OCR Text |
Show I KVSION ellAHIiS. Although it is generally known that pension agents feed and fatten upon the substance of tho pensioners, it will surprise sur-prise many to learn to what enormous e.tent this is'dono. "The pension I bureau." says Secretary Noble, ' is now - issuing lictween fourteen and lifteen thousaml certificates a week. This means that attorneys are receiving every week, out of tho money appropriated appro-priated to relieve the necessities of old soldiers, an amount estimated between Sirw.OUO and M73.0W). A large number of cases nro adjusted under tho old law, which allowed a feo of $-l5. Tho now law allows but 10, but, even at this rate, tho attorneys would reulizo $150,-Out) $150,-Out) a week." This is a stupendous draught upon the obi soldier, especially when it is considered that many of those attorneys, to use the secretary's words, "are men who, upon their knowledge of law, could not practice before a country justice of the i oace,' mid yet manage "iu a few years to accumulate ac-cumulate a million dollars or more acting act-ing as attorneys for pension agents." Two reforms suggest themselves in connection with this matter. One is (hat the attorney's fees fixed by law are too high. N i man. be ho yet so competent, com-petent, should be able to amass a fortune for-tune in a short time out of any public business, least of all out of tho poor pensioners who receive a pittance for tho sacrifice of their health in the service serv-ice of their country. Mr. Noblo deserves de-serves credit and will receive the I hanks of tho country for allowing cliiimauts to prosecute the.r own cases without the assistance of pension attorneys. Congress ought to do tho rest and reduce re-duce the fees. Another reform is that the government govern-ment and not the pensioner should pay the attorney. It often happens that an invalid receives an increase which actually ac-tually cuts down his pension for the ensuing en-suing quarter because tho feo is deducted deduct-ed therefrom. Give tho pensioner tho first chance, not the shark. I |