Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-30

MORE FILE CASES.
Evidence of Many Applica-'
tons for Pensions.
SCENE AT THE BUREAU
CONDITION THAT FACES COM
MISSIONER WARE.
Result Of Change Of Administration
and Removal Of Medical
Referee Raub.
SCENE AT THE BUREAU

There was a peculiarly interesting scene
in the pension Office this morning Work.
men were bringing In additional file cases
in which to place in safekeeping the new
applications for pensions that are coming
in. Thereby hangs a tale that is almost
sure to be Of the most widespread interest
during the next year or two.
The feeling that prevailed throughout the
country while Mr.. Evans was commissioner
that there was not a likelihood of many
claims being allowed by the bureau caused
many veterans. 1t Is said. to withhold their
applications until a change should take
place in the office. After Mr.. Ware became
commissioner these claims were filed much
more rapidly than usual. and now that DR..
Raub, chief medical referee under Com
missioner Evans, has been superseded by
DR.. Sam Houston added impetus has
been given to the filing of applications. 1t
was widely reported that Dr. Raub pur-
sued policy on the subject of allowances
that was not encouraging to pensioners, and
the idea became current that when
change In the office of medical referee was
made "a very different policy would domi-
nate the actions Of the medical division.
The result Of all this is an unusual flood OF
applications for pensions and the urgent
need of additional cases in which to file
them.
To Increase Allowances.
sions and Increases of pensions have been
allowed during the last few years. Many
Grand Army men have believed that under
a more liberal administration this percent
age would be greatly increased. The blame
for disallowing so many of the cases has
been placed upon the medical division, ana
the chief in that division who is re-
garded as responsible for disallowances is
the medical referee. In the law division
claims only have to be passed upon to show
q r..
vice, served sufficiently long to receive con-
sideration and was honorably discharged
or retired. Such are easy of proof, so that
in that division very few difficult controver-
sizes over the claims arise. But when the
claims reach the medical division there are
greater difficulties The degree Of pension
that should be allowed different disabilities
gives rise to endless contention between
pension attorneys and the medical division.
Nearly every pensioner who has failed to
receive the rating applied for in the medi-
cal division blames that division, and espe-
cially the medical referee for his failure.
How It Will End.
Just how this matter will work out during
the coming year is a problem that is of the
greatest interest to the pension office Of
fcials. 1t is not unlikely that Commissioner
Ware will be obliged to go to Congress next
winter for an additional appropriation to
allow for the payment Of larger force
than is now in the office, or be placed in the
position of failing to act promptly appli-
cations for pensions. The work. it is be-
lieved in the bureau. will pile up enormous
ly during the next six months. To these
conditions prompting the filing of appica-
tions will be added the work involved on
the bureau this fail because of the presence
here of the national encampment of the
Grand Army. The bureau has provided q
liberal supply of blanks which applicants
for pensions may request statement of the
standing Of their claims. and 1t Is esti-
mated that at least 10000 such requests will
be made They will be complied with as
rapidly as the available force can do so.
The gathering of veterans here will. it is
believed, also give rise TO discussions con-
corning the new administration of the pen
sion Office, which will add to the applica-
tons for increases of pensions.