The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-23
ATTORNEY CRITICISES
PENSION LEGISLATION

they laid il at the door of the former
Commissioner. J. A Bentley, and tele-
grams came thick and fast. demanding
his removal and asking that Gen w W
Dudley De appointed n his stead- Cen
cral Dudley took the office May %. 1881.
and the fee agreement Of July (. 1884
was passed and things went along very
we'll for a while. and a great many ap-
plications we're filed and a great many
pensions were allowed under the GEN
cral law.
This act. however. contained the fol
lowing singular provision: No fee ex-
cceding 81 shall be allowed by any act
Of Congress subsequent to the date Of
the allowance OF the original claims
This last provision was evidently
based upon the idea that in such cases
the pensioner would be able to attend
TO his own claim and would not need as
sistancc % an attorney. But experience
has proved otherwise, and pensioners
have almost universally called on at
iorneys 10 assist them in these cases,
and be il said, TO the credit Of these at
torneys, that they have almost without
4 single exception prosecuted such cases
1917 NANA a NAie-l bts vi ten III CONSIDER
able trouble and expense 10 themselves.
We want. Just here. TO reiteratc the
statement that every provision IN this
Zee contract act is Unconstitutional and
in violation of personal rights. vet the
pension applicants and their ATTORNEYS
submitted to them without much com
plant.
But as one wrong invites another.
Congress went still further. and by act
or March 70. 1856, to increase the pen
sion of widows and dependent relatives.
provided that No claim agent or at
torney shall pP recognized in the al
judication Of claims under this act. nor
shall any such person be entitled 20 re-
cetve any compensation whatever for
services or pretended services IN max
ing applications hereunder I think
IL safe TO say that not 10 per cent OF
pensioners can successfully prosecute an
application for arrears OF pension with
out assistance. Can the purpose OF such
provisions. therefore. be 70 prevent the
Increase OF the pension rolls? Are we
offering viands in a bottle TO a FOX?
Army Nurse Pensions.
I'm the act OF August >. 1892. granting
pensions to army nurses. II Is provided
That no fee. compensation. OF allow
ance shall be paid to. received. or ac-
cepted by an agent or attorney or other
person Instrumental In the prosecution
OF any claim for pension under this act
under penalty OF $500. or Imprisonment
at hard labor not exceeding one year
or both. IN the discretion Of the court >
Why were these nurses not permitted
TO fee some person to assist them in pro-
curing this promised pension?
Are these prohfbitory clauses intend
ed to keep down the pension rolls or
are they enacted out OF pure malice
against agents or pension sharks as
some Congressman delight TO call them?
why are honest men and women, oft
en- dependent upon their profession for 4
living, pursuing an honest and Iegiti-
mate business, 10 be called pension
sharks and singled out for persecu-
lion?
1T is TO be hoped. and IL is believed
by your correspondent. that these OBJ
noxlous and wrongful clauses were
slipped and tackled on TO bills and we're
gotten through Congress without the
majority OF the members noticing them.
Your correspondent can hardly believe
that the great body Of intelligent men
that assemble at our Capitol would con-
descend 10 deliberately pass such OBJ
noxiOus unjust and clearly unconstitu-
tional provisions. The business OF rep
resenting soldiers. sailors. and their
heirs before the Pension Bureau and
other Government bureaus is lust as
honorable IS any other business. and
claim agents are just as honest. faith
full and true to their clients as the rep
resentatives Of any other profession. aud
are entitled to the same consideration
and respect.
Remarked Widows.
Act OF March 2. 1901 granting pen
sions TO remarked widows. declared
that no claim agent or other persons
shall be entitled to receive any com
pensation for services for making appli-
cation for pension under this act II
takes a great deal OF proof to prove up
under this act, and great deal Of tech
nical knowledge / do not hesitate to
saw that there are not over per cent Of
such widows who could prove up their
cases under This act without an attorney
CT claim agent. and to deny them the
right 10 employ such assistance is prac-
tically 10 place a dragon TO guard the
apples OF the Hesperidos.
In the appropriation bin or March 70.
1902 "a good place 10 hide an objection
able clsusei. was inserted this provi-
sion. That hereafter no pension at
torner. claim agent, or o,ner person
shall be entitled TO receive any compen-
sation for services rendered in securing
Tho introduction OF a bill or the passage
thereof through Congress. granting pen
sion. or Increase OF pension. under the
penalty OF $500 CT imprisonment for two
years or both.
What could be the animus that would
induce q Congressman to introduce such