau from
all directions, thereby endeayoring to
create a. sentiment of hostility among
the soldiers TO the administration Of
the Pension Bureau. AS a matter of
fact, all the officers and clerks are put
ting forth their best efforts to adjudicate
claims justly and speedy, and in con.
formity with the law as it exists. "