Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-06-05
A Thing We Wish Understood
The Pension Agent at CoIum.

A Thing We wish UndersIood-l
The Pension Agent at CoIum.
bus. e.
The Columbus special OF the Cincinnati
Commercial under date the 9th, says that
" A protest, signed by all the Republican
members of both houses, protesting aqainst
the removal of Joseph W. Dsoyer, Pension
Agent in this city, and the appointment of
Richard Plantagenett Llewellyn Baber in
his stead, was forwarded to Washington to-
lay"
We want the public to make note oft,
that "oU the Republican members of both
inouses" of the Legislature have protested
against The rensoual of Joseph w. Decyer,
Pension Agent In this CITY," These Republic
can members oflate have been doing rather
an extensive business in the matter OF
protesting." We presume they know
what they are about.-Ohio Statesman, Feb
raary 90.
A few days ago. in reply to the charge
of the Ohio State Journal, that "the wide-
! spread corruption and utter incompetency
character as to demand reform, we stated
that none of these appointees were men
who had been recognized as steadfast and
true Democrats. We furthermore stated,
that we had in our eye one of JoHNsON's
office holders in this city.
We are now ready to explain. We have
the facts at hand.
L/On the 18th of February, 1868, an author
lied officer who had made investigation
into the way the business was conducted in
the Pension office in this city reported to
the Secretary of Interior, that it became his
duty to recommend Mr.. DIVERS "in,medi-
ate renaoudl" In pursuance of this recon-
mendation Mr.. DwYER was removed and
Mr.. BABER appointed; but the Senate re-
fused to confirm the removal of Mr.. DwYER,
because all the Republican members of the
Ohio General Assembly united in a pro-
test, protesting against the removal OF Mr..
DwYrR. Pension Agent in this city," I'm
consequence of this protest of the Repub-
lican members of the Ohio General AS
sembly, this man who practised petty ex-
tortion upon the widows, wives and chill
dren of soldiers, that he might put money
in his purse, is retained in Office, and snaps
his fingers in the face of President JOHN
SON, while he with impunity practises ex-
tortion. Common people would call it
petty stealing. \
I<Now for the facts.
Mr.. JOE w. DIVER first entered upon his
duties as Pension Agent in September,
1864. He charged in all cases of power of
attorney rs cents tor payments of less than
800, and 81 for amounts over 800, and so
cents for all payments made to pensioners
in person. This was continued until about
September, 1866, when a law was passed
regulating fees of Pension Agents, allow
ing Is cents in all cases of power of attor-
ney and in personal payments, 25 cents for
preparing papers and Is cents for admins
tering the oath, making 40 cents for per-
sonal payments. About this time it became
apparent to Mr.. DwYER that he would be
removed by President JOHNSON, by reason
of his not agreeing with "My Policy.nHHe
Immediately begun to govern his actions
accordingly; sold his Republican paper in
Coshocton bridled his tongue and attend
ed JOHNSON meetings; wrote letters to
Democratic politicians in Washington, set
ting forth that he favored that party, and
in every manner possible endeavored to
make friends with Democrats in this city
and gain their influence; set forth the fact
that if he was removed there would be a
great outcry and remonstrance made by
JOHNSON men of this city; endeayored
finally to make an arrangement by which
he could resign in favor of Democrat, and
at Washington After he discovered that
he could not retain his Office, he resigned; !;
sold all of his Office furniture at enormous
prices to Mr.. E. T. Cox, who was his sue
cessor, and Immediately went to Washing
ton to lay his plans for his return to this
Agency, at the same time giving out the
impression that he resigned because the
SO much reduced. Mr.. Cox conducted the
affairs of the Office for nearly five months,
and in the most satisfactory manner/to all
parties concerned, adhering closely to the
lawful rate Of fees. frequently cautioning
his clerks to be strictly honest in payments
to pensioners and attending to the duties
of the office, and in every way proved his
worth and integrity as public officer.
Mr.. DwYER, in the meanwhile, was con-
summating his plans at Washington,/A
law was passed declaring the term of
Office of all Pension Agents and other ap-
pointees of certain grade, who were ap-
pointed prior to July 1st, 1866, to expire
within limited time after the passage OF
the act. This, however, did not reach the
case of Mr.. Cox, who was appointed in Ser
tember, 1866. The law was afterwards
changed SO as to substitute October !,
1866, for July 1, 1856. Mr.. DwYER and his
friends have boasted that this change was
made for his interest.
This law had the effect of removing Mr..
Cox about the 7th of March, 1867, and very
soon thereafter Mr.. DIVER resumed his
duties as Pension Agent here, and in a con-
versation, stated that sit had cost him a
large sum to get back, and he now intend
ed to run the office as economically as pos
sible and make all the money out of it that
he could" n
The Department at Washington had sup
piled him with large number of ''circu-
lars to pensioners" sufficient to furnish
one to each pensioner in the district, setting
forth much important matter in relation to
the proper amount of fees to be charged,
&c., &c. These Mr.. DwYER took particu-
lar care to hide away so that no pensioner
could ever see them, and then proceeded to
carry out his resolution to make all the
money he could.
Commencing in April, 1867, as near as
could be ascertained, he has continued to
carry on regular system of extortions
upOu pausiOuars takinu credit for hoviuO