Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-03-21

Portland Press
THE ATTEMPTED REMOVAL OF
MAJOR GALLAGHER.

There appears TO be some misappre
hension about the facts in regard to the
attempted removal of Major Samuel
Gallagher, acting pension Agent for the
State at Augusta, and the appointment
of Mrs. Sampson by Gov. Plaisted. There
is no such office as Pension Agent recog-
nized 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 clerk in order that the busi-
ness should be promptly and well done.
The Legislature, moreover, has made 4
yearly appropriation for this work. When
Gov. Davis assumed the duties of Gov
ernor, he found Benz jamin Bunker OF Fair
field filling the position, and with the
consent of the Council his services were
dispensed with, and Major Samuel Gall
agher was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The present incumbent has filed his
position and attended to the duties of the
office acceptably 10 the public. He was
brave soldier Of the war of the rebel
lion. In his office he has endeavored to
protect the interests Of the State with
scrupulous regard, and has also exercised
Il becoming devotion to the demands OF
the INDECENT soldier and his family. The
place is one of great responsibility and re-
quires more than the ordinary qualifica-
tions 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
yan,ages. The State Pension laws de-
mand certain conditions and requirements
to be stated and established by reliable
evidence before any applicants can be
entitled to pension. There are fire.
quent attempts made to evade the laws,
and it oftentimes requires careful inves-
tigation before correct judgement 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 to be a
man fitted for the place.
While the responsibility of determin-
ing the result in each pension case comes
within the province and immediate Jurls-
dction of the Governor and Council, the
preparation and arrangement Of the evi-
dence is part of the duty Of the clerk of
the pension department. 1t would be
impossible for the Governor and COM
mittee of the Coucil to be at Augusta so
much of the time as to render the ser
vices of clerk in responsible way un-
necessary. The State appropriates for
pensions twenty-three thousand dollars
yearly, and there are more than seven
hundred pensioners. The status and le-
gal condition of each and every one OF
these cases has to be examined into each
year, and there is an average annual ap-
plication or consideration of more than
hundred new cases. The amount of
money that each successful applicant
should receive must be determined upon
and fixed for reasonable time. 1t cer-
tainly requires the best and most careful
Judgment. Hon. Samuel N. Campbell
of Cherryfeld has been chairman on the
part of the Council, of the pension COM
mittee, and has given the subject great
care and attention, and he speaks highly
of Maj. Gallagher's attainments and lab.
or in the pension department. The only
criticism that we have heard in regard to
the management of the pension depart
ment 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 improp-
erly given to pensioners the money of the
State. If there are worthy cases for pen
sion, we hope they will be brought to the