The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-02
RUSH FOR
PENSIONS
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE
POCKETS FULL OF PRIVATE
CLAIMS
FIFTY PER CENT INCREASE
Regular Course of Procedure OF the
Pension Department Is Not
Speedy Enough for the
Claimants
DRASTIC ACTION Is NECESSARY
FROM THE GLOBE BUREAU,
Washington. ID. G.

WASHINGTON, Dec. This congress
will be flooded with private pension bills.
The number introduced in the Fifty
sixth congress was double that offered
IN the preceding congress, and the pros
pect is that the number introduced at
this session will show an increase of sc
per cent over the total last session. The
onslaught on the legislative body has be-
come SO heavy that something will nc
doubt be done to check it. 1t has come
| to be that nearly every time a claim is
rejected by the commissioner of pen
| sions the applicant comes to congress
! with his demand to be placed on the
rolls.
During the last fiscal year 12O,09(
claims were rejected by the pension
bureau. and within a short time a large
! per cent of these claims will be before
| congress for action. Many persons who
believe they are entitled to be on the
pension rolls, encouraged by the action
of congress during the last few years,
| do not wait for the pension bureau to
pass on their claims, but come to con-
gress while their cases are still pending
at the bureau. Every senator and repre-
| sentative has brought with him big
stack of private pension bills which ne
must introduce and champion or find
himself making enemies of constituents
" WllOIu llS Is ullu0f InC
situation is most embarrassing to many
| of the members, and they are apparent
ly anxious to turn the flood back to the
pension bureau, where they declare it
rightfully belongs.
Usurping Executive Functions.
Originally the policy was for congress
to grant pensions in extraordinary cases
only. 1t is pointed out that it was never
| intended that the legislative body should
be used primarily in relieving veIranS
entitled to pensions, but gradually the
bars We're let down until congress has
threatened to usurp the functions of the
Office of commissioner Of PENSIONS a
branch of the executive department of
the government An effort was made to
put on the brakes at the last session,
but heroic action was deferred. One of
the things decided ON at that session
was that claim pending at the pension
bureau would not be considered by con-
gress, and it was agreed, too, that every
claim presented to congress must have
the backing of the Grand Army post in
which the applicant holds membership
In the hands of senators and representa-
tives are thousands of claims that yio-
late these rules, and while they may be
presented as matter of courtesy to con-
Stituents, it is certain that they will new
er get beyond tho committee rooms.
Congressman seem to think it is i'm
perative that the subject be dealt with
early in this session, and dealt with in
way that will impress On veterans the
necessity of depending on the pension
bureau to adjudioate their claims. Rep
resentatives say that unless something
be done the pension bureau, with all it's
expensive machinery for investigating
cases, might as well be abolished and
hn whole hi,e.i
to congress.
1t is a delicate subject with which to
DEAL and for this reason congress, 1t is
averred, has permitted the condition to
grow from bad to worse rather than
take any action that might offend the
veterans. 1t is pointed out that any ac-
ton taken ought not to be construed as
an attack on the rights of the men en-
titled to pensions, but should be re-
garded as an honest effort to put the
pension business back where it belongs
Sentiment in favor of 81 law providing
for the adjudication by the court of
claims and by the supreme court of the
United States of limited number of test
cases involving important questions of
law, thereby establishing judicial prece-
Dent for the guidance of the commits
sioner of pensions, seems to be more
pronounced than at the last session
There will certainly be demand that
such legislation be enacted, and that aft
er it is put in force congress shall cease
to receive and consider private pension
bills.
Senator Gallinger presented bill for
the legislation mentioned during the last
congress, and it is the understanding
that it will be offered again at this ses-
sion. 1t was approved by the senate
committee on pensions.