Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-03
ON MlsRow OF
ADDRESSOGRAPHS I'M
PENSION OFFICE
3.5OOO OOOPENsIoNs CHEGs
Are MADE Our EAcEG.AR.

who will try by every means they know
to rob Uncle Sam of part of this money
money set aside by our national gov
eminent for the men who served their
country in her time of need; for the
women who gave fathers, husbands and
brothers at the call of the god of war;
for the little children whose fathers per-
ished in the fulfilment of that service
The pension bureau is compelled to
choose a careful way around the many
pitfalls that line its path; to throw out
a breastwork on one side for protection.
yet to maintain an easy entrance on the
other. Its main source of safety lies
in a corps of about eighty special field
examiners" It's general attitude of sym
pathy with and desire to help ITS law
full pensioners constitutes its right to
confidence.
The system established at the pension
bureau is one warranted successfully 10
keep out the criminal and let in all right
fully entitled to entrance. From the time
an application is received in the mail
room of the bureau the course Of its
travel is along systematic lines.
First the law division determines
whether or not the application is correct
ly made. II formal. 1t goes to the record
division, where a permanent record is
made and it is given a number. From
this point the application becomes
pending claim" designated always by its
number.
Next the adtudicating division calls for
such evidence as may be needed, from
the claimant. Navy or War Department
or other necessary source and has charge
OF the claim until prma facie case is
made. brief Is then made and sent to
the board of review, where a thorough
review Is made and decision issued
al t~
DIVISION is then called on to make out a
certificate, which is given a new number,
ana inns is sent to the finance division
where It is entered the rolls and the
claimant sent proper notification
At any one of these stages the special
held agents may be called upon to make
an investigation, or the facts NAV proye
that the application has no just claim
and the case will be dropped after no.
tfying the applicant of this fact
All matters needing investigation are
placed In the hands of the special agents
whether they deal with fraud or only re-
a . TURNER evidence. As a consequence
these men must be particularly fitted for
their work and have keen insight into
human nature and motives
While II is up to every clerk in the bu-
reau TO be keenly alive to anything that
may give hint of fraud. the real work
or ferretins out such cases is left largely
TO the agents. And that they are nen
picked because Of ability commensurate
that among the pSst office inspectors who
have won nationwide fame are several
VINO were previously special agents" Of
the pension bureau.
But because. Is true of SO many
things. a point of strength is also a point
of weakness, the existence of this corps
mas been the cause of several ATTEMPTS to
Obtain money. not from the government
itself. but in connection with the work
of that office.
In an obscure southern village stran-
ger appeared, who entered into CONVERSE
ton with the gossips at the corner gro
Gerry He showed keen interest in the
subject of G. A. r. pensions and it was
not long before he knew who received
pensions and who were then making APP
plication Then he Set to work First
he went to the home OF a would -be-pen-
sioner. and this is about what he said:
Il am special examiner of the bureau
of pensions, sent down from Washington
to investigate your claim. The office is
disincined to grant You a pension. Now
that see you, !. personally. fully appre-
all the ailments which you claimed in
your application papers. Unfortunately
however. your neighbors seem unwilling
to substantiate your statements. and
have in fact filed adverse testimony. AS
a matter of strict fact. and confidentially
OF course, the bureau has about decided
to dsa low your claim unless I can pre-
sent sufficient evidence to show them a
pension would be justified.
But, of course, ] shall make a full re-
port and show your condition In Its true
light / shall even go so far as to try
TO persuade your neiRhbors against
their unfair treatment. The only Diff
Guilty is that ] am paid per case and con-
sequently will be unable to give much
time to yours. How much a case? About
$3.50 Well, of course. If could be as
sured of that much ! am connuent of be-
ing able to present your case to Wash
ington in such strong light that you
could not fail to receive your pension"
That worked beautifully in certain To-
calities-until the real examiner hit the
same trail. Then it got too warm for