The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-23
A BAD KIND OF REFORM.
How Howard County Pensioners Are Treated
by the Bureau at Washington.

Kokomo Gazette-Tribune.
Some time ago the Gazette Tribune made
statement, upon the authority of an old soldier,
one who is also an attorney and pension claim
agent, that the pension department. under the
reform administration of Commissioner Black,
was being subjected to severe criticisms from
claim agents and old soldiers in general The
notice was copied in many of the leading papers
of the State On Monday, special examiner of
the Pension Bureau j. FL. L. Eager, of Indianap-
oils was sent to this city by Commissioner
Black, who had received marked copy contain
ing the charges of dereliction of duty,
with instructions to hunt down the guilty
party who had the audacity to fool with the
government" He came to this Office and
authority was promptly given, and a member OF
the reportorial staff accompanied him to the
Office of Capt Asher Bennett who made a
sworn affidavit to the effect that he had been
unable to get any reply from numerous letters
sent in. Captain Ream also made sworn
statement that during the past summer he had
written, through his attorney, Jacob Kroh, of
this city, to claim agent of Indianapolis, and
finally had to telegraph before he was recog
nized. c. F. Hendry made a sworn statement
that his dealings with the Pension Department
letters had for some unknown cause,
received no attention whatever. Charl
ton Bull an attorney of Greentown, said,
in q sworn statement, that he and his clients
had been treated with silent contempt by the
department., but supposed it was only on the
grounds of reform. Mr.. Bull was asked by Mr..
Eager if he thought General Black and
his management of the Office an improve
ment on the administration of Colonel
Dudley. "No;" was the prompt reply of
Mr.. Bull, II do not" j. F. Morrison and A.
N. Grant, both pension attorneys. informed
reporter that they had written numerous letters
in regard to pension claims, but had thus far
failed to be recognized by the reformers at
Washington ID. G.. Speaker says he sent in a
letter to the department last June and has just
succeeded in getting an answer, which leads one
to believe that q matter that used to be answered
in a week or ten days. under reform admins
tration takes just Six months Hon. Milton
Garrigus says that, in the main. he has not had
mach to do with the new department., but
that some of his clients complain of the
s.owness with which business is now transacted.
Rafe Taylor, well-known old soldier, has had
many ten letters written in regard to his
claims as pensioner, but so far mum seems
to be the Democratic officials watchword. S. T.
Butcher makes to US a similar statement, and SO
it goes. and much more evidence can be produced
in coroboration of the statements made in these
columns some weeks ago. The only man whom
our reporter has been able to run down who is
entirely satisfied with the workings of the Office
under the present commissioner is Baker Rich
ards, of Russiaville He has no complaint what
ever to make. as his pension. he says, has been
attended to as promptly as he expected. Where
the trouble is we are not prepared to say, or why
this seeming silent contempt for the old veterans
who stood by the cause of the Union. One
thing we do know and that is that things were
not thus under the Republican administration.