The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-02-24
Our Washington Letter.
Gen, Warmers C0mmittee--H0id-
ing up Pension Cases--"NOt RE-
jectiDg Gases Now"--Grubbs and
Gudgcl--Dudley and his ractics--
The Figures.

ing up Pension Cases--"NOt RE-
jectiDg Gases Now"--Grubbs and
Gudgel--Dudley and his ractics--
The Figures.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Feb. IS, 1885.
EDITOR SPIRIT: The nvestiga,ion by
General Warmers committee into the ad-
ministration of the Pension OIice during
the past week has discovered practices
10 the office itself which are equally a.
damnahle and disreputable as the con-
duct OF Winthrop and other special ex.
aminers-en,side OF the oiieo.T Tho sos=
timony so far taken fully confirms the
runors which prevailed during the late
campsign, as to the manner in which the
Pension bureau was converted into q po
Iitical machine for the advance OF Re-
publican Interests.
HOLDING Up'cAsEs
AS an illustration OF the methods used
l will briefly give the facts in single
case testified to by number OF examin.
era from the division in which the case
was atjldicated. Thesa examiners. il
should be remembered. act as judges in
the cases sub nttel to them, and pass
upon the testimony and give their judg.
ment whether the case should he admit.
ted or rejected The case in question
was b. Ought before the committee and
all the papers were submitted for exam.
ination The original claimant had died
and bis r;iow completed the claim
which was Hnally admitted The case
as made up by the widow, came into the
hands OF the examiner on the Oh OF o.
tober last. -
About that date, Hon. W. S. Holman
o Democratic Congressman from Indians
known as the "great ohjector"
written letter to the Com missioner o.
Pensions. asking the condition OF the
claim and urging action upon it. This
letter, of course, was referred to the eS-
aminer having charge Of the case Or
examination OF the case, the examiner
found, as he testified. that It was hang
ing on mere technicality which was st
slight that be thought some reference tc
superior officer would make il go
through Immediately and he could Motif,
Mr.. Holman that the case was allowed
So he took the case to the chief OF hi
division, Mr.. Comstock, ami said tt
him, "Tae widow does not seem to un
derstand the letters | have written t.
her about it. The papers show that i
is all right, and that tho grouad is full,
covered in eqlity." Mr.. Comstock thel
asked him WAC had called the case op
and he told him Mr.. Holman. "Ths
man." said ComstocS sis DID Demo
cra', and would get Is votes in his neigh
borhood il this claim were allowed now
He is the men, too, who has given US 81
much trouble about appropriations. :
Hold the case for the present, and lie
them explain the technicality.' And th
ease was delayed a month or so Will
the examiner was waiting for the wido'
to furnish more evidence on a poin
which had been fully proven and o.
which there could be no question. Tn
j delay was made for the express purpos
OF preventing Mr.. Holman from receiv
ing the credit for having fastened th
settlement Of pension claim.
| am told that comparison OF note
by Democratic Con9ressmen, especial
from Ohio and Indiana, shows that. du
ring the months Of September and 0,
. toher last, scarcely single case eithe
of them had ever called up was allowe
= during those months. This could nc
8 happen by mere chance, and strongl
!. corroborates the statement OF the wi
. ness in the case given, and shows th'
the machinery of. the Office was ru
> against Democrats.
s'NoT REJECTING CASES now
No less than FIVE or six other examil
u ers in the sfme division testified to Il
, fact that, some time in the latter part
:. September. one of the chiefs 10 the d
vision notified the examiners under hi
that they were not to reject any mo
= cases until after the election, and we
d directed to ehold them up" This W,
If done, and no letters of rejection wei
written from that division until after Il
ELECTION.
One of tie examiners. Mr.. Har5aus
testified ON this point as follows:
el @. What was the understanding