St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1916-03-25
Morgan speech
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that accuracy only equaled by the
accuracy OF some OF our present-day
pension Representatives,. estimated
that the entire increase OF applicants,
by reason of the infusion OF this new
principle into our pension system
would be less than 1890. In spite
OF this oracle's prediction there was
an unprecedented sc1immage 1or tne
Pension Bureau. Something In ex-
cees of 10000 persons immedlatel!
endeavored to avail themselves OF Tue
provisions OF this act instead %
1900. Under this law the Govern
ment the first year paid to pensioners
4lO4,9OO. In 1919 there was sl!s ~
increase. The Government PAID ~
pensioners in that year under tn4s
act $1.S33.936.
This reckless distribution or the
public funds soon became a suDJec1
of newspaper attacks. 1t was openly
and vigorously charged that persons
IN very comfortable circumstances, IN
order to bring themselves WITHIN lts
scope, actually proved that they were
in dire want. .,u
The criticism leveled against this
act continued to increase IN intensity
until 1920 when Congress decided &c
make an effort to safeguard the GOV
ernment's interests, and at the same
time to correct some of the irregu-
larities and frauds which had oeen
discovered, This act required All
pensioners under the act OF 1918 ana
ALI subseauent applicants to SUBMIT
aworn schedules of their entire e.
tate and income. In addition 10 tnls
they were required to swear ina.
they had not disposed OF any part "
thar property in order to come Wat1'
In the purview of the act OF 1919
Under this remedial measure the sec
rotary of War was empowered 70
strtke from the lists those persons
who. In his judgment, were able 70
sustain themselves without the as
distance of the Government. Con
formally to the authority vested IN
him. the Secretary Of War. after due
inquiry and examination, expungeo
from the pension rolls the names o.
fhsiisands of fraudulent pensioners.
In the fact OF these palpaole
frauds and indefensible impositions
ON the government, made possible
alone by the loose and extraVagan'
terms of the laws regulating tas
granting of pensions. Congress oe-
liberately continued to enact laws
calculated to encourage dishonesty
and make fraud possible.
After several persistent ana lneI-
fectual efforts, Congress on June I
1892, enacted a pure-service pension
for the benefit of the Revolutionary
soldiers, This act granted to all
, those who had completed total
service of two years during the Revo-
lutionary War, whether In the Con-
tinental or State troops, volunteers
militia. or in the Navy, full pay Tor
life according to rank, and q proper
tionate sum to those who had served
not less than six months.
Through the medium OF this act,
like the act OF 1918, the Treasury
was verify raided. 1t resurrected the
dead and brought into existence full
aedged pensionable soldiers from
every section of the universe. II
provided applicants SO thick and fast
that the people, in spite OF their pre-
sumed gullibility, could not |oring
themselves to believe that there were
20 many living Revolutionary SOL
dierers.
In the Senate its defenders bitterly
assailed those who dared to array
themselves against the passage OF
this alleged meritorious measure.
and with tat enlightened wisdom
which has made pension legislators
from the early days OF our Govern
ment ridiculous the Senate and the
people were then philosophically in
formed that the bill would place an
additional encumbrance Of $45O.OOO
or less on the back Of the taxpayers
"a mere bagatelle. However, seem
ingly their estimate was slightly out
Of Joint with this actual amount IT
finally cost the people. Instead OF
extracting $450,OO0 annually from
the treasury, as predicted, 1t added
In excess of $2,OOO.OOO
annually to the pension rolls.
Shocking frauds under this meas
ure were brought to light, cu}minat-
inx In the indictment and prosecution
Of many persons for forgery and per-
fury, The Commissioner OF PEN
sions in his annual report OF 1884
eaid, in part:
disclosures have been made dur
ing the last session showing the ne
cessity OF a thorough investigation
into the operating Of the laws grant
Ing pensions and gratuities for mill
tary services. AS these disclosures
have been the result OF accident, II
10 impossible to judge to what extent
frauds may have been committed. but
enough has occurred to satisfy me
that some mode Of proceeding Is es
sentially necessary to detect and
check these abuses"
You will observe that, In the very
teeth of these daring frauds, there
has been q continuous and endless
OF the scope of pension leg
lslation.
Up to July 4, 1886. no provisions
had been made for the benefit Of the |
widows, SO under this
act. among other things, it provided |
that any Revolutionary soldier enti-
tied to pension under the provisions |
II the act OF June Z, 1892. who had
died leaving a widow whose mar
rage took place before the expira-
lion OF his last period OF service, she
|hould be entitled to receive the pen
ion her husband might have been
lNowed had he lived.