American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-11
LCommunicated.l
The Pension Bureau.

GENTLEMES; Since you have undertaken the
weighty business OF experimenting the working
OF the vast machinery of the General Govern
ment, great expectations are entertained that
through the agency of your press, as censor
morum applied to the official doings in Wash
ington, much good will be effected, where, to
Judge by recent developments, much evil ex-
lists. The public have been, from time to time
within the last two years, so overwhelmed with
surprise by allowances on the part of Govern
ment officials of magnificent claims, which,
upon after examination, have been found to be
without the shadow of foundation in justice,
that they reasonably fear for the future, unless
some powerful check is interposed to save the
Treasury from such nefarious attacks. Galph-
inisms, Bareonisms, and Gardinerisms, have sue
ceeded each other 80 rapidly, that the commu-
nifty stand amazed at the developments. Fully
million of dollars has passed in these ways
from the Treasury-perhaps much more, for it
is not known what amount Of Bareonisms have
been perpetrated in the Pension Office, since
the removal of Mr.. Edwards, an officer, by the
bye, more sinned against than SHINING.
From the declarations of agents, however,
showing the fortunes they are accommodating
from the prosecution Of claims for arrears OF
pensions, increase Of pensions, and Of variety
Of other classes under numerous laws, it may
be inferred that heavy amounts are constantly
flowing from this source. The claims thus pro-
secuted may be perfectly just, but it strikes the
plain Flooding citizen who makes his way In
his vocation slowly and with difficulty, to hear
so frequently of amounts being realized on such
claims in o few weeks, oftentimes in few days,
that he would be happy if he could realize from
his perseycring industry in as many years; and
that too from claims which were disallowed by
Mr.. Edwards Whence this great difference
between the official action under Mr.. Edwards,
and that under his successor? this great faculty
of passing heavy and ancient claims which were
positively disallowed by the previous admin
istration of the Pension Office? To say the
least of such transactions, they excite sur
prise; and it behooves the administration Of
that branch of the public service to look closely
into them, and fully ascertain the justice Of the
principle on which such allowances are made,
before the drainage from the Treasury, follow
ing upon them, becomes fearful to the public
gaze, and arouses as much indignation as the
Galphinisms and Gardinerisms Of the day.
The present worthy Commissioner has es-
sayed to check this course of things; but to
succeed he must have an energetic, practical
man Of business as his immediate executive Off
Ger. AS the present chief clerk of his bureau is
about to withdraw his valuable services, it is OF
the last Importance that his successor should
be of the right grit; more particularly as the
Commissioner is at present confined to his room,
and unable to attend in person at his office II
is rumored that negotiations are going for
ward to secure the services of Mr.. John Will
son, now chief clerk in the General Land Office,
for the onerous post vacated by the resignation
of Mr.. Evans. A more excellent selection could
not be made; but there must be some mis-
take about this-for, certainly, Mr.. Wilson
would not be content to give up position
of ST., 300 per annum, for one of ST, 700 i;
this would be losing business to him, to say
nothing of his abandoning his strong position,
acquired by years of toll and untiring applica-
ton. From the lowest positions in the Land
Office, this gentleman and Mr.. Joseph Wilson
have risen to the highest, without education,
save what they have given themselves. I'm
aided by political influence, they have, by dini
| Of industry and indefatgable application, be-
| come as has been said on several occasions OF
late, though invidiously, the controlling officers
of the Bureau-not as has been insinuated, to
the prejudice of the public interests, but for its
welfare and advancement. The appointment of
John Wilson, then, to the Office of Chief Clerk
for the Pension Bureau, would be great gain
there, but a great loss to the Commissioner of
the General Land Office. 1t cannot be credited
that Mr.. Butterfeld would agree to such an
aTTduBtmcut, uuu lucTclOTe COublueT the Tu-
NOR idle and unfounded.
Such being the case, the Commissioner of
Pensions should weigh well the great import
ance involved in the business of selecting his
chief clerk He should look well to it; for
upon his choice will depend the character and
well-being of his office. His bureau is now one
of no ordinary dimensions. A vast amount of
business, and about ninety-fve clerks las there
will be that number when the new batch pro-
posed are all appointed) to superintend in
their multifarious divisions, Graves q capacity
Of the largest and most determined character
in such chief executive officer. In this office
| the people at large are now more interested
than in any other under the Government and
they demand such an efficient organization as
will ensure speedy action on their claims, espe-
cially for land bountes under the act of Sept.
%, 1850. At the present rate of issuing war
rants under this act, it is estimated that claims,
filed for instance to-day, will not be reached
for consideration in less than two years. This
estimate argues defect in the management
OF this class Of claims somewhere, which should
be carefully looked into, and remedy applied
for what with the non-assignability Of war
rants, and the slow progress of issuing warrants
those interested will cease to regard the act Of
Congress favor or a bounty. In fact in the
face Of these drawbacks, many who are justly
entitled will never apply at oil if they continue
| These remarks are made for the purpose o.
drawing attention and decided action in refer
ence to the proper regulation of the Pension
Department, where greater interests are nov
at stake than in any other of the Government
and with the hope that you, as editors and
public advisers, will take the business in HAND
for the general welfare JUsT1TIA.
WASHINGTON, August IL, 1861.
We request all editors who have copied oul