The National tribune., 1907-09-12

lllillStTdt!On OF the once WIS lndfheu
by an immediate and striking improve
ment in the working efficiency of the
Bureau. Without any trumpeting OF
reforms every method and every divi-
sion of the Bureau was carefully gone
over and considered with strict refer
ence to its efficiency toward the end
| in view. Cumbrous routine and red
| tape were pruned away wherever found
unnecessary for the protection of the
Government Thus tho the Bureaus
clerical force has steadily diminished
in numbers owing to natural causes the
work accomplished has been enormous
| ly increased. In spite of the great vol
ume made by the new legislation of
the McCumber bill, the work has been
brought much nearer current than at
any previous time in the history of the
Bureau
While insisting upon every clerk rem
dering full service to the Government,
Commissioner Warner has been notably
just, impartial and considerate to vet
Grams and their widows. The improve
ment upon the system, which has made
everyone do his full share, has nat
those who under a Stacker system did
more than their share. The economies
have been similarly systematic and eff
fective. Where former Commissioner
would make parade on the saving on
rubber bands or some such item which
Tod hy
waste in other directions, Commissioner
Warner has had an all-around economy
which, while stinting nowhere, wasted
nowhere. In consequence, he was able
to turn in at the close of the fiscal year
the very large amount of $375,562 saved
from salaries and expenses. A large
proportion of this was gained by aboI-
ishing unnecessary examinations by the
Boards of Examining Surgeons. The
cost of maintenance of the Bureau and
its agencies in 1907 was the smallest
since 1886, a period of 81 years.
When it is stated that the Bureau
took action on 29S,S22 claims during
the year, of which only 60,573 We're
rejected, the immensity of the work
done by the Bureau, as well as its sys-
tematic fairness with the veterans, are
demonstrated. Under the administra-
ton of Mr.. Evans and some of his
predecessors the spirit of the Pension
Bureau was to find pretext for re-
jecting claims, and in the final deter
mination the greater weight upon any
doubtful fact or principle was always
given in favor of the Government and
against the claimant. This spirit of the
Pension Bureau is entirely changed, and
the veteran stands before the Bureau
now, not as a man whose claim should
be denied if a pretext can be found
but as man with presumptions in his
favor and entitled to his pension if he
can establish his case beyond a reason
able doubt. While the Commissioner
has the highest intention of maintain
ing the pension list as a roll of honor,
he still does not believe that any man
who has prima facie claim upon it by
reason of honorable service to his coun-
try should be excluded on account of
any technical objection. This has been
the guiding principle of the admins
tration of the Bureau during the year,
and great numbers of deserving ma
and women have received the benefs
of it. where the narrow and harsh con-
structions prevailing at some times in
the past might have excluded them.
Commissioner Warner was soldier of
splendid record, none better, and he
has the warmest sympathy with all
those of his comrades who did their
best little or much, for the country in
its time of peril.