The Portland daily press., 1884-10-22
COMMISSIONER DUDLEY.
A Campaign Bomb Which Ex-
plodes Without Injuring Any
body.
Has ABSENCE FROM WASHINGTON
sATHsFACTORELY EXPLAINED.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21.-Under date of New
York, Oct. H. 1884, Everett ?. Wheeler sent
the follo@ing communication to President
Arthur which was referred to the Secretary of
the Interior for investigation and report:
Sir:-The business of the pension bureau is very
much in arrears Col. w. w. Dudley, commissioner
of pensions, is absent from his post engaged in
cond citing the canvass OF the Republican party in
Ohio to the entire neglect of offi .ial dUies. We
see it publicly stated and not denied that he has
given orders that applications for pensions filed by
voters residing in Ohio and Indiana shall be taken
up out of the order of filing and have pre- erence in
examination over those filed by persons residing in
many of the other States As counsel for the civil
service reform association respectfully ask that
immediate examination of these charges be made.
The theory of the laws granting pensions is that
these gifts from the Treasury of the whole country
are made to those veterans who need them. To use
the or hopes of tai hful soldier of the Union
for he purpose OF obtaining votes, to discriminate
in favor of those residing in States where The
Presidential eli ction is doubtful and against those
siding elsewhere woul be the orst form of bribery
respectfully ask you to direct that If any such
orters have been given they be revoked, and that
the applications for pensions be considered in their
order without partially or discrimination.
Your obedient servant,
EVERETT P. WHEELER.
The Communication was referred by Acting
Secretary Josn to o. P. g. CLARK, acting COM
missioner of pensions, who to-day made his re-
port in which after recapitul Atiug the subject
matter OF the charges he says: Commissioner
Dudley left this city on or about Sept. Sd last,
when the duties of the office dsyolved on me-
On or about Sept. Both Col. Dudley returned to
the city aud while here handed you his resigua-
tion as Commissioners Of pensions, the same to
take effect Nov. 10th next. He again left the
city on Sept. 305t and returned on the 10Th of
October During the absence of the Commits
sioner precedence of action has been given
IN pension CASES to those residing either iu
Oaio or Indiana; or IN fact for any purpose
within the scope OF Mr.. Wbeeler's statement,
nor have l received from Col Dudley either
before his departure FROM the city or during
his absence any orders or instructions relating
TO this subject. / ain not aware nor have /
any reason TO bslieve that any specific instruc-
tions to any of the subcrdinates of the office
had been given by the Commissioner of PEN
sions with view TO secure such partial action.
Discrimination in settlement of pansisn claims
for the purpose referred to By Mr. Wheeler to
the deriment OF others equally deserving would
be SO crimiDally Gajast ta aat may be pardoned
in emphasizing nv denial so far SIS my action
or knowledge ever can go, that any such
fagoritis.n has been shown even, may add, by
indirection.
Statistical tables compiled from the books OF
the pension office are presented by Mr.. Clark
to dsprove the charges of undue precedence.