The National tribune., 1901-11-28


Commissioner o. Pensions Evans. OF
Washington, in his recent report, has
given out statement in which he severe
" criticises the Present system of pen
sioning, and outlires the difficulties in the
way of determining the merits of claims
for pensions and increases. The report
as published was presented by a reporter
OF The Northwestern to Congressman J.
ii. Davidson for his perusal and for com
nent, and he gave the following statement
IA reply to the article: ''The criticism
made in the report by the Commissioner
OF Pensions, upon the several laws enact
ed BY Congress from time to time for the
benefit OF old soldiers and their widows,
IS good evidence Of the necessity Of
service pension law. Since the close of
The war Congress has from time to time
enacted pension laws which were intend
ed to be for the benefit Of old soldiers. In
the practical operation of these laws il
has been disclosed that there are weak
points in almost every one of them,
which on the ene hand have been con-
sidered by some to be too liberal, while
other points have been held to be against
the interests of the applicant for a PEN
SION"
A Law MUST BE GENERAL.
''The fact is, law can deal only in gen
eralities and none will absolutely fit each
individual ease. While in its application
a law may work injury in some cases
and may possibly permit the perpetratioE
Of frauds upon the Government, yet these
are the exceptions, and the general law
should not be condemned in its entirety
because Of exceptions. If service pen
sion law were enacted, giving to each
honorably discharged soldier a pension Of
a minimum sum Of IS per month, and
then an increase of one cent or one and
half cents per day per month for time
IN actual service, and in case OF death the
same amount be paid to his widow, l be
heve much of the red tape incident to
the prosecution of claims uSier the pres
ent system would be obyiatf,
The force in the Pension Bureau
might then be reduced, ano ths@iarge ap-
preparations necessary for the mainte-
nance of such bureau would be paid in
pensions to the old soldiers, rather than
to Il large force employed to pass upon
so many different claims. Such a bill
should of course provide for the payment
OF an increased rate to those suffering
from wounds or severe disability incurred
by reason of service in the army | in
trodueed such a bill in the Fifty-ffth
Congress, but it was never possible to
get favorable consideration upon the
measure. l believe that whatever pension
laws are enacted should be carried out
IN liberal and Just manner, to the end
that even and exact justice may be done
to both the Government and to the appli-
cant under such laws.
BELIEVES THEM COMPETENT.
Il do not agree with the statement
made by Commissioner Evans that the
Medical Examining Boards as now con-
stituIed are not competent to pass upon
the merits of claim. | believe that the
Surgeons holding positions on these
Boards are, as a rule, men who stand
high in their profession, and that they
are much better able to inteIIigentIy pass
upon the merits of a claim. where they
examine the applicant personally and
meet him face TO face, than could a
Board OF Surgeons at Washington, whose
only information concerning the claims
come from statements made up from 9th
crs.
If any changes are to be made 1
should advise il would be better to have
the recommendations, as to the amount
70 be paid, made by such local Examin-
ing Boards final and conclusive, rather
than advisory, as al present. In a great
number OF cases which have come to my
attention, where the local Board of Sur
geons having examined the applicant per
sonaiIy have recommended that he reeaiFe
d pension of $l2 per month, the Boara
at Washington, whose judgment is based
entirely on the report Of the examina-
tion, has given him only SO or IS. I no
It might be well to have a travelling
Board, made up of Medical Examiners,
one attorney and stenographer to hold
sessions at the County seat of each Coun-
ty and to take evidence regarding sol
diers claims.
Il do not see why an ex-soidier prose
cutting claim for a pension should be
obliged to have his case tried before a
Board composed of strangers, when if
the claim was against an individual, he
could have it tried by jury of his peers,
from his own bailiwick.
EVANS AGAINST THEM.
"The suggestions of the Commissioner |
appear almost as if he understood the |
duties of his Office to require him to in |
Lerpret the pension laws against the in |
Lerests of the old soldiers, rather than |
IN spirit of justice and fairness to them. |
Ehe Commissioner is not responsible f.. |
he aIaOunt Of mGE.ey appropriated for |
he payment of pension claims. That is |
placed upon the Congress of the United |
States. | am satisfied that the Congress
s ready to appropriate a sufficient sum
o pay every claim honestly and fairly |
proven. The duty of the Commissioner /
should be only to see TO it that claims
ire proven in compliance with the liberal |
Ttent of the laws, which duty includes
ESQ the elimination of frauds as far as
t lies within his power"