The National tribune., 1904-05-12
ATTORNEYS.

just uueS under the laws enacted Tor
their benefit ID equally as great as is the
necessity for persons who make special
ty of securing justice in the courts. Any
attempt to abridge the rights and privi-
leges of attorneys who appear for claim
ants against the Government may we'll be
regarded an indirect attempt to abridge
the rights Of claimants themselves. Some
claimants succeed as their own attorneys;
many more believe that they can, but all
will find it to their advantage to secure
the services of a competent attorney when
entering into the perplexities which are
often attendant upon the prosecution of Il
Government claim, and which require ex-
perience to overcome.
In an official opinion rendered by the
Assistant Attorney General for the Int
rior Department, September 5. 1890. and
adopted by the Secretary of the Interior,
i'm decision of same date, it is stated:
The personal preparation of the essen
tial application, proofs and other papers
is frequently rendered impracticable, if not
impossible. by the claimants or interested
party's feeble health, extreme age or
youth, limited education, ignorance or de-
partmental regulations and procedure, or
h imperfect understanding of the laws con-
trolling the particular claim or proceeding
and fixing the authority of departmental
and bureau officers in the premises. In
such instances the employment of compe-
tent agents or attorneys becomes prudent,
if not indispensable, and the advantages
resulting from their employment are not
confined to their employers, because the
proper preparation and orderly presenta
ton of such applications, proofs and other
papers comformably to law and depart
mental regulations tends to materially IA
cilitate and simplify the transaction of
public business"
OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATION.
The following is part Of the printed reg
ulatons of the Pension Bureau, relative
to requests for recommendation of attor-
neys:
1.-The Pension Office is constantly in re-
ceipt of letters from claimants, or others
writing for them, asking for information
as to the reputation and standing OF at
tOrneys and for advice as to the propriety
of employing this attorney or that firm
to assist in the prosecution of given
claim. The Office is often requested to
recommend some good, reliable attorney
for such employment.
1.-The improperly of such requests
must be apparent to all. a compliance
with them by the Commissioner of Pen
sions would be still more improper. The
presumption Of the office is that every at
torney reliable until the contrary is
shown. claimants must exercise their
own discretion in those matters. The
Pension Office invariably declines to make
suggestions or to furnish advice on that
subject. TO do differently would be to in
augurate IA system whereby unjust dis
examinations, based upon personal favorit-
ism or personal prejudice. would be un-
avoidabld Claimants and others will.
therefore,, save the office and themselves
much trouble, by refraining from CORE
inf OF 10
quested. In the future communications
upon this subject will not be replied to-"
v..-> REGULATIONS.
The following are the regulations at
present i'm force issued by the Secretary of
the Interior under date of February l,
1886, for the admission, practice, and dis
barment of attorneys before the Depart
ment of the Interior and its several Bu-
reaus, including the Pension Bureau:
Under the authority conferred on the
Secretary Of the Interior by the fifth sec
ton of the act Of July 4, 1884, it is hereby
prescribed that an attorney at law who
desires to represent claimants before the
Department or one Of its Bureaus, shall
file certificate. under the seal of United
States, State, or Territorial court, that he
is all attorney in good standing.
An agent or other person who desires
to represent claimants before the Depart
ment or one of its Bureaus shall file a GER
tificate from n judge of United States
State, or Territorial court, duly authenti-
Gated under the seal of the court. that
such agent or other person is of good
moral character and in good repute, pos
sessed Of the necessary qualifications to
enable him to render such claimants val
liable service. and otherwise competent to
advise and assist such claimants in the
presentation of their claims.
'rThe Secretary may demand additions nj
proof Of qualifications, and reserves the
right to decline to recognize any attorney,
agent. or other person applying to repre-
sent claimants under this rule.
The oath Of allegiance required by
section 3478 of the United States Revised
Statutes must also be filed.
I'm the case of firm. the names of the
individuals composing the firm must be
given, and n certificate and oath as to each
member of the firm will he required
Unless specially called for, the GER
tifcate above referred to will not be re-
quired of any attorney or agent heretofore
recognized and now in good standing before
the Department.
AN applicant for admission to practice
under the above regulations must address
letter TO the Secretary of the Interior.
inclOsing the certificate and oath above re-
quired. in which letter his full name and
post Office address must be given. He must
state whether or not he mas ever Deen rec
ognized as attorney or agent before this
Department or any Bureau thereof. and if
so. whether he has ever been suspended or
disbarred from practice. He must also
state whether he holds any Office under the
Government of the United States.
mo person who has been an officer. clerk
or employee of this Department within two
years prior to his application to appear in
any case pending herein shall be recognized
or permitted to appear as an attorney or
agent i'm any such case as shall have been
pending i'm the Department at or before the
date he left the service.
provided, This rule shall not apply to
officers, clerks, or employees of the Patent
Office. nor to cases therein.
"WhaHever an attorney or agent is
cha rged htifK improper practices in prose-
cutting ~ claim before any Bureau of this
Department. the head of such Bureau shall
investigate the matter. giving the attorney
or agent due notice, together with a state
ment of the charges against him. and al
low him can opportunity to be heard in the
premises. When the investigation shall
have been concluded all the papers shall be
forwarded to the Department, with state
ment of the facts and such recommendation
as to dixbaEment from practice as the head
Of the Rureau may deem proper. for the
consideration. of the Secretary of the Int
rior. During the investigation the attorney
k, H.