The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-12-21

I'll Eg01xyY ENNSy6N0 zd1YygE
nn1aE SEATHnlHNT WITH or.
FIoIAl 1H00RDO.
The Allison, Wilson and Dodse
papers in this State are still attend
ing to bolster up the ISLANDERS Of 4:
Of lie OIcinnsti 0asstte,
agaigea sen3tor Hsrlaus Therefore.
altho h hays h@stofors said
muchEnpon Ibis subject md publish.
cd what seemed to US a very satisfao.
tory refutation of the libels from the
pen OF the Hon. J. 81. Barrett who
was at the time, Mr.. a. v. B. refers
to, Commissioner of Pensions.-
Still it may not bs amiss to restate
the important faots, and give some
ofthe official evidence which no one
can dispute.
lst. No n win deny that the
Indian soldiers who served in tho
Union army, and their widows and
children, who camc within the pur.
view OF the pension laws were emit.
tied to pensions.
"a. They applied for pensions
through an attorney employed BY
themselves by the name Of wv.
Wright fling the usual proofs, but
not in every case in due form.
Sd. By examination OF the records
OF the War Department, the names
of these Indian soldiers were found
on the proper muster rolls. Hence
from the evidence fled and Of record,
they seemed to be entitled to be put
on the rolls and to certificates a. BEN.
sioners.
4th. These Indians did not live
within any pension district. Hence
had their pension certificates been is.
sued On this evidence in the usual
way. they would have fallen into the
hsnds OF attorneys for collection,
renderingit probable that a consid-
cradle portion would never have
reached the Indians.
9th. Ii seems also that Mr.. Har.
Ian doubted the reliable character of
tho proofs fled. Hence he directed
that the names should be formally
enrolled, certificates withheld, and
the appointment OF q Special Pension
agent, and instructed him to take
the proofs on ile, and proceed to the
Indian country, and re.exsmine these
cases In person, employ interpreters,
take down the substance Of the testi.
mony, and report it to the Depart
ment. And q Pension Agent e.
bonded o%facer) to take with him
money to pay those whom he found
entitled, to it in person-and to report
those found not TO be entitled TO pen.
sions, 60 that they might be dropped
from the rolls.
9th. Nj. Whiting was believed to
be we'll qualified. He came into the
Department with Hon. Thos. Ewing,
sen. or Ohio, had been Commissioner
of Pensions fof soms years, Chief
u -. a. gu ~ ...GNfrHEM
Clerk of the Department. and Acting
Secretary Of the Interior, and was at
the time Principal Appeal Pension
Clerk.
7th. He assumed the discharge oi
the duties of this trust in the spring
OF 1866, while Mr.. Harlan was Score.
tary, and reported his proceedings
IN the premises Jan'y 18th, 1867, to
Secretary Browning, more than four
months after mr.. Harlan had retired
from the Department.
Now ifMr. Whiting did not do his
duty, 4 Ne acted the scoundrel, we are
at a loss to perceive how Mr.. Harlan
was responsible, provided be exer-
cised reasonable care in the selection
to secure a competent, honest, capa.
bic man. But no nj has called his
honesty or capacity in question, nor
do the records of the Treasury De.
partment show that he did act 9th
erwise than honestly and legally.
We here append an Official copy of
his report, together with certificates
of the present Third Comptroller and
Secretary Boutwell,, viz:
An Account Showing tAs Bosanc. Due 10
the Usssscd States at the Begtnning and
End o khe First Quarter OF 1853: ATaon,,f
HeeesDed and Amount Disbursed 20 PEN
st0neys Of the Aswsy at TIE A0encu in
Fort Gibson, Arkansas.
Amount received from United
States during the quarter. t76. OOO0 q |
amount received from Thos,
Aanigan, late Agent. 4S0. 90
75,4sO.OO
amount paid TO Pensioners, under the !
following heads OF appropriations. viz.
To Widows and others, under acts
March 10. 1878; Nav is. 1925 |
June 2, 1882; July 4, 1885; July
1883; Mar. 4, 1913; June ii.
1874; February 2, July 81, and
July ~, lS48; February 8. 1858; |
june 3, 1858; and July IA, 1852. a22. s85 II |
peposlted to Credit of o. s. Treas.
urer 52.ee7. SO
Jniy IL, 1862, is 2 per cent on
disbursements, which, IL il
reaches the perscribed limit of
sl,eo0 per annum, to be charged
"'p'oV peg quarter 447.30
75,4SO.OO
TREASURY DEPARTMENT..
THIRD AUDITORS OFFICE
December 13th, 1871.
4, M, Gangewer, Acting Third Audi
tor, do hereby certify the annexed. to be
a true copy Of hS9rig:nal on file 81 tbis
oinoe. A. NJ. GANGEwER,
Acting Third Auditor.
Be 1t remembered that A. M. Ganpewer
ESD, who certified the annexed transcript
u now, ana was at the time Of doing sc.
ActinK Third Auditor, and that fun 1aith
lions, " "So
IN TESTIMONY wHEREorF. /. George \.
boutwell,, Secretary of the Tress-