The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-01-24
SPEECH
OF Hon. William R. War
mock, Of Ohio,
In the House Of Representatives,
Wednesday. Jan. IS, 1902.

The House being in Committee OF
he Whole on the State of the Union,
ind having under consideration the
oill III. r S5Sll making appropriations
Tor the payment of invalid and other
pensions for the fiscal year ending
June 30. 1903. and for other purposes
Mr.. WARNOCK said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN: move to strike out |
the last word. There has been Avery
wide range In the discussion OF this
bial; so wide, in fact, that am afraid
that q great many of the gentlemen
have forgotten the matter under dis
cussiou. am glad, however. to note
this fact, that 10 all the uttersnces up
on this floor, however conflicting they
may have been, all unite upon this one
proposition, towit, that wise and just
pension laws are the proper duty OF q
nation.
I am glad, also, to notice that In the
different views which have been ex-
pressed on these subjects everyone who
has spoken has indicated that he will
vote for the bill which Ia before the
House.
take IL, Mr.. Chairman, that this
unanimity of sentiment Ia the repre-
sentative tribute Of the American peo-
lple to the patriotism, services, and
vaIor of the American soldier. While
1t is true that there il, a. / have said,
q unanimity of sentiment on this prop
osition, there has also been . great
deal of criticism and very divergent
views upon many questions that have
been presented, some of which. think,
are not germane to the question under
discussion. admit that many Of these
criticisms are just, and l also unite and
will unite In enforcing some of the
criticisms that have been made upon
the administration Of the pension laws.
In saying what may have to say or
this subject do not desire to be under.
stood as rejecting upon the Commits
sioner Of Pensions In any way, for
never have received anything but the
most courte. us treatment at bis hands
and the most liberal Interpretation o
the law 30 far as he was concerned.
believe Commissioner Evans to be 9
faithful, conscientious official, and thai
he administers the law fairly and just
ly. But you will all concede that ir
the hundreds Of thousands of cases thai
are brought before the Pension De
partment 1t is absolutely Q physics
impossible for the Commissioner o.
Pensions to give his personal attention
to these Individual cases. We al
know that as matter of practice these
cases are considered by the chiefs O
divisions, by examining. boards, and ars
brought under the provisions of Ger
tain rules of practice, and 1t is to those
rules Of practice, rather than TO the
Commissioner Of Pensions and his sub
ordinates. that l desire to offer MI
criticism. l desire at some day in the
near future, unless some other person
shall take occasion TO do 1t, to presen
a bill in sympathy with the objec
sought by the amendment offered her,
. this day.
The criticism have to offer first 4
this, that under the rules of the Pen
sion Office the claimant is bound Z,
satisfy the department beyond q reason
: able doubt. Under the criminal law
Of every civilized country q mai
charged with crime is TO. be proves
= guilty of that crime beyond q reason
D able doubt. But In every civil tribunal
: in every question involving a title +
: reA estate, in every question involving
e the items of contract in every questio
D between individuals or corporations, /
every great question aft. citing the civ
rights OF the people, the tribunals onl
require that before one shall scccee
he shall establish his claim by the fai
weight of the testimony. 1t remain
for tue pension department alone to e.
tablish the rule that before an old so
dier or his widow will be granted
pc nsion he must establish his or be
fright thereto beyond Q reasonab
aSubt.
! have In mind q case now pendin
before the Commissioner OF Pension
which illustrates what conceive to |
the injustice of this rule. Every af
davit in connection with this case
have carefully read, as well as evel
opini on that has been given, for Il
:, case was appealed to the Secretary
the Interior, and after reading tho
afidavits and opinions l have bet
satisfied that, II such evidence b,
a. en- presented In an ordinary court
n case involving the title to proper
I'd or any other matter pending In q ci,
~ court between ordinary parties, cou
or go into any court In the civilized wor
D. and gain The case, for the fair weig
On of the testimony is in favor of the clai
na made. Yet it can not be said that d
er case is made out beyond ressonat
it. doubt" as that language is constru
in at the Pension Bureau. say that &
se rule to which | now refer has be
be adopted by the Penson Bureau witho
re any warrant Of law. There is nothi
sts indicating
" Mr.. TALBERT. The gentleman "
rk allow me to suggest that pension ca:
ma are presented ex parte; only one side
ch heard, SO that the question of prepl
of derance Of evidence can not arise
,b- such case. Is not that considerati
be an important one?
en- Mr.. WARNoCK. desire to call I
ooptlorns ana attention tD tho fs NJ -