The Portland daily press., 1882-03-14
The Attempted Removal of Major
Gallagher.

There appears to be some misapprehen-
sion about the facts in regard to the attempt
ed removal of Major Samuel Gallagher, act
ing Pension Agent for the State atAugusta,
and the appointment of Mrs. Sampson by
Gov. Plaisted. There is no such office
as Pension Agent recognized by the
constitution or laws of the State,
but the pension business has been so
large and important that there has been a
necessity for the Governor and Council to
employ a clerk in order that the business
should be promptly and well done. The Leg
islature, moreover, has made yearly appro-
priation for this work When Gov. Davis
assumed the duties of Governor, he found
BENJAMIN Bunker of Fairfield filing the po-
sition, and with the consent of the Council
his services were dispensed with, and Major
Samuel Gallagher was appointed to fill the
vacancy.
The present incumbent has filled his posi-
ton and attended to the duties of the office
acceptably to the public. He was brave
soldier Of the war of the rebellion. In his
Office he has endeavored to protect the inter-
ests of the State with scrupulous regard, and
has also exercised becoming devotion to
the demands of the INDECENT soldier and his
family. The place is one of great response
bility, and requires more than the ordinary
qualifications for clerical services. The
clerk, or agent, should be peculiarly fitted
for the duties of the Office, and experience
and length of service give him peculiar adj
vantages. The State Pension Laws demand
certain conditions and requirements to be
stated and established by reliable evidence
before any applicants can be entitled to
pension. There are frequent attempts made
to evade the laws, and it oftentimes re-
quires a careful investigation before cor
rect Judgment or result is secured. Mr..
Gallagher is very methodical in his manner
of conducting the business of the office.
The papers and books of the Office show
him 10 be a.ran fitted for the place.
While the responsibility OF determining
the result in each pension case comes with
inthe province and immediate jurisdiction
of the Governor and Council, the prepara-
tion and arrangement of the evidence is part
of the duty of the clerk of the pension de-
partment. 1t would be impossible for the
Governor and committee of the Council to
be at Augusta so much of the time as to
render the services of clerk in response
BILE way unnecessary. The State appropri-
ates for pensions twenty-three thousand dol
lars yearly, and there are more than seven
hundred pensioners. The status and legal
condition of each and every one of these
cases has to be examined into each year,
and there is an average annual application
or consideration of more thau a hundred
new cases. The amount of money that
each successful applicant should receive
must be determined upon and fixed for
reasonable time. 1t certainly requires the
best and most careful judgment. Hon. SAM
uel N. Campbell of Cherryfield has been
chairman on the part of the Council of the
pension committee, and has given the sub
iect great care and attention, and he speaks
highly of Maj. Gallagher's attainments and
labor in the pension department. The only
criticism that we have heard in regard to
the management of the pension department
has been that Maj. Gallagher has been too
exacting and particular in his demands for
evidence for proof, in order to establish the
validity of claim. He has certainly not
squandered, or improperly given to pension
ers the money of the State. If there are
worthy cases for pension, we hope they will
be brought to the front. We understand
that all of the members of the Council have
high opinion of the character and services
of the lady who was appointed to displace
Mr.. Gallagher. She has great claims for
what she has done for the soldier and his
family, and it would only be necessary that
there should be vacancy in and an appoint
ment to any Office that she can fill, to secure
for her a unanimous confirmation.