The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-27
DUDLEY's EXAMINATION.
Some Interesting COnOquys Take Place
During the Ex- Commissioner of
Pensions Examination.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Colonel Dudley,
ex-Commissioner OF Pensions, was further
examined by the Warner Committee to-day.
General Warner asked II the witness did not
know that the Special Examiners in Ohio,
and especially ia close districts, were repre-
senting themselves as being in the witness
employ, and that pension claimants were
cautioned TO vote the Republican ticket il
they wished to get their claims through.
The witness knew nothing of the kind, and
If he had known it ne would have de-
nounced it.
General Warner asked II the lists OF claim
ants in the Pension Office were not furnished
in order that political work might be carried
on? Witnes5 replied that If that was the
case, they were furnished by General War
ner and otf RS engaged in political work.
"Mysel nd others had no access to the
records" tha Chairman.
Mr. HaI, -1oJ had a list Of pensioners in
Ohio.
General Warner didn't say pensioners.
Hart-Any man in the State OF Ohio or
anywhere else can get 1t.
Warner-There IS difference between
claimants and pensioners. Nobody has
Witness-Well, nobody has been furnished
any such list from my Office. 1 Indignantly
deny it, and 1 very much regret you should
ask me such a question, for you ought to
know me. You know it WGs so, because you
wrote me letter to that effect, and ! an
sWered. telling you il was not so.
Warner think 1 had no such CORES
pondence with you.
Witness-YOu wrote me q letter saving
that the pension Office was being used against
you.
Wnner-Can you produce q letter to that
| effect7 I demand the letter. I wrote you
letter protesting against any contracts.
Witness-NO, sir; you wrote me a letter
against the pension effice being used to
your detnmenti and l wrote you it was
lot so.
Warner wrote you respecting special
| pension case.
right to protect myself, if you did not?
Wsrner-Bring the letter, bring the letter
Hart (lsughiDgly)- the question.
General Warner am not on the witness
| stand.
Hart-Well, you may be before this is
over. i would like TO ask some questions.
Warner-I would have testified to some
things that would not please you.
Hart-I would be happy to have you to SO
| on Just twenty minutes
General Warner Ito witness y How did you
/ sign the letter addressed to me?
Witness-I think 1 signed it personally.
/ am not sure but you have the letter, you
| can see.
warner-I think you signed it as Com
| missioner.
Witness think l did not
Mr.. Rogers questioned the witness ss TO
| the length OF his absence from the office, to
| which Dudley replied: ''Fifty-seven days
Witness further stated that he had drawn
| his pay during the time of his absence. The
rules which governed subordinates about
leaves were not applicable to heads
OF bureaus. He added that be wss
4 r1nt Nf huwr I'D
his duties, and that his attention
to his official duties while in Washington
consumed twelve hours a day, which was
nearly double the time required of the
| clerks
Rogers want to ask you ii you think II
had very healthy influence on your bD-
! reau for It to all over the country; that %
had Quilted his post and gone into the couu.
| try and TO stay the length of time you state,
looking after his psrty's political interests.
witness Iou ask Tor my opinion
Rcgers-Yes, sir.
Witness-In my Judgment it should bave
no deleterious influence upon the Office, uu
less il were understood was acting AS Com
missioner 81 the same time.
Rogers called witness attention TO q cir.
! cular issued by him, "a Commissions o
Pensions, in which the clerks of the Ofic
misuse OF their hours OF duties. Roger
asked witness opinion of the principles OF
the circular as applied to his own case.
Witness thought be came within the eX
oeItions noted IN the circular DE had SCI
an example when on duty of working not
six and bali hours day but twelve hour.
a day.
Rogers-Do you mean when you were ab
sent?
A.LNo, sir; in the Office.
Q-I am asking with reference to your
absence.
Al think worked eighteen hours day
when / was absent.
Rogers asked: Why, il you could take
fifty.seven days with pay, could you not
take the whole 1862
A.-well, that is a question in ethics !
can not answer.
Rogers-Well, / can't either.
Witness declared he thought it not die
creditable to any nau to be faithful to bis
party alleeience. He would not aOridge
any mans right to influence results so Ions
as be did not neglect his duties or consume
time for which he was paid by the Govern
ment.
General Warner questioned witness as to
the reason why nine special examiners were
sent into his Warner's) district, while only
one was required in neighboring districts
and why the force of examiners in
Ohio was increased from sixty Il
l0l inst before the election. Witness
replied il such was the case, and he did not
know il IVES, the reason would be found in
the necessities OF the Office. The witness
was unable to state how many special exam.
iners were Republicans aud how many Dem.
ocrats. BE did not believe any one knew
the politics of half of the examiners. They
had heen appointed under civil service
rules.