The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-04
PENSION LAWS ARE
IN NEED OF REVISION.
Commtssioner Evans Recommends
This, and Replies to Attacks
ON His bureau.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3-Commissioner
Of Pensions Evans was heard today by the
house committee on invalid pensions reia-
tive TO pension legislature. In view OF re-
cent hearings Of Grand Army delegations
and others interested in pensions. the near
ing attracted more than usual interest
Mr. Evans expressed the belief that the
two general pension laws had become COM
plicated by SO many decisions and con-
structions that he believed 1t 10 be essen
tial to have a general revision IN order 10
get at the real meaning OF the law ana
the desires of congress toward the PEN
sioners. He had therefore recommended
the commission to revise the pension laws
and he believed such a body could do It's
work and report TO congress by next De-
cember.
Mr. Evans was asked as to charges that
had been made that some of the speeiai
commissioners, when investigating wild
dows' claims, asked insulting Questions oA
these widows The commissioner vigor-
ously denied the charges He read from
the regulations of Commissioners Black
and Tanner on the subject of inquiries and
his instructions to the commissioners to
avoid any indiscretions. In connection
with a charge that improper questions had
been asked an aged widow, Mr.. Evans
read the report of the examiner denying
the charge and declaring there was not a
word OF truth in Il.
THE commissioner said IL was impossi-
Bile 20 frame any law without having mad
some special cases arise which might
cause difficulty.
He wns asked why the local medical
boards told pensioners a favorable report
would be made, and yet favorable action
did not follow at the bureau.
The commissioner explained that the
local boards are forbidden under tho
rules from making known their findings
| But their members were human and nat
uraIly swayed 10 some extent by local
feeling Moreover he said. the law
itself caused difficulty by requiring not
| only the medical diagnosis. but a general
estimate or conclusion, and these did
not always agree
! MIR. Evans spoke of the intelligence and
! ABILITY Of those in charge Of this work.
AS 20 delays In appeal cases. he said
about 4.0o0 were passed on last year. and
{ OF these only about so resulted In q
reversal OF the original ruling Some ot
/ the delay had been caused by the whole
sale appealing Of cases on printed blanks.
Mr.. Evans expressed hts personal advo-
/ cacy Of just and liberal pensions, He
remarked also that usually there were
ten mistakes against the government 20
I one against the applicant. and tho lat
( ter was quick 20 onl attention TO the
{ mistake In his case.
! There was absolutely no truth. the
I commissioner said, Ia the charge ihat
/ spanish war claims we're being held up.
4 as he had given special instructions 10
I advance them
The hearing brought out much other
1 Detailed information on tho administra-
I ton of pension affairs A. its conclu-
| sion the committee unanimously adopted
I A vote of thanks 20 the commissioner.
| ana In acknowledgement of this Mr.. Evans
/ said he was always glad 10 have hghi
/ thrown upon the workings os the pen
sion Office"