Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-08-16

The Influence thar WAS Brought to Bear ON
Garfield by fitzgerald.
Washington Dispatch to the Times,
Apropos of the scandal regarding cer-
tain Washington claim agents who have
been disbarred or recommended for dis
barment from practice in the interior de-
partment story is told as to the manner
in which President Garfield got rid of
Commissioner of Pensions Bentley. 1t is
related by gentleman who got the story
from Mr.. Bentley's own lips, and furnishes
another interesting chapter on the Indiana
campaign. st will be remembered, this
gentleman said, "that Fitzgerald was dis
barred under tho Bentley regime during
Hayes administration, and no sooner had
Garfield taken the reins of government
than the Fitzgerald firm began a raid upon
Bentley. They were conscious OF their
power over the new administration. They
had contributed largely 10 the Indiana
campaign fund and ran q big soldier paper.
They were moreover, from the same town
Colonel Dudley was from and were Fer
sonal and intimate friends of his. Dudley
had been conspicuous figure in the lndi-
ana campaign. He and his friends, among
whom was the big claim agent, conse-
dent. Joining issues, they asked that Bent
ley's Office be given to Dudley. Finally,
after bringing to bear all the pressure they
could upon President Garfield, they sue.
&C eded in getting a promise from him that
Bentley should 20 and that Dudley should
become commissioner of pensions. But
how to get rid of Bentley was the ques-
tion. Bentley had been good officer and
under civil service reform rules there was
no good reason to peromptorily remove
him and yet the president wished to
fulfill his promise to Dudley and his
friends. Finally he hit upon the plan Of
Offering him tho ministry to the Argent .ss
Republic on the plea of promoting him
! for his excellent service as commissioner
of pensions. The place pays $500, a
much better salary than tho commissioner
of pensions, but the ministry to the
Argentine Republic IS equivalent to ban
| ishment.
Garfield accordingly sent for Bentley to
come to the White House, and Bentley
came. When he entered Garfield, in his
familiar way. slapped him on the shoulder
| and said You have made an excellent
officer as commissioner OF pensions, and
would like to promote you. How would
you like to be minister to the Argentine
Republic %
81 don't want the office" quickly re-
sponded MI. Bentley, who had some inkling
Of the presidents intentions.
"But," said the president, "the Office
pays 81, 500, while that of commissioner OF
pensions only pays S., ,OOO."
"That is true" returned Bentley "but
if cannot be commissioner OF pensions
don't want any Office in your gift. If l do
| not suit you as commissioner OF pensions
will resign at once"
"Oh, but you do," replied Garfield. 81
have always considered you as the best
commissioner of pensions We ever had. 1
want to do something better for you."
But" repeated Bentley earnestly, Z" /
don't want any other office, and if cannot
have that I will resign"
"But," stammered Garfield, in confus.
ion, 81 have promised your cffice to
another"
"Then 1 will write my resignation and
send it to you Immediately" simply re-
sponded Bentley, and the interview ended.
Mr.. Bentley went away and wrote letter
of resignation addressed to the president.
| The following is the body of circular
sent out from here by N. W. Fitzgerald
March 5, 1878, for which Secretary Schurz
promptly disbarred him, upon the recon-
mendation of the commissioner of pen
sions:
81 am happy to inform you that the bill
giving pensions to all soldiers who served
fourteen days in the war of 1912 has this
day passed Congress and is now a law.
Under this law you are entitled to said
pension. have the records in my office.
Don't give your case to any agent, for
am authorized by tho government to pros
ecute these claims, and having the records
in my possession l can attend to it at
once"
The bill mentioned in this circular did
not pass until about week after the lat
ter had been sent out. which gave Fitz
gerald an enterprising start over other
claim agents. The assertion that he had
the records in his Office was false; tho dec
laration that lie was authorized by the
government TO collect the claims was a
false representation, and on these grounds
he was disbarred at the time, but subse
quently he managed to be restored.