The National tribune., 1900-01-18
THE CURTIS RESOLUTION.

VI iIlS L tllSlcll DuICdu.
Whereas it is charged that the present
Commissioner of Pensions is conducting
the Bureau of Pensions against the interest
of the soldiers and claimants. and that such
soldiers and claimants are not receiving fair
treatment at his hands;
Whereas it is charged that he has and
d still is ignoring the pension act of March =,
1896:
Whereas it is charged that he is with
holding claims under the acts of Aug. Z,
1882, and of June 4, 1888;
Whereas it is charged that he is not CIV
ing the claimants the benefit of the ratings
OF the local medical examiners:
| Whereas it is charged that the said Com
missioner rejected over 100000 pension
claims during the year ending June 30,
1899, when under a fair construction of the
law and evidence, a large majority OF said
claims should, have been and would have
been allowed. and that of the claims al
| lowed the amount was not as great as
the law and evidence justified: Now, there
| fore. be it
ResolUed, That a select committee, to
consist of five members, all of whom shall
be eX-Union soldiers. shall be appointed by
the Speaker, who shall have power and
authority to investigate and report upon the
methods of tranSacting business in the
Bureau of Pensions; to inquire whether or
not the Commissioner of Pensions is man
aging the Bureau against the interests OF
| the soldiers and claimants; whether or not
the act of Marchs6, 1895, is being ignored;
whether or not he is withholding claims
under the acts of Aug. Z, 1882. and of } une
Z, 1888; whether or not claimants are given
| the benefit of the ratings of the local eX-
amining boards; whether or not the 10! 900
cases were properly rejected, and TO 1ulIy
| examine into cases allowed and rejected;
| to ascertain whether or not the claimants
are now receiving and have heretofore re,
ceived fair treatment at the hands OF SAID
Commissioner of Pensions, and TO generally
! inquire into all alleged abuses pertaining to
said Bureau. or any of its officers or en-
| ployees. Said committee shall have power
to send for persons and papers, to examine
witnesses under oath, and may employ
stenographer and one clerk, and sit during
the sessions of the House. 1t shall report
the result of its Investigations to the House,
with such recommendations as it may deem
proper. The expenses of such investiga-
ton shall be paid out of the contingent fund
of the House.
| The introduction of this resolution
naturally created quite furry in the
House, and it was promptly referred to the
Committee on Rules, the majority Of whom
constitute the steering committee Of the
Republicans and are the Lord High Execu-
TONERS Of all propositions which threaten
the peace and well-being Of the party.
Henderson, Iowa; @. 81. Grosvenor, Ohio;
and J. NJ. Dalzell, Pa, Republicans; and
Jas. D. Richardson, Tenn, and Jos. W.
Bailey, Texas, Democrats. The fate of the
resolution is, therefore, in the hands Of
Messrs. Henderson, Grosvenor and Dalzell.
Gen. Henderson has remarked in regard to
| it, that "all the legislation the Grand Army
wants are the bills which its Committee has
recommended" Mr.. Dalzell has said that
''1t will be bad politics to open up the sub
ject"
As to Gen. Henderson's remarks it is
sufficient to say that this is not Legislation"
but proper inquiry by the House as to
whether the laws passed by Congress are
faithfully executed by one of the officers Of
the Government. Such an inquiry is
always entirely in order, and entirely
fitting. If Mr.. Evans has been properly
executing the laws he should welcome such
an investigation. 1t would rebound to his
credit. We do not know of another Com
missioner in the public service who would
not be only too glad to have most search
ing examination Of his official acts and
policy. The Commissioners OF Customs
| Internal Revenue, the Land Office, Patents.
Indian Office, ETC., would each very much
like to have somebody seriously propose
such thing. 1t would give them much
coveted opportunities of showing to the
country how ably and well they have ac-
quilted themselves Of their trying and re-
sponsible duties. Only Mr.. Evans is
thrown into fever Of apprehension by the
suggestion of an investigation, even by
those who are supposed to be friendly to
Speaker-who is supposed to be friendly to
him-shall appoint a committee of five, all
Of whom shall be Union veterans, 10 investi-
gate whether certain specific charges,
coming from all parts Of the country, and
daily reiterated with the greatest positive
ness, are true. Now it is to be supposed at
the very outset, that Speaker Henderson
will carefully look over the A. Union vet
Grams who are members of the present
House, and pick out those most favorably
disposed toward Evans The Commits
sioner ought 10 jump at the opportunity of
having a 'vindication" at their hands, or
the hands of any body of Union soldiers
Would he not, if he were at all confident of
having done his duty faithfully and hon
estly in the Interpretation of the laws?
Why, therefore, are he and his friends so
alarmed, that they want to summarilv
smother the resolution in the Committee on
Rules?
We differ most decidedly from Mr.. Dal-
zell's conclusion that it would be "bad
politics" to stir up the matter. There are
several million votes contingent upon the
proper settlement Of this dispute regarding
Mr.. Evans. He stands today accused by
! The Grand Army of the Republic and all
veteran organizations Of gross maladminis-
tration Of his Office. The matter has long
passed the stage when il could hesmofhcred.
II must now he prohcd to the bottom. The
million veterans and their sons and sons-iu-
| law viii be satisfied with nothing less.
! Their dissatisfaction may manifest itself
dsastrously in the coming Presidential
election. While it is possible that Prcsi-