New-York tribune., 1885-07-11
UISHlNGTON GOSSIP.
COMMISSIONER BLACK ONCE MORE
TREASURER JORDAN.


urcu TIE RE.rIA. cunHEsioNDiNr oY TIE THIBUNE.
WASHINGTON. July 1O-Those who attempt to
defend Pension Coinms ioner Black from Il G charge
that he IS drawing 500 month IRON the Treasury
as a physical wreck TO lose sight entirely o
the tact that he il the only man Oh the pension l-t
drawing such amount. The number OF soldiers
receiving less reaches nearly 222.OOO Only s6S get
S72. the highest pension paid by the Government 10
any soldier with the exception of Mr. Black and only
GIs receive 500. What the conditions under
which man is entitled to pension OF S12i Here
the language of the statutes:
All persons who. while in the military or naval
serv ce of The nitcd States and in the line OF duty.
gh III nave been so permanently and totally disabled
10 Icqnire the regular personal AID and attendance
of another person. by the loss OF the sight Of both eyes
by the loss OF the sight oi one eye the sght oi tc
other hdvns been prcNIousy lost; or by the los oil
both bands by the loss OF botn lcet by any other
injury resulting in total and permanent heplcssncss
shall be entitled TO a pension OF 81 a month.
Has not Mr. Commis ssoner Black tue of his eyes,
his hands, ms feet Does he require the attendance OF
another person to move dbout And yet be can do the
brave veteran act every day of his life, pose as the
friend of the soldier and meet without bushing the
manned veterans who hobble about their crutcles
and apply him and submit TO his scrutiny their
claims Tor recognition of their services. repeat H. the
appointment OF General Black 10 the position of Con
missioner of Pensions is insul; to these men OF which
only Democratic " Reform " Administration could
have been guilty. General Black secured his pension
of 800 month upon very gross cxaggcraons oi
his disabilities indeed To employ part of the language
used by his defenders. lie Is not physical wreck,
however; be j. not incapable oi any effort lac Is
not hci pless III both arms, and lac l. not simply
destroyed" II General Black dong his duty IN
the premises lac would ordcr-as Is done IN every case
where a pcpsioner is believed 10 have recovered from
the disabilities for which hc j. drawing pension
Investigation of his own case Such an investigation
would disclose the iact that he not entitled 10
pension Of 500 month. nor, indeed one Of So or
even 500. .W the Commissioner order such an inves
tigation Section 4.12u, keNired statutes, which
seems have been drawn To meet cases ike that oil
General Black directs the Commissioner Of Pensions,
upon satisfactory evidence, 10 " suspend payment OF
the pension until the proprcty of repeating the same
can lie considered oy Congress.
You would suppose that n man who in such an
extraordinary manner had secured 500 pension
would hc ate before turning ou oi ohce old soldiers
aud faithful employees OF the Government. A. - well
known, Mr.. Black docs nothing oi the kind. More
removals OF veterans have taken place IN tue Pension
Once, without clnse. since THIS new Adnni,traiion
into power than IN any other bureau OF the GoV-
ornmcnt, al least 10 proportion to iis size Soldiers
10 bc the special object oi hr Blacks di,pcis-
ure lie turned Colonel Scphcnsrn q wounded
soldier who had been ia the Office than niieen
yc lrs and bluDbercd crocodile tears when Colonel
Stephenson paid his respects 10 him Oh leaving the
oince. lie discharged MAJOR Hawc-, another gallant
officer and refused 10 gave raroD when asked Tor
doing llc reque-ie.! tie resignation oi W: ford
But O the most brutal acts was the di-fii-sal
day two ago Of j. !. Blllon a local examiner Tor
Danvilc H. General Blacks own home. Ballou
was an officer in the Dist Indiana Volunteers lie
served his country three ycar- aud halt lie was
severely wounded at Shiloh. lie had never applied
for a en.Ion. As long ~ he able 10 work, he
thought it unjust burden the country with even part
OF k, SUPPORT About a year ago lac met with ALI
accident while in the discharge oi his official duties
which disabled him to such extent as 10 prevent to
Il present day hi dressing without help. Nowith-
standing this he travelled about and attended faith.
fully q his duties. There no complaint about him.
Suddenly he lncs himself ta-t aduttiby Commissioner
Blacks ordor. faithful and honorable soldier who
scrnpled pen .ioncr while there yet life
enough left III i'm 10 do something toward his nsppor
by physical wreck who can earn
- 900 year III bis profession oi soldier politician
aud draw : | 300 besides pension Tor eHagger
alcd disabilities.
The reform ideas Of the Treasurer. which |
" hen practically apple J. seem 10 change but not i'm
prove the existing order oi things are made the !
subject OF >Ich uDiayOrabc comment by the older and
more experienced officials in the Treasury said one
of these recently Treasurer Jordan tries 10 the
Department ~ il IL were q private bank lie seems 10
fore apparently that there statutes governing |
the action OF the different officials. When Congress
meets winter Le may possibly find out the differ
cnce lie will be pulled mp short before ht knows IT.
] hen il may bc too late perhaps
Another said " Jordan l. halidevcloped crank, |
ana for that very much more dangerous than !
one fully developed. whom everybody. OF course, |
nows as such lie il in this rc-Icci like apple !
before being fully matnrcd harmless when
ripe"