National Republican., 1880-10-12
THE PENSION OFFICE.

Democratic ApNi'ty-ihe Claim Agents.
Organs Excited about othing-Intervisw
wiih ComniIs,iui,rr bentley.
Tie Smlday HrfHani Washington Pod arc
experiencing some trijuIatom on the subject
ofp.nsilna in these days In order to smooth
their paths, our reporter called on Commits
Slonrr bentley yesterday morning. showing
HIM llc lmlt'culumn editorial in the IsJaM uf
last sunday, alleging tlIat the blank circular
lately adopted Oy the pension Oilico to be
used in certain eases was Il pOliliCgl movement
10 AFFECT the Ohio and Indiana elections. Mr..
B,ntlcy appeared 10 he amused, and said that
the blank was ordered tJ be printed about tho
25,h Of last month, aud is sent out to such
claimants only as, upon an examination of
their cases, appear TO have completed their
claims. Tho order for the printing of this
blank was made at Tie samo time as the pro.
mitigation Of W following special ollicO
oldyr:
SPECIAL.
| OGrs Omir No. Tho great accumulation Of
business IN the ohlgu subjects eases IN which the
! claimants have filed all necessary evidence 10
syCh extraordinary delay when they are taken up
in turn with the many thousands Oi others Whicn
are IN progress, that hereby direct that the cases
IN lhehc' which HI5 complete and may hp settled
without iurtacrGrdCNCe Ectgkcu up Hui settled
at once. j. 4. BESrLEY,
Commissioner of Tensions
uSiTEp STATES PENsoS OFFICE
WAsHINGroS, y. c.. sept %, 1850.
Mr.. Bentley shovel our reporter another
blank which has been in use in the pension
Office since May last, and used in corresponds
cnco for nearly year in the same class Of
cases, but which WAS not In form to gddrcss
the claimant, but to some other person who
was making the inquiry in his behalf Tho
circular notice which gives the HCrGM such an
immense amount Ot trouble us u new thing
arGusing its democratic fears that republican
official IN Washington is in II fair way 10 trick
the Ohio and Indiana voters, and thus save tue
republican cause in those states, appears to be a
very old and rather innocent affair. Certainly
the Herald cannot object that pension claim
ants should receive the same consideration rs
another person would who makes the inquiry
about his case. Our reporters curiosity being
excited at this outcome of the UeFdd'S ca use of
fear, broaGhCd the sub ject of the Posts article of
Monday morning alleging that the commits
sionor of pensions has for six weeks cOncen-
trated all the available furco Of his office upon
pension claims orapplcants residing in lndi-
ana and Ohio for the purpose Of Hdjudicating
as many OF these rs possible, and so influence
tho October elections; TO which Mr.. Bentley
replied by pointing to tho special Office order
above and saying that 1t contained an entire
explanation, except tho single fact that now
tho democrats have taken up the cause OF tho
Washington ring OF claim agents in their mis-.
representations Of the pension office, aud havo
so excited peuson claimants that the interest
of tho service and good faith toward those
claimants require that tho iillsehoods which
were being circulated about tho management
aud affairs of the pension Office by the claim
agents and their democratic allies should 10
Couutepctcd by telling them the simple truth;
not as a political document, however but rs n
legitimate official communication to the claim.
ants about their own affairs.
Upon questioning him in relation to his pur.
pose to 50 to Wisconsin to take part IN tho
political campaign, the commissioner said that
it WAS all news to him, that he had taken no
active part in partisan politics since 1916, aud
should not DO 50 At this time and for tha lis.
tnct reason that 1t would tend to weaken his
official influence IN behalf of measures which
Affect tile welfare Of more than halta million
Df soldiers and soldiers families.