Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-06-17
BENTLEY BOWS

And Tenders His Resignation 90 Pension
Commissioner to the Presidsut-Jsmrs
Abram Offers Him Q Foreign Mission,
But He Declines.
WASHINGTON, June l6-The following
is Commissioner Bentley's letter and
resignation:
DEPARTMENT or INTERIOR,
Pension OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, June 10, 1881. J
To The President:
SlR-In compliance with the desire
intimated by you at our interview, yes
terday, that vacate the Office OF Com
missioner OF Pensions in order that you
may be able to appoint another person
to my place, l have the honor to ten
der my resignation. In surrendering TO
your hands the important trust to which
/ was commissioned by ex-President
Grant at the commencement OF the last
year of his term, and administrated
through the four sue .eeding years un
der ex.Pre ident Hsyes, | point
with satisfaction to tue records
in this office and OF Department OF the
Interior showing the increase Of work
performed. Since have been in Office
an average improvement and economy
in the management Of the affairs OF the
Bureau OF more than IS per cent OF
the total cost for salaries and expenses
to q saving OF more than $500, 900 affect
ed by the consolidation OF agencies,
where the improvement in the service
has been equal to that in this office.
These records, when supplemented by
the records of Congress, the
evidence reported TO the House
of Represese sentatives, March 3
1881, by the Select Committee on Pen
sions, Bounty and Back Pay, also estab.
lish beyond successful contradiction
that every obligation and pretsnsc
which has yet ventured into publicity
derogatory TO me personally, or to my
management OF the ofSce, or rejecting
in any degree upon the manner In
which I have executed the pension laws
have been utterly and without shadow
OF foundation on which to rest. | make
reference to these records in no boast.
ful spirit and with no view OF sell.
defense or exculpation, but IN
simple obedience to my duty as subor.
dinate to place at your command such
essential and vital facts 40 You may
have occasion in the future to consult,
and that my silence in regard to them
may not hereafter he taken advantage oil
and mi.interpreted az an admission to
the contrary by persons interested In
having the contrary believed.
Thanking You for your kindly ex'
preston, and wishing your ADMINISTERS
lion the complete success which the
country expects at your hands and
which the principles Of Republication
entrusted to your keeping for the time
being deserve, / am
Very respectfully yours,
[signed. J. A. BEsTLGY.
Il is leaned that the Presidents re.
Quest for Com missioner Bentley's resig
nation was not intended a. . reflection
on his personal or Official integrity, but
was based upon complaints which have
been strenuously urged in many quar-
ters against his past management Oi the
pension service, and bis we'll knosr
schemes for its reorganization. The
President accompanied his request fol
Commissioner Bently's resignation with
an offer Of foreign appointment, which
Bentley declined.
Immigration Statistics
WASHINGTON, June 10 During MAY
there arrived in the United States li7.
4S3 immigrants, AMI during eleven
months Of the fiscal year 5S4, 80; o
this latter number there were iron
Germany 1896; Dominion Of Canada
liO,6il; England aud Wsi-s. 1881
Ireland, 81, ,796; Sso:iand. IL G29; China
7,4i3; oil the other countries, l3s,629.
Appointments
Mrs. Belle " Birchill was to-day ap
pointed by the President postmistsesl
at Fort Worth, Texas, vice John p. Al
exander. removed.
The Attorney General decides then
10 no law making preliminary exami