The National tribune., 1878-01-01

agreed to that provision thought it amounted TO nothing
and believe that the general impression, because
there would be surplus of clerks in any direction that
could be assigned to that duty.
am extremely glad that the attention Of the Senate has
been called to this matter and hope the attention OF the
country will be attracted TO it, that when the next ap
preparation bill is before may allow to these offices
all the force necessary satisfied that the force was
deficient long ago. but unable through any efforts
could make to get any larger than is am satisfied
that that the feeling all the members OF the commit
tee of the Senate of both parties that they anxious
to allow to these offices the full force necessary for the
speedy transaction of their business want to say that
that applies to every member of the Committee Appro
patons of the Senate on both sides of this Chamber and
think that the attention of the country having been called
to it, particularly that of Congress having been called TO
this morning shall have but little trouble in the next
appropriation bill in having such appropriation as will
bring UP this work speedily as can be done hope
so at any rate.
! Mr. DAVIS of West Virginia. Mr.. President, my reco
lection the clerical force in the Pension Office and the
Surgeon Generals Office is the as that of several
other Senators who have spoken that there reduc
tion less number given them than they had had no
tice my friend from Vermont Mr.. EDMUNDs smiling, but
want to say word to him. | see from the House
report my hand which have for since this debate
commenced-I have not had time to put my hand Just on
the exact place, but know that read it probably six
months ago-the statement that man. at least by the
of Stiles detailed from the Pension Office to act
secretary clerk for the republican congressional COM
mtee located in this city, and for eight months my reco
lection is the testimony states, the man drew his pay reg
ary from the Pension Bureau and did not perform single
hours work in the Pension Office Another man, whose
name | forget now away from the office several
monthsCafrey perhaps was the name--and there were
three ALL understand from the force detailed for the
purpose of running what known the national
gressiona committee in this city. friend says Of the
republican party No would ever think for moment
that it would be of any other party so was hardly nee
essary for say of what party it was know, as
several Senators have stated that the Pension Bureau is
far behind what it ought to be in the examination OF
cases.
The last report of the Commissioner of Pensions will
show that last summer and especially the summer
before last every there is set of men, from
one to ve detailed from the office to go through the
(
testimony taken in this pamphlet, to which have
referred shows that instead of the clerks detailed from
the Office hunting up fraudulent cases. the papers come
back rule just they went out but these gentlemen
60 pleasure excursions. 4
am speaking from the evidence taken by what is known
as the jerks committee of the House.
Mr.. EDMUNDs. What is that document Please give
its number and date.
i Mr. DAVIS of West Virginia Forty-fourth Congress,
first session. Miscellaneous Document, No. 90, of the
House agree that there should be more attention paid
in the Pension Office to ~auests from pensioners them
selves do not complain of the want OF answers to any
thing have sent for they generally pretty promptly;
but the answer generally sWe sixteen eighteen
months behind; cannot examine eases as promptly as
we should do. What complain OF is that while that
is the case detailed from that office, this
port shows for political purposes and instead OF working
their desks it known that they doing other work
and then in the details made of gentlemen to
go around the country for the purpose they state OF
hunting up fraudulent cases; but very few are found OF
that class
Mr. PApDocK should like 70 ask the Senator ques-
ton inquire whether he makes that charge in reference
to that description of details against the present admins
tration of the Pension Office?
Mr. DAVIS, of West Virginia Oh, no; not the present
administration.
Mr. PADDOCK. Or is it something antecedent?
Mr. DAVIS of West Virginia Not the present officers
of the Department. do not think they have done it,
This evidence was taken during the last Congress.
Mr. PADDOCK. From the general and sweeping charac-
ter of the Senator's statement the inference would be
that it referred to the present administration OF the Bu
reau.
Mr. DAVIS, of West Virginia. / have stated two OF
three times that this in the Forty fourth Congress
and speak from the evidence in this pamphlets not from
my own knowledge. ! know nothing of what was done
last summer believe the details of clerks were
made then through the country and they
were paid out of the Pension Bureau appropriations.
wellknown fact that the who went TO Saint Louis
in the cases, detective who went as 1t was
said for the purpose of stealing papers getting them IL
some wayl refer to the Babcock talwas paid out o.
the funds of the Pension Office We all know that to bes
fact Instead of the money appropriated for the office be
ing expended for the payment of clerks doing its work.
has been spent other directions believe the chairman
of the Committee Pensions stated in the Senate not lon
ir n