Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-19
Investigating the Pension Bureau.
INCREASED RUNNING EXPENSES OF THE
BCREAr.

INCREASED RUNNING ExPENsES OF THE
In the Investigation of the Pension bureau.
now proceeding before the House committee on
pensions, Mr.. Sawyer, who has charge OF the
statistics of the bureau, testified yesterday that
when Mr.. Dudley became commissioner in
Of sss
year they were - GOO, 600. the special examin-
ems division alone costing during the past year
about 81 900, 900. He said that the increase in
the amount Of work now performed In the bu.
reau over that done before Mr.. Dudley became
commissioned is very slight. BE also testified
special examiners during the past six months,
with $50 examiners at work, was seven per
fe n th smaller than the numSer Of dur
there were but $40 examiners at work. Mr.
Peyton testified further that Medical Reviewer
election, but only worked five days In instruct
Ing examining surgeons during that time. He
said Ross work in Indiana closed on election
dition to his salary.
AN INCREASE IN EXAMINERS CAUSES A FALL
ING OFF IN WORK
The committee this morning continued the
investigation. Representative Hart, of Ohio,
was present Is examiner on the part OF the
Mr.. c. F. Sawyer, chief Of agents dieisiou,
Pension Office, reasserted his opinion that the
VI ad IN she
tionately smaller than before. He was unable
to give any specific facts to warrant such an
force Of 245 examiners disposed Of 5000 cases
IN year, 1t should, as result of additional
Tbpen dispose Of cases the next year
the increase was found to be only seven per
cent, he found reason for his conclusions
around the ee" necRS of the old " seryiee.
He recalled an instance where the force of the
once was doubled and for several months
thereafter the average monthly results showed
falling Off. The old men were engaged in
teaching the new corners.
AGENT RATHBoNE PAID WHILE OFF DUTY IN
CINCINNATI.
George w. Evans, disbursing clerk of the In
terror department., appeared, bearing certain
records Of his Office. He showed that he had
paid Special Agent Rathbone, of the Pension
once, In fuil for the months of September and
thirty days in December, 1854.
Mr.: Rogers, of the committee, read from Rath-
bones testimony before the Springer commit
that witness was in Cincinnati upon leave dur
ing the first half of October. Much stress was
laid upon this point and the records were ex-
Mr.. Rathbone received pay for the time he was
absent during October; In fact for the whole
that Month bas sssn that the s Pay rolls for
sioner, or acting commissioner Of pensions and
are now in the Treasury.
the fact that MIR. Rathbone was entitled to 80
absent during the Year 1s days, Of which only
% were with pay.
MR.. COMSTOCK DENIES.
Mr.. Comstock, chief OF the western division,
Pension office, was recalled. This official is the
man who was reported to have ordered suspen-
sion of action, on case recommended by Con-
gresham Holman, on the ground that the lat
ter was democrat, and action would increase
his popularity. Witness denied the story and
pronounced the statements of the witness
Broadus, in that regard to be false. No instruc-
tons had ever been given in his division, which
could be interpreted as a warrant for discrimi-
nation.