New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-30
DISTINCTION GOSSIP.
,,ow COMMISSIONER BLACK WORKS FOR
~" REFORM.

-.ow COMMISSIONER BLACK WORKS FOX
NJ" REFORM.
,yv REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.I
PW.sHlNGToN, June 2S.-General Black, the
commssioner of Pensions, ia striking illustration
s,,o Great Reform movement" now carried on under
w. auspces of the Cleveland Administration His APP
,tment was hailed when 1t made, as one OF the
hsst that could have been determined upon to aay ap
he,s,n which the selection of rebel the head OF
the Interior Department excited IN the MINDS OF all oS
men, lie had been gallant solde during the war; IL
was said He had been desperately wounded he was
the pattern OF upright and highminded gentleman
ne ccupied so his friends asserted among Democrats
much the same position that General Logan enjoys TO-
day among Republicans He was the idol OF the Demo-
cratic soldiers In his keeping the interests Oh inc
MANNED veterans and tho widows and the orphans would
hc safe There was good deal Of this sort OF talk say
when General Black first assumed the duties OF MS
ONCE lie came here, the expectations of everybody
having been raised high point as TO the things he
was going to accomplish and almost the hrst thing he
did was 10 try dismiss from Office without assigning
any cause or giving any reason for his action,
the daughter OF a brave and faithful soldier.
The storm Of Indignation which the proceeding aroused
al over the country and the determination which Miss
Sweet displayed this occasion caused the Adnnsra
,ion to call a reluctant "halt" General Black was
restrained, but for short time only The dismissas
and discharges I'm the Pension Oice became the
talk of the again. For the last week or two
changes haze been made on wholesale scale. Exam
,ners Clerks messengers and doorkeepers have been
made TO walk the plank at furious rate. In no case
does the Commissioner degn to assign reason for the
dismissal clerk who bold enough to brave the lion
IN his den is told in many words to 80 to
Jericho The manner Of the Commissioners is en-
nhatic lie wastes words. He is reform ITSELF
,riously enough this brave and gallant soldier this
Sisbtoned gentleman this representative of the simon
pure article of reform Gas professed 6y tue Admins
tratlon) willing TO do thing o. which many COM
mon soldier and private would he ashamed
General Black is to-day the only man who draws a
rnonthy pension of 500 the general pension list
There other. and there 10 no higher pad man III
sion paid is S72 month, and that THIS Is PAD only 10
men who require the assistance OF an attendant TO Walk
; aSSa ws0 have ave to be wheeled in chairs have
become insane by reason OF the suffering which
stSerwise heavily afflicted then, l say,
General Blacks pension needs some explanation, IL VIZ
Department carriages struck Mr. Lamar that dreaming
refomer also insisted that Mr. Black should dispose OF
his This Black res2sed TO do ON the ground was
said at the that he had been wouned IN the ieg'
s elo He has been therefore riding about town
since Pitied by eyeryD9dy and aor oy some Ior
trick TO be compelled to spoil that Illusion
BY saying that General Black was never wounded IN sns
leg. l have before me the committee report
which Congress- sTan senate mR Repopt s95
XLvth Congress second session | quote from 1t. be-
cause tells better than cond perhaps the representa-
u. III, March 1862 at the battle of Pea Ridge.
Lieutenant Black shot in the right forearm
beoT ns u Se hattie of Prairie Grove ne was shot in
he lei upper The bone being shattered reese ton
became necessary and from that tne 'he Ar mas p
fil.e apparently healed but III December following re-
opsned ana caused suffering. After he LETT the
military service General Black resumed ms proessoni
Studies was soon admitted 10 the bar, and
almost Immediately upon his admission entered upon
large and lucrative practice when no S ~ 10 @
until the year ls4 when In CONSEQUENCE Oh 'he s1 IN
health became much impaired his person einacate ana
be was constrained 10 abandon MS proesson FROM c
me rear 1874 until this day he has been an Invalid me
womb Ills has caused the most intense sun,rins,
and in 1870 in order TO save his lie inc e2o% joni %
resected. phy steal wreck maine ana ais
t,sd 10 ms bed From August 1865 until 1877. General
Black was paid pension $50 month. based upon the
injury to his LETT arm. In lSI1 TINS was lheIeascu
$50 month because of the loss OF the use OF the
other arm He now the right TO $50 month
be recognized from August ls9o. Inc commits , 10
convinced that the claim is well founded: suons'
healthy man. possessing fine talents and great dDtes
rgcSen in hts conntrys service He asks Tie country
he we'll to give bread to himself ana an opor
respectfully submit that sno @Is 90 the dis
fftnernshed claims OF General Black and grant him a
pension 500 month, aud therefore they recommend
the passage Of the accompanying Di. ,..,.o dr,,v
Here then. soldier, gentleman, aieiorner, araw
ing pension larger by over 70 per cent imam tis pau
TO 100000 and odd disabled yeteras-anu ior Wna
The report states Because OF impaired health De
cause his person See hs nrossn because he is t.
this day invalid. because ne - pnyricd mI'rh,
he wants To give bread children and because be
opportunity to educate tlei anu n '1s y p.
ment - 900 year Commissioner OfPensions @i%VV
a year as physca wreck and do some effective worS
beside I'm turning Office loyal anu patriotic men a
n Mace them by people like his deputy, whose scoIu
Is 10 he found on The blOer OF tue Albany Police COuI
There are thousands OF soldiers to-day, w0unuen anu
maned too who would the Idea OF burdehiis thet
country with their support under snch clrc1lstanes
And yet here is OF The leaders IN ,he
Higgins Manning reform movement drawing thc gnest
pension given to soldiers obtained IN, 10 say inc taSt
curious manner aud drawing another pay, beside as
Government cmplOye. -. -.
This drawing OF double pay squeston rather OF morris
than of law. The manner, however, IN WHICH pe"iai
Black obtained his pension might az this time De h.he
increase of the pension Senate bill, NO. lZIo' ~
WAS read for the third time in the senate anu
passed on June H. 1873 on June 10 IL was received
back from the House having been passed there Du
there is nothing TO show The Congressional fcOTd
that il was ever considered by the House III the her
between june IL and june 10. by some hocns p0Tcus
or in the hurry OF the closing days Of the session C
gress adjourned June l9 the bill obtained the sigma
res Of ne House, of the President OF Tue
Senate and OF the President without apparently having
really been passed by the House.