from the rolls the names of those not entitled to receive pensions, the rejection of cases presented in proper form but found to be without merit, the reduction of pensions already granted, and the refunding of money improperly collected by pensioners, with one year's pension added in each case, of $402,090.95.
The total cost of the investigations to the fund appropriated for the expenses of the special service was $38,235.80
In referring to this special work of his office the Commissioner says:
Considering the extraordinary opportunities for the successful prosecution of fraudulent or unmeritorious claims which exist under the present system of adjudication, in connection with the fact that the Commissioner of Pensions has no authority to go out and hunt for fraud, but is limited by the statute to the investigation of such cases only as suspicion attaches to in the usual routine of the office, the investigations of the last year, as well as those of the preceding year, furnish a very suggestive lesson. I am convinced that a great number of persons have been pensioned who had no just title, and that the number of that class is being constantly increased in the settlements which are now going on, and this must continue to be the case until some measure shall be adopted by which the truth of the parol testimony which is offered can be tested. No such test is possible under the present system.
The annual expenditure of so large an amount of public money should certainly have thrown about it all the safeguards that are attainable by improved methods of settlement and payment. The greatest care should be taken to establish beyond doubt the right of a claimant to pension money; for, once allowed, it becomes through a long series of years an annual tax upon the government.
The results of investigation into a limited number of claims which have attracted suspicion appear to justify the conclusion arrived at by the Commissioner, that the present system of examining the evidence on which pension is allowed is defective and ought to be corrected.
In two previous annual reports the Commissioner recommended the substitution of a corps of efficient surgeons, to be assigned by districts throughout the country and assisted by competent clerks, for the present unwieldy and unreliable system of medical examination, which requires the services of over 1,500 examining surgeons.
By the system proposed, the claimants and their witnesses would be brought face to face with the officers of the government, a more accurate knowledge would be received by the facts set forth, and more reliable data than can be now obtained would be secured for the settlement of claims. In his present report he states that another year's observation and experience have only tended to confirm his previous opinion that the change of system proposed is necessary and that it is both feasible and economical.
The magnitude of the interests involved commends this proposed system to the considerate attention of Congress. If on examination it is found to be an improvement on the present one, no time should be lost in securing the legislation necessary to the change.
The consolidation of pension agencies, which went into effect July 1,
