The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-15
T IS EASY NOW ID GET A PENSION Bureau RuthIessly Sweeps Aside
 All PreCedentS NO EVIDENCE CALLED FOR Prof. Bain Believes He Has Plan Which Will Effectualy Defy
 the Boil Weevil
 Pest.
NO EVIDENCE CALLED FOR
BY PATTERSON sTEALeY.

Washington, June 14.-(Special)-Pen sion order ITS" made by the commission CT of pensions upon the approval of the President was, as stated at that time gross fraud upon the public in that it was I usurpauon of legislative power by the executive hand of the government The order created outright a service pen sion act, something congress would not stand for, and opened the door of the treasury to every man who served in the army regardless of disability. The order itself was therefore bad enough, but when its exceedingly liberal terms are violated by the method of procedure now going on in the pension office. the matter is a great deal worse and deserves the serves the severest condemnation.
 In the practice promulgated for the adjudication of claims no attention Is seemingly paid to the requirements ap- bearing in the order. For instance the order says that Tt shall be taken and considered as an evidential fact. if the contrary does not appear and If all other legal requirements are properly met, that when a claimant has passed the age of 62 years he is disabled one-half in ability to perform manual labor, and Is entitled to be rated at $6 a month after 65 years ss. after 6S years slO and after 70 years s12 per month";
 Practices Are Swept Aside.
 Established practices or the bureau, which have been in force for years, are instantly swept aside in the passing of oIo 10 fe oof baf artc nd laws are ruthlessly disregarded for the purpose of passing as many claims as possible during short period of time. In spite of the fact that the law specifically requires that an increase of pension shall commence only from the date of a medl- cal examination. pensions seem to be granted to commerce from the date of the filing of the declaration, regardless of the fact that in most cases the appliea- tions are for an increase or pension.
 The order also states that it shall not be deemed to be retroactive, and it shall take effect April IS. but according to re- ports here all claims filed subsequent to January 1 are being favorably passed upon. with the result that unlawful back pay forms no small part of the amounts going out of the treasury The order says that a claimant is entitled to a pension if he is shown to be disabled b5 age, but a leading pension attorney here says no medical examinations are ordered under these claims, and therefore "the contrary cannot appear No evidence is called for, no medical examination made, but the claimant is promptly given a rate or G. B, 10 or 12 as the case may be.
 It Is supposed that this being a presi- dential year accounts for the way things are being run at the pension office.
 Professor Bain's Appointment
 Secretary of Agriculture Wilson has appointed S. M. Bain professor of botany, University of Tennessee. a special agent of the department to follow out certain experiments the professor has proposed to eradicate the boil weevil Professor Bain is going to make experiments in raising a cotton that will develop before the boil weevil. The cotton will be much higher in oil contents than all known species.
 If Professor Bain Is able to do what he thinks he can there will be no need of importing the Guatemalan ant. The de- partment believes that Professor Ban has reached that stage In experimenta- tion that justifies the government In ex- tending aid to him.