Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-17

First Time in Many Years
This is the first time in many years that
there has been reason for such whole
sale dismissal for cause" in the pension
bureau. and of such high officials. This
is the flrSt time for many years that such
errors have been discovered in the con-
duct OF the pension business, and these
two facts together make the affair one Of
vast Importance to the people employed
in the pension bureau. 1t will be remem-
bered that publication was given the facts
in the case exclusively in The Star last
Monday. AT that time the statement was
made that the ten members of the boa rd
OF review were under charges. and that
the situation one of great gravity
The causes which led to the action of the
commissioner in preferring charges against
the members of the board resulted from the
granting of six application for pensions to
persons not entitled thereto.
The history of the cases dates back to
May, 1901, when an application for pen
sion from man who had served in Col.
McCaiIS Erie regiment of Pennsylvania
militia was received and approved by the
board of review. This board it is stated,
is the final arbiter on pension claims and
is composed of especially selected clerks,
who, by their long service in the bureau
and great familiarity with pension laws
and the rules of practice before the Office
are considered especially qualified to pass
upon all claims for pension and make the
final decision to whether the applicants
thereof are pensionable or not. 1t is on
the word of the board of review that the
commissioner depends when the pension
is brought to him for signature. An an
additional safeguard to the country the
board is divided into two sections known
as the reviewers and re-reviewers. The
reviewers take up the cases first and pass
upon them, and then the re-reviewers ex-
anime them to make sure they are cor
rect
Thus the board is supposed to know every
rule and regulation. and it is extremely diff
ficult for case that is without merit to get
through it, In fact, during the past
year more than 10000 pension claims were
handled by the board and but eight unjus-
tifiable claims passed through, the claims
on which the charges were based against
the members cited herewith.
History of the Regiment.
The history of the Mccall regiment is
well known to employees of the pension Of
flee, inasmuch a test case was made of
it many years ago, and ii stands. or is sup
posed to stand, clearly defined in their
minds. The regiment in question was or
ganized in 1861 by Col. Mccall at Erie Pa.
at the time of the first call of President
Lincoln for 1900 volunteers 10 be used in
putting down the rebellion. The regiment
was conveyed to Pittsburg, where its serv-
ices We're rendered to the government.
When it arrived on the ground. however
the quota of the state OF Pennsylvania
was full and the men were not accep ed as
volunteers. They remained in camp at
PlltSDurS. however, for three months be-
lore returning to their homes, many of the
men securing their discharge and enlisting
IN other regiments. A claim for pension
from one member of the regiment was re-
celVed some years ago and passed through
the usual channels and up to the highest
authority on the pension laws. 1t was re-
Jected on the greurd that the regiment had
never been in the United States service
and ats members were, therefore, not pen
sionable.
Several weeks ago Commissioner Warner
received a letter from lawyer in Pennsyl-
vania asking him why it was client of his
VINO was member of the regiment was re-
Jected as a pensioner when several other
men, whom he named and who likewise saw
service only in the regiment, were ENJOYING
the benefits of pension. Mr.. Warner inn
mediateiy made an investigation and found
that six claims for pensions from members
OF the Mccall regiment had been granted
and that two claims for pensions from mem
berS of a regiment of New jersey militia of
the same status had also been allowed An
investigation to discover the names of the
members of the board of review who passed
upon the cases brought to light. the Offend
ers, and Commissioner Warner promptly
called upon them to show cause why their
services should not be dispensed with The
replies to these charges were all received
last week, and in each one the defendants
pleaded guilty and asked for mercy Com
missioner Warner was disposed to be merci-
full at first but it is now understood he has
made up his mind to dismiss the men, They
were therefore told this morning that their
designations would be received if they cared
to present them.