The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-03
RELIEF FOR MAJOR WALKER
nov HE WAS RESTORED AND PLACED
ON THE REIIRED LIST
The Extraordinary History Connected with
One Of the Last Acts Of the Forty-nnh
ConEress-Was he Insane or "a Defnultert


The Extraordinary History Connected with
One Of the Last Acts of the Forty-nnh
ConEreu-Was he Insane or Defnultert
WASHINGTON, April 2-On the 81 OF
March last the day before the Forty -nfth Con-
grcsa adjourned the Senate confirmed Robert
c. Walker n Major and paymnster in the United
States Army. On Jan. IA. 1873 Mr.. Maginnis.
delegate from Montana introduced in tho
House bill for the relief OF Robert c. Walker.
The bill was short. and read as follows; THAT
the President Of the United Suites Is hereby au-
thorzcd to restore Robert c. Walker, late Pay
master United States Army to the Army Regis
ter. for the purpose Of being placed on the re-
tired list" The bill was referred to the Com
mitteo on Military Affairs. On tho 4th
OF May following the Chairman OF the Commit
tee wrote to the Secretary OF War asking for
Information in Walkers case. On the 18th Of
May Mr. McCrary answered tho letter. He said
that Walker first entered the military service
Nov. 1. 1861, ms Captain and Commissary OF
Subsistence Of volunteers. and served as such
until Jan. 1. 1863 when he was appointed Major
and additional Paymaster OF volunteers. in
which capacity he served until honoraby mus
torcd out ON Nov. -. 1865. He was commits
stoned Major and Paympostcr United statcs
1874. The letter OF tho Secretary oil War FUR
Thor says:
nsproars now by the most conclusive evidence that
for year two before his resignation he had given
sisns OF mental alteration or incomreency. which.
soa9,;,ion ar",e in ms "sec9ni iull inNe'tssi%n
sued G. q, Goycrnment He turned over at the inpds
Ipt Mhsn ~. Nhs "sM' tanic Y" N'eI ~ IL
mental troubles developed at Helena. Mont, where he
years On duty at St Paul MINI and ihc fsymasier.
Sinsnt and faithful raymaster Naiorocn Hancock
under who.e command MAJOR Walkct served ter some
m as an officer aud says that his labors were extreme
Appended to the Sccretary's letter. which
closes with a strong accommodation that tho
bill pass, are extracts from letters from various
Walker in the performance of his official duties
WINS 40 grcat that he broke down bodily and
mentally Surgeon A. ). Click tcstiics that
Walker was mentally ncapacitated and OF I'M
Delegate McGinnis's bill was reported TO the
House, inyorgiy and passed; On the 23d Of
May Mr.. Paddock introduced in the Senate
bill for the relief Of Robert {. Walker late Pay
master United Stntes Army This bill author
lied the de iacto Pres dent 10 appoint Walker
MAJOR In NE army on dh9 rrtired llSt, WIN RINK
he resigned his commission, said Walker
having been Of unsound, mind, md hav-
ing incurred his mental disability from
exposure and hardship in the line OF his official
duty. This ill was referred L. the Committee
on Military Affairs, ana the same iniormhtion
given by the War Department to the House
Committee was sent to the Senate Committee;
back Mr. Paddock's bin with amendments pro-
vidng that Walker should be appointed. by
and with the consent OF the Senate The clause
providing back pay for Walker was struck from
The bill and il was expressly stipulated that lac
should receive no pay for tho time he was out
About the time that Mr.. Paddocks bill was re-
ported back 20 the Senate from the Committee.
the House bill restoring Walker TO his rank in
the service was passed. and came TO the Senate
Tor concurrence. The House bill passed. and
1878 In December last Hayes nominated
Walker 70 the position which the passage of the
ferred to the Committed on Military Affairs
Mr.. Spencer was Chairman OF the Committee;
before the Committee for action. Spencer
made statement concerning II which as
founded the other members OF the Commit
Tee. In substance, the statement made by
Spencer was this: That on visit to the Black
Hills where he owns some mining properly. no
had been informed 10y several military officers
and gentlemen OF good standing that Walker
was never insane. While he was Paymaster At
Helena he had Rambled away several thousands
OF dollars % public money at the card table and
IN specuatOns in mining stocks. The condi-
ton OF his accounts became known TO a few
persons The situation OF affairs was conveyed
at once to the Hon. Jas. q, Blainc; who was
then member Of the lower House. Mr.. Blaine
and other friends 1.-THE disGracod officer came 10
his rescue. Walker resigned John Z. Blaine.
brother Of the Senator who was appointed Pay
master in the army in 1868. was Immediately
detailed to Helena. He took charge Of the ac-
counts made up whatever deficiency existed.
sad that m ms opinion, nnl"r 1as eiGsum
would be discraceful 10 lonorably renstate
Walker to his rank IN the army and place him
upon the retired list. In conclusion, the CHAIR
man Of the Committee added that the nomlna-
tion OF Walker had better remain in staiu quo
until he could obtain further information from
Montana on the subject
At this time there wiz not n single member ~
the COMMITTEES who dreamed that there would
be anything but an adverse report uuon the
nomination. Weeks PASSED aud nothing more
was said 10y Spencer about the case. some Of the
Democratic members Of the Committee he
lieved that the nomination would not oven bee
reported 10 the Senate. 4 day or two before the
adjournment u Congress. - nrcr sent mes
BAges 20 the members Of tho Committee while
the Senate was in session. saving that he had
been istaken in what ne had SAID concerning
Walker, and that he would move his connrma-
ton at the next executive session. The Demo-
cratic members Of the Committee. who did not
want to be fooled. replied that the nomination
should not be reported favOrably to the
Senate unless Mr. Spencer first gave tho
reasons Tor his change OF heart To the Commit
tee. IL n meeting Of the Committee was not
called TO consider the matter. the dissenting
committeeman said that they should feel COM
made by Mr. Spencer u the Committee. This
threat had its intended effect. Spencer called
the Committee together. and Informed the mem
beers that the investigation had not justified tho
stories about Walker no heard in the West
There was no evidence upon which the minor
fly OF the Committee could fight the nom nation
In III" Senate and Walker Was confirmed
Walkers confirmation has afforded theme
for much quiet gossip in army circles here,
whore the main points Of his carer, as related
by Senator Spencer, seem to be- generally known.
A close personal friend Of Senator Spencer. who
knows all about the case. has said since the
Forty-fith Congress adjourned that the whole
Job was a set up affair thc facts Of the case being
known to the parties Interested. IL is sad tlat