The National tribune., 1901-04-25
BACK PAY, BOUNTY, ETC.
Auditor Rittr1an Issues an order Making an
Important Change in Procedure.

The late Auditor Morris, of Treasury
Department, having charge of the bureau
for the settlement of soldiers claims for
back pay, bounty, clothing, etc, emulated
Mr.. Evans in the adoption of rules which
would throw every possible obstacle in the
way of soldiers obtaining what the Gov
ernment might owe them. These worked
the greatest hardship to claimants, and
were the source of much bitter feeling to-
ward the Administration. The new Audi
tor, Mr.. r. X. Rittman, OF Ohio. has is
sued an order changing this, and introduc-
ing n much more equitable system of ad-
justing accounts. It reads:
''In the examination and adjustment Of
claims presented TO this Office on account
Of the services of officers or enlisted men
of the Army it is held that claim pre-
sented for any item or items, in con-
tinuous service from which the officer or
enlisted man has been separated, is an
application for an adjustment of all items
of pay and allowances, Of every nature,
involved in such service. Upon any such
claim presented and received for settle
ment the entire account of the officer or
enlisted man, as of the service described,
will be examined and balance certified ac-
cordingly. Anything in circular letter of
this Office, described as Form No. 500. and
quoted in a decision of the Controller of
the Treasury, dated Feb. 81, 1900 (6
Comp, 692), that indicates that claims are
not to be considered unless stated specif-
cally in writing, is hereby revoked and
withdrawn. 1t Is, however, expected that
claimants will specify wherein the Govern
ment is indebted to them, and the right is
reserved to require such reasonable speci-
fications and particularly in the applica-
tions of claimants as TO indicate that the
applicant has a bona fide claim against
the Government.
"In the settlement of such claims every
item will be allowed or disallowed or ac-
ton thereon suspended when settlement is
made; however, action will not be sus-
pended on any item unless it be deemed
in the interest Of the Government to do
so. Any item on account of which credit
or debit is made in the statement of &C.
count or which is expressly disallowed, is
held to be settled. In case of items dis
allowed, so far as practicable, the reason
for the disallowance will be stated.
"rhe rules herein announced do not ap-
ply to modify in anyway the decision of
the Controller of the Treasury of Sept.
%, 1897 "A Comp. 14S), wherein it was
determined as indicated by the syllabus,
that: The claim Of an officer or enlisted
man in the Regular Army who has served
many years for specified item in his ac
count should not be regarded Digest Sec
Ond Comp. Dec, Vol. 8, sec. 364), as re-
quiring a revision of his entire account
from the date on which he entered the
service The general claim Of an heir for
pay and allowances due such an officer or
enlisted man, who has died in the service,
should be regarded as claim for his pay
and allowances from the date of his last
payment to the date of his death. Such
claims in cases of officers and enlisted men
who have so served are not to be regarded
as applications for rehearing, unless they
clearly raise a question of error in the
prior settlement