The National tribune., 1902-10-16
REPORT TO NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT.


At the last session of the National En-
campment 4t cleveland the reports OF the
Committee ON Pensions failed to secure
consideration because of the intensely
painful feeling then pervading the minds
our own members, through the news of a
sudden changeifor the worse in the condi-
ton of President Mckinley, whose death
might be expected at any moment. Under
such conditions the National Encampment
deemed it only right to postpone all other
business, elect officers, and adjourn.
The reports then presented by the Com
mittee on Pensions bore evidence that the
Committee had labored faithfully, intelli-
gently and assiduOusly to reach proper and
just conclusions on the subject committed
to them, as well for the information and
| judgment of the general public as for those
more directly interested, as to whether the
Pension Bureau was being conducted in a
spirit of fairness and in accordance with
law.
After two years of close examination
that committee became thoroughly con-
vinced that the Commissioner of Pensions
had not so conducted his office, and diff
fered only as to the application of their
conclusions while the President was lying,
as events proved, upon his death bed.
That Committee deserves the thanks of
the Grand Army for their patient, long
continued and jealous work.
The National Council of Administration,
after adjournment of the National En-
campment, directed the Commander-in-
Chief to appoint Committee on Pensions
to act with himself in the further cOnsd-
Grafton of the subject and report their
finding to him, for presentation to the
President, in accordance with which the
undersigned were appointed
Our investigation was conducted at
Washington with the Commander-in-
Chief actively participating.
The conclusions of this investigation are
presented in the accompanying report, q
copy of which was handed to the Presi
dent by the COmmander-in-Ch Al
change in the office of the Commissioner
OF Pensions promptly followed.
We deem it necessary to here emphasize
certain details of the report, and, as briefly
as possible, meet criticisms directed
against the Grand Army, as well as to
refute distorted statements through which
the general public was being poisoned with
the belief that this organization was an
instrument in cOndOning fraud.
THE PENSION ROLL.
The report of the Commissioner of Pen
siOns showed that there were on the rolls
June 30, 1901, the names of 735, 7S9 in
valids, which number includes all soldiers
of the Regular Army up to the year 1898,
numbering about 10000, but they are all
included under the general term Civil
War Pensioners"
There were SS,SO2 widows whose hus-
bands had died from wounds or disabili-
ties incurred in the service from 1861 to
1898, and 40, Ill widows pensioned I'm
der the act of 1890, which act, it may be
here noted, prohibits the pensiOning of
widows WHO married pensioner after the
date OF itSJ pa SSage.
We have thus grand total of
men pensiOned ............... 735, ,7S9
And widows rl................. 233,913
Total <. g. ................ 9,7o2
All others on the pension rolls are for |
service prior 10 1861, or due to the war
with Spain.
In dealing with such q vast number of |
cases, fraud, and considerable amount of |
it, would be reasonably anticipated No
branch of the Government is free from |
such attempts. Other Commissioners have |
had to deal with the same perplexing de-
tails and Saw to it that the perpetrators
were duly punished.
10 search out fraud the Commissioner |
is granted practically unlimited power |
There were nearly 200 men in the field at |
an expenditure that year of $312, ,466. At |
his service in addition was all the power
OIL Tue Government through Its law de- |
Dartment; United States Marshals to
serve writs and make arrests; United |
States District Attorneys to try cases be-
fore United States Judges. There was
nothing lacking but great army of cul-
prits.
During the year ending June 80, 1901,
but 157 persons were convicted of viola
tions of the pension laws. Fifteen of these
were convicted of receiving illegal fees,
an offense against the pensioner as well as
4 violation of law.
Of these but IL were in the service; one
Of them in the war with Spain; two others
were deserters, leaving but eight assumed
y honorably discharged from the service
Taking the 10 so noted as having been in
The service, it shows one case of wrong
ioing for each 1858 men on the rolls.
But to show that that year was not ex-
,eptiOnally light for frauds we give in full
the section from the Report for 1902 show.
ing the results for the last five years.
Sec. 37.-Criminal lData.-COnsidering
he great amount paid out for pensions, it |
s not to be wondered at that impostors
lrise and that violations of law should
.nsue.
''The laws of the United States are very
and strict, as they should
be.
"SOme of the crimes that were punished
Turing the year were undoubtedly COM
mitted through ignorance. The showing
of crime is not large, as may be seen by
The following table:
1902 1901. 1900. 1899. 1895