New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-07

not paid directly to the inmates of Soldiers
Homes, but TO the treasures for them.
letter from Commissioner Bentley explains
why this practice Is followed. 1t appears That
the Republican documents were sent to
Ohio by the employees of the Democratic Com
mittee through the ignorance of the latter.
General Key has returned to Washington.
Secretary Thompson left the Capital yester-
day for New-YOrk.
PENSIONS TO VETERANS IN HOMES.
WHY ARRFARAGEs ARE nor PAID DIRECTLY 10
ruK PKSsloNERs-AN IMPORTANT ExPLANA-
TON
rnY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUSEl
WASHINGTON Aug. cit has been staJed pun
Helv that q number of pensioners IN soldiers homes
are about to take steps 10 compel the Commas
..r of Pensions 90 pay the arrearages Of pensions
ape IN them directly into their hands instead OF 70
The treasurers OF the institutions. 1t rs learned that
bofcts Of the case are being made use of for poht-
icaI eject IN Ohio by the Democrats. The follow
ircevtract from a letter, prepared by the Com
missioner of Pensions Mr. Bentley before the mat
.er became the subject of comment IN the press
iplJv disproves the charge by the Democratic poll
,icians tlat the administration is hostile TO eA-
Union soldiers
Tbavc te honor to state that the National Home for
dsbled uuter soldiers ella ms that W -uslous -
10 inmates thereof Ou-ut T. DC 10 U" us -
Home holding and dI,bursiug the moneys IA Oehal ~
The pensioners as tne officers lhste3I ia eS f re1r
conducive TO their interests ana inc iu'o ~ II
fanl i,s IL being alleged L. behalf oi tins course MAJ
Is greatly 10 the interest Of ne inmate pensioners t@
SUCH supervision sioIu De ~, cont,,re
tIeir use O. pension moneys Whlle ll.N coutt'"uSS
70, yry MANI oi lie inmates nave contracted dlssl-
mated habits and tHat wnrncNet th'A cout l"tt pV>o
Sion OF means 10 graJiy tlelr appo les iHey ~ "o+
and sduander the money, ana a,el S sue r,,ro -
expended all heir means in m i'us lNin8, reluan ~
M aud thus ada 20 the exp use Of her mamie dntt
10 what extent ths is true am pol iaIoi ouy
know thatit true TO some extent having A'' PsIs'"
observation OF some examples. 1870 .
The question OF the power OF the Home TO make rcgn
an.uslp relation he admlss on OF disabled .outIs
bc1 required the pensions TO bee paid 10 the omceS 0
me Home ana disrursed under tbeI supcrvif on Incl
esir NJ. 7,Z42. IN January, 1876 Tic Home GAINED
fright 90 n0d the pension cintatt OF ,iis I &C.
Vu9 was an inmate. and this cl an was dcuIt. uI &C
reIary Chandler decision dated JANUARY 81 lS|o
but in March following ~ Tie itga,'. % 80 %'i IL
me President Of the Board Of Managers, ana upon lS
nrseuttion OF the question: Secretary Chandler on he
M NaTeh reviewed that decision and held tuat The
Home might old she pension certificate OF an inmate
to- tne rposs OF collecting the and controlling
ne expeuditures II mOuoy Oy him. Both before anu
Iuce tnat time been tae custom TO pay the pen
ous as ttey became due quarterly TO the treasurer u
wnen TGe time arrived for the payment Of the
lges Instructed above believing that sueh ony
was a lawful payment whcb would relieve you aud
-FOUR suretes from liability Sine that Ime' however,
ls am Informed tue Boaid Oh M"hatsIs u1s t4n II
adhered subject, and the ella ~ Is presented Ol S-
Buflpr great force that the paFmtnt OF the
arge money which are due rs arrears TO tne m
mates Of the Home, leaving them unresrntdly III us
he vii inevitably result III posit"o iiV"S OI Unre
he pensioners themselves ana 10 lne t'OHe,
which instituted aud Is administered ior
Tiers His Excellenoy the President OF the Dni I
states the Secretary OF War, ana the CmSlJus-
and must be presumed TO concur IN ITS views IN
lumbent upon inferior officers not to put themselves
ore deemed II my duty both Difference 10 hlm ana 70
The wishes OF Board Of Manag rs OF the Hone 10 Oh
inmates except the regular quarterly pay mens aeer-
lng Wade they are such inmaes, until tue @uSie huo
eet can DO pTOperiy presented 70 anu eoHSiu'u ~ ~
Attorney General
The attitude of the Pension Office from the first
hae been favorable to the views now pat forth on
behalf of the pensioners.
A single instance, however, illustrates the ne
,essity for the exercise Of puoh care and discretion
In paving money to pensioners who are inmates OF
these homes. When the ArTearages bill first became
alaw man who was entitled 10 its benefits got a
furlonrh from the Home at Hampton and came on
to Washington, it is thought at the suggestion OF
claim agents, to demand his money, about 81 100.
Here he was taken IN charge b. two or three un-
,crupulous claim agents who made him believe that
their services were necessary to secure his dues.
BY some means they secured influential letters
urring the Commissioner of Pensions to make this
mans case special as be was in state of pow
.rty himself and had some invalid members of his
family dependent upon him. The commissioner
put faith these rspresen tations, urged the case
forward out of It's turn and paid the man his money
The pensioner was thereupon made to believe that
this result had been effected by brbng some one IN
The pension Office, and be was induced to pay the
slaim agents $3.50 to cover costs The same per-
IONS or their confederates then got the man partially
intoxicated, and while in that condition induced
him to buy out a small clothing store, in the course
u Ia fgNg r. ne
little fortune
The pensloner, little later forfeited his interest
the store By reason OF his inability 70 make sub
gouent payments. He bethought himself then
HAT he might get back the $3.50, which he sup
posed had gone into the pockets OF the pension Off
.ias by making complaint. inns leo TO an lnVes'
nratlnn and tha d scoYerY of the whole operation.