The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-10-15


THE PENSION OFFICE AND THE G. a. r.
I, seems tho Grand Army Of the Republic
is stll aghtlng r. CLAY Eyana dcspite the
fact that HIS connection with the poneion
office at Washington ceased some months
ago.
During tho recent National oncampmeut
OF tho Grand Army OF the Republic the pom,
sion committee of the organisation madc
iis usual report in the course OF which tho
following statement was made;
We respectfully submit that u can not reason.
ably be- expected that ;hc pension laws viii he
falrs construed. apd Justly administered In ae-
serdanec with their spirit enj amendment hy
those who treat every applicant tor pension
wth distfusi regard hts attorney 81 ttapd
ana brand thc examining surgeons os ipoom.
petent and dishonest
wv contend ina, such ga attitude ou the Part
q those entrusted with che breaking ot hc
Aahastcr box 81 the nations love dlsluahhes
them % administer so sacred a trust
Hating from WIDELY separate States of the
Union and familiar with che views ot orr CONS
tades. We dcsm % our duty ,n making this to-
port to declare that among hc survivors Of the
War ct the rebellion there is an rtcmnvahlc be-
hel and conviction Tint he ptcseut commissioner
ct pensions ls net disposed to administer the
suites 81 h' office ina that spirit OF equity aud
Justice to applicants fot pcnsions which thew
nave right in tNpcct and while We arc aciustcd
hY no tcvlins 90 unkinducss toward the honorable
commissioner of pensions, We 8rc convinced that
justice g. thg soldier rs impossible III attainment
under The present administration 81 the pension
This would no doubt have been quite a
shock 10 Commiasiopor of Pensions Ware
had Il not hoen explained Tint the report
was dated March g. 1908, vbon Mir Evans
was suli IN ot0ce. It seemv that no oRort
has been made 20 disroyor whether or not
Ware is amy moro 'efnolent" from the
q l'd Army OF the Republic standpoint
was Evans A, least no reference "a
made 20 the administration of The former
10 the casual observer it would seem thar
the Grand Army ~ the Republic has boon
allowed 20 control tho affairs OF the pension
bureau about long enough Whuc q can not
be donled that a Sreat many OF The old
soldiers who arc enjoying che bounty OF the
government are deserving iu every way. II
would be futle to attempt Go create the iu,.
preston that all OF them are deserving.
Anyone who Is familiar With the workngs
Of the pension oIiee knows chat q behooyeg
the otnoials In CHARGE 60 be oxtremoly care.
nj In order to avoid imposition and fraud.
Many OF those who apply Tor pensions are
by no means enutlod 60 government aid.
and long experience With such applicants
convinced Former Commissioner Evans tina,
4 would not do TO be 700 leniont- that IN
order 10 insure the pension money going
60 those entitled TO it. it was absolutely
necessary % proceed with great caut3on and
90 make thorough and complete the lnvestt
cations OF an applications,
by proceeding along these lines Mr.
Evans incurred the enmity OF the memhen
ship OF che Grand Army Of tho Republic
and a bitter hght was made on him, with tne
details OF which the readers OF Tho Post
arc thoreughly familiar. The fact that the
tormer commissioner was removed nom the
eftco he had held so LONG. only 20 be made
consul general IN london az n largely IN.
creased salary shows that che adminlstra,
don, while disposed 70 plaeato the Grand
Army OF the Republic. WAS wei satisfied
with the character Of the work done hy him
during tho time be was in charge Of the
pension oihee
Stories 60 the effect that Mr., Ware Is fol
lowing close In the footsteps Of hts predeces
sor have been much 10 evidence since The
change Ia The nension otfeo, hut they seem
20 have had little or no loundetlon IN fact
Had Mr. Ware continued to ward on the
pension Erabhcrs. as did hts predecessor. hs
would ere this have been the TARGET az the
Grand Army Of the Republic, and instead
81 being allowed to entertain the veterans
darinE their annual reunion. would havs
been anathematined and criticised Inst n.
Was Evans
A further proof o; the friendly attitua,
% thc administration toward the army oI
pension seekers Is furnished BY the recent
demotion Of nr. Jacob Raab. formerly an,
medical reteree IN the pension once nr
Rana tried to aes fairly under Ware "A 4,
do under Evans, hnt the Grand Army 81 In,
Republic claimed that his rulings were toe
severe and he was reduced 10 minor DO
kition with much smaller salary.
And 20 Il goes The administration needs
the crapd Army o. the Republic aud viii
perris that organization 10 dictate me