The National tribune., 1902-10-16

| were appealed to the Secretary of the In
| terror, the docket is SO congested that il
| requires from two to three years for the
applicant to obtain hearing.
This is so disheartening to claimants
| who have no warrant of a lease of life
decision of the Secretary of the Interior
| that the great majority quietly submit
to what they feel and believe to be an un
just adjudication of their claims.
This class of sufferers includes many OF
the most worthy and deserving of the Ma,
tons defenders-those who have always
been obedient to the law and submit to the
action of the Government, whether just
or not.
OF the small percentage of cases ap-
pealed about 10 per cent. are reversed, to
which should be added another 10 per
cent of cases in which the Commissioner
of Pensions recedes from his adverse ac-
ton as the result of the filing of appeals.
Is it unreasonable to assume, in view
of the facts stated, that thousands of un-
righted wrongs lie buried in the great
avalanche of reflections from which no
appeals are taken.
Great emphasis has been laid upon the
number of frauds attempted to be per-
petrated upon the Pension Bureau, and the
public has been led to- believe that a great
many Union soldiers are attempting by
COMMISSIONER EvANs's GRATUIToUs IN
SUIT.
This is gratuitous insult to the defend
ers of the Union and without justification,
as shown by the Commissioners own re-
port.
On pages 1OO-113 of his last report the
subject of frauds is extensively dealt with.
An analysis of the facts shows that of the
f59 persons convicted last year only 10
were soldiers of the civil war, two of
whom were deserters, or one to every 13,-
SIS soldiers and sailors on the pension
roll.
the Government to make as favorable a
Exhibit "a" hereto attached, classifies
the offenses referred to in the Commits
sioner's report, and shows that a large
number of the frauds were perpetrated
against the soldier, and not by him.
Those intrusted with disbursing the
Governments bounty should be defenders
of the honor of those who receive it.
We deem it proper to briefly consider
the charges of fraud preferred against pen
sion attorneys, for the reason that under
the present practice and strict rules of
the Bureau, it is impracticable for claim
ants to successfully prosecute their claims
without legal assistance.
the number of attorneys in good standing
July /, 1901, and entitled to recognition
by the Bureau, was 1892. During the
year 2SS were dropped from the roll, for
the following reasons:
AT request ............... K
For cause %
OF those dropped for cause, 20 became
disqualified under section 549S, Revised
Statutes, which prohibits all persons en-
ployed under the Government in any ca
pacity to act as agents or attorneys in the
prosecution of claims against the Govern
ment.
Among the causes assigned by the Com
missioner for disciplining the remaining
90 were the following:
Insanity"
Gross incompetency."
Writing letters to Commissioner of
Pensions couched in improper language"
Refusing to disclose information called
for by Bureau"
While we heartily commend every step
and punish every violatOr of the law, we
confess to some surprise that the ratio
Of -'rascally attorneys" is so small to the
number in good standing before the Bu-
reau. namely, to 400:
1t is proper to add that no attorney can
practice before the Bureau until he has
filed with the Department certificate
of the Clerk Of the United States, State
or Territorial Court, duly authenticated
under the seal of the court, that he is an
attorney in good standing, and that the
power reserved by the Bureau to discipline
is ample and summary.
REPORT OF MEDICAL REFEREE.
The Medical Referee, in his report for
the year ending June 30, 1901, renews a
former recommendation for an appropria-
ton by Congress Of $3.50 for the purpose
of purchasing standard works on medi-
cine, surgery and pathology" assigning
as reason therefor that there have been
so many discoveries and such an accumu-
lation Of pathological knowledge within
the last decade, SO many theories exploded
and facts established, that the Division is
greatly embarrassed by the lack of the
admission that the Medical Examiners of
the Bureau require further educa Ion to
fit them for the proper performance of
their duties.
Nevertheless the Medical Referee does
not hesitate to criticise in merciless and
terms both the qualifications
and honesty of the 4,512 practicing physi-
clans who constitute the Boards of Exam
lining Surgeons appointed by the Honor
able Commissioner of Pensions, and pre-
sumably with equal regard to fitness and
integrity as the gentleman known as
Medical Examiners" in the Pension Bu-
reau. As illustrating the Bureaus meas
ure Of respect for the Examining Sur
geons, the following quotations are taken
from the Medical Referees last report:
AFTER more than three years effort to
improve the work OF Examining Surgeons,
it has been found that such effort has not
been crowned with the measure of success
hoped for and reasonably expected"
Many Boards apparently have no con-
ception or appreciation of the importance
Of their duties, and quiet their consciences
by submitting machine-made reports that
are in the highest degree unreliable and
unsatisfactory"
geons in their zeal for their patrons con-
stitute themselves in many instances the
agents of claimants"
Under the present system Of appoint
ing Examining Surgeons there is no as
surance that the best qualified will re
ceive the appointment. The chances are
always in favor of the least qualified"
This sweeping and wholesale Indictment
is directed against large body Of honor
able and respected physicians located in
every part of the country-appointed by
the Commissioner of Pensions and sub
3ect to his discipline-paid by the Gov
ernment. whose servants they are, and SOL
emnly obligated to discharge their duties
faithfully and impartially.
This bitter assault may have been deem
ed necessary in justification of the fact
that within the past three years 285,317
cases have been rejected by the Bureau on
medical grounds alone.
full Al