Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1889 — RERATING PENSIONS. [ARTICLE]

RERATING PENSIONS.

The Mnnderson Case to Be Taken as a Precedent by Secretary Noble. Secretary Noble says that his decision in the rerated pension case of Senator Manderson may be regarded as a precedent in a number of other similar cases. Senator Manderson. however, occupied a somewhat different position from the majority of pensioners recently rerated, the increased pension having been allowed him without application or knowledge on his part. There are about thirty employes of the pension office whose pensions have been rerated. In some instances this rerating was done upon their application and in other cases it was done without their knowledge. Some of these cases were allowed by Commissioner Tanner while they were on appeal before the Secretary of the Interior. The present acting commission**, Hiram Smith, was rerated, hut it is understood that he made an application to that effect and that the legal requirements were complied with. There are others in the pension office as well as outside, whoso pensions were rerated and who received arrearages from $6,000 to $15,000, and under this ruling in the Manderson case all are characterized as being illegal It is thought that the new commissioner of pensions will have this question to consider among the first duties which he will be called upon to perform. The commissioner has the right to recover ail money illegally paid on account of pensions, and in cases where the arrearages have already been expended the government can confiscate all pension payment. It is said to be the desire of the Secretary of the Interior to enforce as far as practicable the collection of the money, and that active measures will be adopted as soon as a commissioner of pensions has been appointed. Some of the employes of the pension office whose pensions wer® rerated have left the government service since the action in their case was taken. The great majority are still in government employ, and, of course, it will be comparatively easy to compel a repayment, providing they have not spent the money. In such an event the government could levy upon their salaries as well as their pensions.