The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-20
MAY REFUSE TO PAY Fees
An Important Amendment TO The
Pension Appropriation Bill.
The Commissioper May Exercise His
ton to Attorney Of Record - MIR.
Evans Subjected TO severe Criti-
cism - Defended by Democrats.

sion Appropriation bill, carrying a total
of S145. 5.2i5. .230. an increase OF S11.5O0 over
the appropriation for the current year.
An amendment, offered by Mr.. Mahon of
Pennsylvania. was adopted, which pro-
yides that the Commissioner of Pensions
shall furnish all necessary blanks to
claimants; and he may. in his discretion,
refuse TO pay the fee TO any attorney
of record, when he is satisfied that said
attorney failed TO prepare the case under
his or her personal supervision. and did
not discharge his or her full duty to
claimant.
The bill was passed without division.
This amendment will play havoc with
the pension attorneys of Washington. 1t
will, it is said, if agreed to by the SEN
ate, drive many of them out Of business.
The debate gave an opportunity for men,
bers to make speeches for home consump-
ton. especially members whose constitu-
ents are composed largely of old soldiers.
The administration of Pension Commits
sioner Evans was severely criticised, and
was also warmly commended. The most
severe criticism of the Commissioner was
made by MIR. Curtis of Kansas. His re-
marks were partly endorsed by Mr.. Smith
of Michigan. The Commissioner, however,
found defenders among the DE e.nocrats,
notably Messrs. Sims and Gaines of Ten
nessee, and on the Republican side in
Messrs. Ray of New York formerly Chair
man OF the Committee on Invalid PEN
sions. and Mahon of Pennsylvania. The
latter charged responsibility for the agi-
tation against the Commissioner upon
Washington influences, characterized as
pension sharks.
Mr.. Barney. who had charge of the bill,
made general statement Of its contents.
He said the Commissioner OF Pensions es-
timated a large decrease in the pensions OF
the Civil War but an influx of claims grow
ing out of the Spanish war. and therefore
IL was not advisable TO reduce the appro-
priation this year.
Mr.. Talbert wanted 10 know II the PEN
sion laws were not liberal enough to dis
pense with the Friday night sessions. at
which sessions bills TO pension coffee
coolers and bounty Jumpers were
passed.
Mr.. Barney stated that. in his opinion,
only meritorious measures were passed on
Friday nights The first assault on the
Pension Commissioner was made by Mr..
Curtis of Kansas He said when the pres
ent Administration came into power the
old soldier expected and looked for a
change in the rules and regulations Of the
Pension Office. They looked for more lib
eral construction of the law but be re-
GREETED to say the old soldiers were dis
appointed. The Commissioner. he said. had
continued in force the rules and regulations
established by his predecessor. Mr.. Curtis
said be did not believe the President ap-
proved the policy of the Pension Commits
sioner. Some one suggested that Mr..
Evans was not Union soldier.
General Grosvenor interrupted and said
he had known Mr. Evans as a private in a
Wisconsin regiment. That he had been
detailed as clerk In the qusrtermaster'
department at Chattanooga, Tenn, and
that he had remained there after the war.
Nr. Smith of Michigan thought the
trouble in the Pension Office might be due
70 the presence OF clerks who were pro-
tected by the civil service Law.
MIR. Daly of New Jersey took occasion
10 criticise Secretary Cages action in de-
posting the funds received from the sale
of the old custom house in New York city
In the National City Bank OF that place
He argued that under ;he law authorizing
the sale OF the custom house the Secretary
had no alternative but to deposit the
money received into the Treasury of the
United States. and that according to a de-
cision of the United States Supreme Court
a Government depository was not the
Treasury of the United States within the
meaning OF the statute, and the action OF
the Secretary was clear violation OF law
Mr. Gaines of Tennessee, after inform
ing the House that he supported Commits
sioner Evans In his administration of the ]
Pension Bureau because he believed be was
doing his duty, advocated legislation to
deny the use of the mails to the trusts.
combines. and cornerers which are leagued
together to prevent men from exercising
their God-given right to earn livelihood
and 10 prevent free trade in the United
States guaranteed by the Constitution.
The administration OF Commissioner
Evans was commended by Mr.. Sims of
Tennessee who said the Commissioner
should not be condemned for investigating
the evidence offered in support Of claims
for pensions. and for taking the necessary
time to make the examination. In reply
ing TO questions regarding claims for pen
sions ar;sing out of the Spanish war, Mr.
Sims said there was an order in the PEN
sion Bureau to hold UP all such claims.
The only policy he said. that would not
be open to criticism. apparently, would |
be to allow all claims. The fault he had |
20 fnd was that there was not enough |
delay in the examination and issue Of |
pensions.
Mr.. Ray of New York, formerly Chair |
man of the Committee Invalid Pen |
sions. reviewed the several laws regulating |
the issue OF pensions, and illustrated their |
working to show how a strict enforcement |
may lead to misunderstanding and criti- |
cism. The Commissioner. Mr.. Ray said |
was compelled to enforce the law. He had |
to do nothing else. He desired to say, and |
wanted all the old soldiers to hear it, that |
in his opinion II. Clay Evans wRs faith |
fully, honestly, and intelligentfy admins |
tering the law as he found 1t. That he |
had made mistakes he would not deny,
but any gentleman who charged that the |
Commissioner was unfriendiy to the PEN
sion law or the old soldier, was unjust to
himself and unjust to the Commissioner.
The attack made by the gentleman from |
Kansas (Mr. Curtisi. Mr.. Ray said. was I n
and he regretted that any gen
tleman on the floor. and especially on the
Republican side. should hold that view.
Mr.. Norton OF Ohio denounced the rules
and regulations under which the Pension
Law was being administered. which re-
suited in denying justice 10 100, 900 old
soldiers where they favored one. Con-
gress should demand that the laws be
In the spirit in which they
were enacted.
Mr. Fitzpatrick of Massachusetts, ex-
pressed the opinion that the Pension Bu-
reau ought to act promptly upon urgent
claims growing out OF the Spanish war,
and not wait year or two under the
general rule suspending all claims.
MIR. falbert of South Carolina got In
again, amusing the committee with his
vociferous denunciatior OF Friday night
sessions, and the nature OF the bills passed
nj those sessions. II want TO give notice
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