Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-22

Bones OF Ris Victim-The 'Tri-
bune,s Backing Water.
WASHINGTON, November 20 The discharge
of Ball, pension office clerk, for mutlaIing
the War Department records to prevent the
conviction of George w. Black, late an officer
of the Eleventh Illinois Volunteers. for con-
spring to obtain a fraudulent pension, will
possibly result in unearthing gang of swind-
lers among the clerks of the pension Office.
That such a gang exists has long been
known to officials here. Bentley, late head
of the office, made himself unpopular with the
pension claim agents by asserting that per
cent. of the pensions allowed and so per cent.
of those presented were fraudulent. The
claim agents revenged themselves by first or
ganizing the fraudulent applicants into posts
Of the G. r. A. and petitioning Congress
against him as an enemy of the wounded
soldiers, and again by raising fund of $4,000
for the Garfield campaign, which they offered
the Republican Committee upon the pledge
that Bentley should be removed as soon as Gar
field was elected. Garfield promptly redeemed
the pledge. Business has been brisker at the
office ever since and claim agents have been
comparatively happy.
Some idea of the magnitude of the frauds
practiced may be gained by the knowledge of
the fact that had Black not been detected in
| the present case he would have received 5000
| ba"k pension and $500 per year until death.
with Teversion to his wife and minor children
for q wound received in a house of ili-fame
years after the war All that is needed to get
q pension is swearing enough
One hundred and five millions is asked for
pensions for the next fiscal year. Bentley's
q IA = ia Ion
for the frauds now existing, and it may safely
be set down that ten fifteen millions per
year is paid out by the government as pensions
to men who were bounty jumpers and slIulks
during the war. Fear of the soldier vote how
ever will prevent any attempt to investigate
the pension roll. This fear is doubtless unfair
to the soldiers, who would now be glad to see
the frauds hunted out and punished. but the
average Congressman has little knowledge of
how a soldier would feel under such ci cum
stances. and is easily intimidated by the clamor
OF the washington claim agents The
War Department promises to do its
level best to hunt the rascally
clerks out both in its own ranks and those of
the pension office. Gen. Sherman has moved
retired list of officers He tavors a re exami-
nation of the whole list, with a view of dis
charging or returning TO duty those who have
no right to be on the list He saws there are
not less than fifty drawing from $500 to 81. 500
per year, who are absolutely without Just
claims upon the bounty of the government.
Mr.. sPEER AND THE ADMINISTRATION.
Representative Emory Sheer is evidently of
a mind to get in with President Arthur's ad-
ministration. He was certainly of a mind
to get In with the Garfield administration, of
which his declared determination to the late
President to do the Mahore act in the House
was sufficient earnest. The death of Garfield,
for obvious reasons, put all of Mr.. Speers cal
culations at naught as regards his declarations
to President Garfield But Mr. Speer is agile
and very active; also very shrewd, and for one
ha a rs I1n1
try has produced. He grasps readily the fun
damental theory that should govern member
of Congress who wishes to WELD any
influence in Washington. That theory is not
to stop at places between, but to secure il
possible, the ear of the Chief Executive, and
go right there when questions of Federal ap.
pointments in his State are under considera-
ii n. II | am not very much misinformed -
which | think l am not-President Arthur's
file. of official papers. both telegraphic and by
the slower but more elaborate mail, will show
that Mr.. Speer is already getting his work in
He commences right at home. He makes
maiden effort for the stalwart ear
of Arthur on account of the Post
mastership at Athens Georgia There is some
trouble about that place B ing right in his home
it is necessary that Mr. Speer. to retain or
gain prestige, should be able to have his man
get the place This has been the subject Of his
correspondence with the President. do not
think that the official records will, upon
scrutiny, show that Arthur has answered any
of his kilograms or letters. That is not much
in point, however, as it is a great exception In
such cases that the President ever answers
correspondence of this character. At the head of
one of the letters which Mr.. Speer has written
to the President about the Postmastership at
Athens. l think there is underlined the sub
iect of the document, which subject reads
something like this: Important c0mmunica.
tion from Representative Emory speer in re-
gard TO the Athens post office" 1 also think
that there is on file in the Presidents Office a
telegram which say S that it is the request of
Mr.. Speer that the President does not settle
H. Dot, arNo 1, =
sonally talked to by Mr.. Speer on the subject.
1t is fully believed here that Mr.
Speer has ulteriOr designs upon either
the Governorship Of Georgia, or will try to sue
ceed Senator Hill; or perhaps will try for both
places in their regular succession AS the say
ing goes, Mr. Speer certainly. for so young
politician, has great head on him."
TWO INCIDENTS OF ONE DAY.
The Guiteau trial is attracting more attention
as it goes on. The antics and interruptions of
the assassin serve to repay all spectators
who now crowd daily to the City Hall
His new characteristic is to devote himself
to a newspaper or to some portion of his per-
sonal attire, only taking marked interest in
the testimony at dramatic intervals, when he
blurts out what he has to say and cannot be
suppressed. After DR.. Bliss had. by the aid of
a portion of the vertebra taken from President
Garfields body at the post mortem eXamina-
tion, explained about the track of the bal
which did the dealh of the late President
that portion Of the human anatomy was passed
around among the jurors for their closer
and Individual examination. Guiteau
cool and collected, got hold of it, He handled
the CHASTITY relic, and pointed out with interest
to himself and the many watching him with
out, however saying anything-how the ball
had cut through the vertebra. IL was
awful sight He played with the bones Of his
victim. The scene recalled to mind the con-
summate, though somewhat blood curdling
recitation of the potion scene in Romeo and
Juliet as given by Mary Anderson, where
she speaks in maiden horror of being
nlaCpd VQnltS and nlaVlnU
ancestors bones. 1t was a scene never to be
forgotten. Shortly after it Guiteau broke out
and gave warning that nobody there dare at
tack HIM. He spoke grandilcquently and say
ing in regal manner that any one who attempt
ed to do him harm would be shot dead by his
body guard. AS he was that same afternoon
being taken to the Jail from the court room a
man on horseback fired into the van and the
pistol ball slightly grazed his arm. When the
guards looked IN to see if he had been injured,
he was found found crOgchiRg in abteet terror
could not for some minutes speak for
very fear. That was scene number two Of the
most dramatic day that there will probably. be
of the whole trial before the wretch is convict
ed Of murder and the judge passes sentence
upon him accordingly.
THE sTALwART REVIVAL.
The change Of opinion in the Republican
party since the Inauguration of Arthur as
President can be well marked by recent antics
OF the New York Tribune. AS thick-and- thin
Blaine organ and as frenzed hater of Conk-
ling and all belonging to him it has not
been surpassed in journalism. Before the
death of Garfield 1t constantly insinuated that
Arthur would do well to decline to accept the
Presidency, in view of the fact that Guiteau
had declared that he was prompted to his
act by desire to make Arthur p esident
Only week ago it printed letter from Wash
ington protesting I'd give the news about the
coming Cabinet, but really printed as a vehicle
of attack on Grant and Arthur. Only few
days have been required to convince its mana
gers that there are more Grant men
among its subscribers thah it had supposed
A column editorial to-day explains, and ct
tempts to justify as news, the statements of
the letter, bat, ia reality, the article is labor
ed apology for printing it at all, and the
Washington correspondent has been ordered
to modify his rage against Grant 1t is not so
fashionable nor SO profitable as 1t was pPevi-
Gus to September goth, The truth is, ali the
viFility of the Radical party is in the stalwarts,
and this is beginning TO be felt by the Tribune
in its most sensitive nerve. Potomac
A Business Msn's Experience.
He could not tell what allied him. He
knew his digestion was poor and his heart
naInitstad He felt his DervOus eVstem waR