New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-06
GENERAL BLACKS DEFENCE.
RAPID REMOVAL OF EXAMINING SURGEONS.
OVER 1900 REPUBLICANS DISPLACED BY THE
COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS IN SIX MONTHS.
rpt ran pr To THE rprRuxE

OVER 1900 REPUBLICANS DISPLACED BY THE
COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS IN SIX MONTHS
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
a WASHINGTON, Sept AFTER many days OF
hard work. Commissioner Blacks abe deputy, Colonel
Mclean, has completed and secured the publication IN
number OF Democratic newspapers OF an elaborate de
fence of the Administration OF the Pension Bureau IL
understood that the publication was made with the APP
prevail OF Commissioner Black, whose udlcous friends
will grleve when they read II. Colonel Mclean asserts
that when Commissioner Black took charge scarcely
two of the 1000 examining surgeons throughout
the country Democrats and that even at TINS ate
day. despite the Commissioners efforts more than 6Oo Oh
the examining surgeons are Republicans From TINS IL
appears that about 1860 Republicans have been re-
moved and their places filed by Democrats in less than
six months. How did General Black fnG out that
scarcely two score OF the examining surgeons were
Democrats when he took charged There was no record
In his Office TO show 1t. Until this great Democratic
reformer took charge, the question OF an examining
surgeons politics not raised, either before or after
his appointment. The only exception to this rule so
far known was that Of of the examining surgeons
at Blnghamton n. Y. whose removal sought by
omel ody last year in the heat Of the Presidential cam
pagn, on the groand that he active Democrat.
The attempt failed.
For than twenty years the organization o; the
corps Of examining surgeons had been strictly main
tanned the basis Of fitness and where two men were
equally we'll qualified and one had service as
surgeon in the Union Army while the other had not re-
ceved the benefit Of that experience, the former was
preferred. Tho corps absolutely free from party
politics. Now that is all changed Commissioner Black
has established 1t upon strictly partisan basis ana ms
defence makes merit of the fact How 1t operates Is
shown by the public scandals growing out OF the re-
organization OF tho Boston and New Orleans boards
and by the fact. well known in Washington, that in
several Of the mpol examining bos is-that ut
Baltimore for exampethe interests OF the Government
and the welfare OF the pensioners have been left 70 tue
mercy of young and inexperienced, and therefore unfit
men, I'm order to make for whom, capable, ex-
perienced and efficient men, many OF whom served IN the
Union Army. have been summarily removed. 1t Is as
serted that of the Democrats lately appointed to
perform the responsible ana important dates Of examn-
ing surgeons bales ia the cradle when the War be-
gan. and have bad no medical or surgical experience
whatever
Colonel Mclean says: It is true that in n few in
owing to the failures in the mail service there
has been unavoidable delay in the organization OF
several boards and consequent Inconvenience to
applicants but claimants rights or interests have
Deen ieopardlzcd or impaired" THIS is queer adms-
sion for am o1cia under this great Reform Admins
trn0n to make. in view OF the fact that the dsorgaza
for nearly six weeks he organization Of the ST. Louis
Board deferred ia Order to give the warning Demo
cratic factions time to agree upon the board that the
Marion Board and several other boards In Illinois we're IN
state OF LIBERALIZATION for longer or shorter periods
and that the trouble over the Boston Board prevented
from organizing Tor nearly quite TWO months Is II
possible that with Reformer Villas at the helm the
mails between Washington and the cities and towns
mentioned have beer 80 tardy and lrregulari
Everything that Colonel Mclean says about the drop
ring OF tho o. dead pensioners from she role IS
calculated create ulse Impression ana 10 inlet
deep faithful and honest pepsiOn agents
attempt made 10 have IL appear that " upon the
rolls ~ "a found the names OF persons
who have not applied for their pensions during con
siderable period. the rolls are therefore fraudulent Inc
fact IS that the law trOViGes-and colonel Mclean care
fully om!ts quote it-thW the failure OF any pen
claim his tension for three years after the same
shall have become due shall be deemed presumptlve
evidence such pension has legally terminated by
reason Of the pensioners death. remarrlage recovery
the disability otherwise and the Tcnhioncr =
name shall be stricken frOu the list Of pensioners SUD
the right OF restoration to the same on new AZ
hy the widow minor children entitled to receive ne
accrued pension accompanied by evidence saalacIofly
accounting for the failure to claim such pension, anu ny
medical evidence OF invalids VINO were not eX-
VI disability. This law has been strictly observed IL
4. believed. ani Colonel Mclean does not make
himself responsible for The assertion THAT IL has been
violated According 10 the defence " commissioners
black has amended the law by having the rolls OF the
.Ay, agencies examined aud where II was found tht
peusloUF hn secn unclaimed for ak months an lnFesu
cation was orderen a-certan whether the pensioners
nal dCu remarked, or sloull TOT any reason no
dropped from the rolls The rolls OF se Washington ami
Chicago agencies examined. and the sols OF the
Columbus agency now undergoing inNcstlEatlun a
large number uf pensioners on both Tue MashihEi"h an
Chicago rolls found 10 have died or REMARKED ana
fbelr names werc consequently ordered dropped there
from. The only difference between the lnNe-tigau"nS
under General black ana those prosecuted by hs helD-
can PREDECESSORS II that the latter did not 20 odt TO
detect ra-rns with brass bands and newspaper procla
nations did they find ~ necessary 10 rush INTO TIE
newspapers 60 defend their proceedings. An Illinois
democrat who hos read the defence OF tho Itualuh
Commissioners said 10 day: You can't tell lAch any
thing: he knows all and he never cOuu Keep MS ou'n
shut when he ought 10 do 80.