The National tribune., 1902-01-23

to question from a colleague, Mr..
Barney said that about $12S, 500, 900
of this amount actually went to
pensioners. The number of pensioners
on the roll at present was stated to be
997, 735 persons, the largest number that
was ever on the roll. For the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1901, something over
1000 persons were pensioners whose pen
sions arose out of the Spanish war. and
these persons received about Sl,17J,000 Of
the whole.
The question as to the duties of Special
Examiners, who travel around the coun-
try investigating cases, was injected into
the discussion by questions from various
members. and Mr.. Payne, of New York.
expressed his opinion that they were of
assistance to those trying for pensions,
although some members thought they
made great deal of trouble not only for
applicants, but for members of the House.
Mr.. Barney thought that they actually
added to the amount Of pensions paid, and
were the cause of a great many cases be-
ing allowed. that otherwise would not
have gone through.
Mr.. Robinson. of Indiana, classed these
Special Examiners as special detectives,
whose main business was to defeat the
claims of those whom they investigated
In answer to q question from Mr.. Rob
inson, Mr.. Barney stated that there had
been A., ,I36 applicants for pensions grow
ing out of the Spanish war during the past
fiscal year, or about 10 per cent. of those
enlisted. A long discussion arose as to
the reason for this large proportion, which
greatly exceeded the percentage Of appli-
cations by veterans of the civil war, at a
corresponding, period, and various reasons
were assigned. Some urged that the
younger men, having observed the diff
Guilty of securing pensions long after the
war closed. had decided to get their claims
in early, while their comrades were still
living. Others laid this large number Of
applicants at the door Of pension attor-
neys who solicited the business. The de-
bate switched off on to the liberality of the
Mexican war pension act, and that Of
1890, referring to the soldiers of the civil
war; and il was shown that the Mexican
service bill was the most liberal of all the
pension laws, so far passed by Congress.
In answer to question, Mr.. Barney
said that there had been no deficiency dur
ing the past year, and he did not think
there would be one during the coming
year. Out Of the appropriation made this
year. there had been Il surplus of five and
half millions to return to the Treasury.
Mr.. Bell, OF Colorado obtained the floor,
and made quite lengthy speech He
called the attention of the House to the
fact that we have now the unparalleled
condition OF 20 per cent. of the men who
served III the volunteer army during the
| Spanish war, applying for pensions, when
| but few were maimed by shot or shell
| He reviewed the statement of the Com
| missioner of Pensions, showing that these
applicants were largely by regiments, and
| that there were quite as many from those
/ organizations which did not see active
service, as where they did, and the pro-
portion Of applicants was no greater from
those who had served in the Philippines
| than from the camps in Florida, Tenncs.
see, and other parts of the country where
the troops were organized. He said that
ut the end of seven years after the wal
of the rebellion, only six per cent. OF the
soldiers OF that great struggle on hun,
dreds of battlefields had applied for pen.
sions; and yet, on the very heels of the
termination of the Spanish war. over
5O.OoO men. out of an army of 100000
had applied. He thought the Commits
siOner Of Pensions showed clearly the rea
son why the pension roll kept up was the
continued liberalization of the pension
laws. In other words, he showed that, by
rcason Of the very liberal pensions give1
by the Government and the liberal con
struction of the Pension Commissioner
pension agents in California, where the
army was recently turned loose had acted
like gang of wolves, in getting thes,
men 10 apply and; take small fees for theil
services. He cited case after case wher,
men were discharged, having been thor
oughly examined and shown to have NJ
ailment whatever, and to be prefectly
healthy; and yet, at the end of single
week, these very men came in and under
took 10 show by affidavit that they had va
riouS diseases, upon which they wished t.
secure tensions. lie was in favor of do
ing something TO prevent these agent!
from hunting for fees from pension case,
IF this kind. and from having any statu!
before the Pension Office. He considered
the Commissioner OF Pensions a very act