Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-25
Pension Office Investigation.

Reconnaissance DUDLEY EXAMINED-HIS
ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
ENT COMMISSIONER.
Gen. w. w. Dudley, ex-commissioner of pen
sions, was examined by the Warner committee
to-day. During the course Of the proceedings
Congressman Hart read from the records the
following answer made by Commissioner Clark
when he was before the committee: "The wit
ness-Mr. Dudley brought the Secretary's letter
to me open. suppose that he had opened it.
I mention this to show that did not think he
was acting then AS commissioner of pensions.
AS the charge was made directly against him,
did not consult him on the matter, and would
not hear one word from him on the subject.
He came to me and talked OH the outside of
this business, and said to him: Mr.. Dudley, I
do not want you to say one word to me on this
subject. will answer this letter myself, with
out any reference whatever to you. Once, or
twice, perhaps, before got all the material and
facts together to enable me to make proper
had not a word to say about my answer"
Mr.. Dudley-1 presume he refers to a letter
which received while / was at my desk from
the Secretary of the Interior, in which I had
been informed by the Secretary that some COM
Service society that had been violating the
civil service laws The letter was directed to
the Of TO e a mot
was at the time at my desk In the Office.
! took the letter myself to Major Clark, and
animation thorough; to state the facts as they
existed and not to consult with me on the sub
ject; should be glad to see his report when it
was completed, before it was sent to the Secre-
tary; he acquiesced in the most respectful man.
ner; and l will state in parenthesis that he
never assumed high hand with me in his life
4 "You u idea was to have him make the exami-
nation and report the exact facts over his own
Eyes, sir; thought it bad taste to interfere
in that proceeding"
81 will ask you II in that conversation he said
Il don't wish you to say one word on the sub
mo, sir. That whole language is insolent,
and he never used insolent language to me at
"Do you say in substance thatlanguage is true
"Well, have answered the question"
Congressman Rogers questioned witness with
regard to his status at the time the letter in
question was received.
Gen. Dudley replied that he was at his desk
attending to his duties.
Had you at that time notified Maj. Clark of
'No; didn't consider it my duty to notify
my subordinates. had notified my superiors
"Hox long had had you been aways"
"How long had you sat in the officer.
g! was there about week"
ayes, sir; didn't dAmuch duty in the office
owing to the fact that my wife was sick, and I
was in attendance upon her."
set deputy commissioner at work to examine
you and report upon you?'
ayes, sir, 1 do. / think 1t would have been
in very bad taste for me to examine myself and
think SO now" He said that the force OF the
Office amounted to $40 employees when he be-
came commissioner, and that 1t was increased
to ], $50 during the three years OF his service.
During the last "a years there had been fled
622, $50 claims Of all classes, OF which $50 $50
had been adjudicated. OF this number 264,e04
had been adjudicated during the official term
Referring to the alleged action Of
IN ' one Of the Indiana Congressional
districts Gen. Dudley said that Mr.. Grubb. the
republican, candidate, complained that an Inn
preston prevailed in the district that pension
claims could get no response except through Mr..
Matson, the democratic member from the dis
trict. While witness did not believe that Mr..
Matson had acted improperly, he directed that
letters which came from Mr.. Grub should BE-
answered as promptly - possible, and that
It might be added to such letters that
they were answered At the request
of Mr.. Gfubb Witness attention was
called to the allegation that claims nom Ohio
and Indiana had been pushed ahead OF those OF
other states for political reasons. IN reply, he
read from ofilcial reports, showing that the pro-
portion Of claims adiudioated 70 those died was
smaller in Ohio and Indiana than In any other
northern state. Witness declared that no class
or section had been unduly favored By his order
or with his knowledge, and that had any
| favoritism been shown by any subordinate the
man would have Lost his place.