Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-20

The House committee engaged in inves-
tigating Pension Office abus es is bringing
to light some facts that ought to arrest
the. attention of the whole country. 1t
has long been suspected that there was
great extravaganza in the management
of the Pension Bureau, and the testimony
that is being given before the investi-
eating committee appears to confirm that
suspicion.
The late Commissioner OF Pensions. Mr..
Dudley, was very popular man, and cd
joyed the reputation Of being an excellent
official. He was, however, a political
manager. and his great pride was to be
regarded among his party associates as a
successful manager. 1t was TO him that
the leaders Of his party turned when they
were in need of extraordinary political
work in Indiana. He gave that state 10
the Republicans in 1880, but made CON-
plete failure in 1884.
1t seems that Mr.. Dudley, if the Wit
nesses that have been testlfyln ing before
the House investigating committee Tor
the last few DAYS are to be credited, made
extensive use Of his power as Commits
sioner OF Pensions to advance the inter
ests OF his party. One Of the witnesses,
Mr.. SAWYER stated that before Mr.. Dud-
lev took charge of the Pension Office the
annual expenses Of the office amounted
10 about $4,000. Last year they
amounted to s., 9OO, 900. Can a reasonable
explanation be given of this enormous
increase? An increase Of 100000 or so a
year would hardly have excited comment,
but an increase Of millions Of dollars
naturally excited a suspicion that there
were grave abuses in the management Of
the office.
1t appears that there has been a great
increase in the number of high-salaried
officials, but it does not appear that the
amount Of work performed has been much
greater. Indeed, it is stated that $50
examiners under Mr.. Dudley performed
less work than 24O examiners under his
predecessor.
What was the need Of increasing the
number OF examiners, and why was it
that as the number was increased the
amount OF work performed decreased
The answer TO this question is not diff
cult to find. Men Who were appointed TO
good places were expected to do great
deal Of political work. Examiners were
away weeks at a time, taking part in po-
litical campai gns. 1t as stated before
the committee that one clerk was in Gin
cinHati a good part OF the Ohio campaign.
He was there. doubtless, assisting Mar
shall Wright and his bulldOzers to prevent
a free expression Of the will OF the people
at the ballot box. A medical examiner
was in Indiana for six weeks before
the election, and in all that time
did only five days work for
the Pension office. He, doubtless, did a
good deal Of work for his party. The tes-
tjmony is that he was prompt TO draw his
pay as an examiner and also very con-
siderable amount for expenses.
The people have not grumbled at the
growing expenses of the government be-
cause they have not known of the extrava-
CANT and unlawful expenditures of the
public money. They have thought doubt
less that the immense appropriations that
were annually voted for pensions actu-
ally found their way into the pockets of
pensioners. The fact, however, that the
cost OF running the Pension office has been
increased from $500, COO to nearly 50, 100000
without securing the performance of any
more work will doubtless be sufficient
to show them how greatly TREY
have been mistaken. In other offices no
/ doubt there is the same reckless waste CT
/ public money.
1t was stated a few days age 10y ger
/ tIcman we'll informed about all the de-
partments at Washington that twice as
many clerks were employed as there was
/ any necessity for. TIE incoming admin
| istration could do more towards keeping
/ the Democratic party in power for a quar-
| ter Of century or more by introducing
economy into the administration of the
/ government than in any other way, but 1t
/ can never conduct the government
\ economically until it makes clean sweep
/ of about all the officials. clerks and en-
/ ployes that now do the pnblic business.
/ As long as they are allowed TO remain
they will never permit it to be known how
| little they do fov the money they receive.