Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-26
PENSION APPEAL BOARD
TO BE REDUCED IN NUMBERS
AND THEN ABOLISHED.

The movement on foot to practice eeoE-
omy throughout the governmfy,t depart
ments has at last reached the Interior De-
partment. Government reports, such as the
coming Secretary's report, is to be limited
in printing Orders to this effect have been
issued. The more astounding announce
ment that the pension board of appeals is
to be reduced in number and eventually
done away with altogether has been decided
upon.
The board until recently was composed of
about fifty-fve persons altogether, and at
present there is a little more than thirty
persons employed regularly at the Interior
Department. During the past fiscal year,
according to Pension Commissioner War
ner's last report, the boards work was only
seven per cent of the work formerly per-
formed by that body. Over twenty clerks
and members of the board have been trans
ferred to other positions in the land office,
Indian office and pension Office. The prin-
cipal work of the board is to hear appeals
from different attorneys representing
clients who are trying to obtain pensions
that have either been refused In their en-
tirety or where an increase in the pension
has been asked.
If this plan meets with success there will
be a saving to the government of some
thing like $4,000 annually in salaries. At
present the members salaries composing
the board range from $3.50 annually to
$500. On account of the decreasing need
for the pension appeal board it is the
plan TO vest the power of last appeal in
the Secretary of the Interior or the COM
missioner of pensions. thus saving to the
government the enormous amount paid as
salaries to these clerks who are now per-
forming duties of a quasi-judicial character
Secretary Hitchcock. when seen last even
ing. fatty denied that it was his intention
to do away with the board entirely at pres
ent. but admitted that in the future there
was possibility of disseminating the sery-
ices of that body. He did not suggest any
remedy, but stated that if the boards work
diminished perceptibly more in the coming
fiscal year than 1t did in the past it was
possible that reorganization of the body
would be made
The suggestion was advanced that if the
board was discontinued at once a great
deal of routine business would devolye on
the secretary or the commissioner of pen
sions, and as these gentlemen are already
very busy men it would be impossible to
get the results that is attained by the i'm
partial and close scrutiny given to the cases
exercise
The President is behind the movement.
Whlch was first suggested, it is said by the
Keep commission. The commission has been
investigating conditions of the Interior De-
partment, and that conclusion had beeiI
reached by them that the board in IFS
present shape is an unwieldy body and
should De reorganiZed was unanimously
Ieacheo. Recommendations to this effect
Were handed to President Roosevelt
.Ihe conclusion is, however, that Secretary
Hitehcock VIII do nothing in the matter AZ
present, but will leave the matter entirely
Tor his successor to wrestle with when he
steps down and out at the end of the pres
enl nseal year, unless the President on the
strength of the Keep commissions renort
should determine otherwise