New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-07-14
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
REBELS IN THE PENSION OFFTCE-AN IN.
TERNATIONAL QUESTION.


WASHINGTON, July 13.-It was scarcely to be ex-
pccted that placing q sham physical wreck in
charge of the Pension Office would result otherwise
THAI in dcmoralizing bureau OF the Government
created for The benefit of loyal and disabled veterans.
1t bad enough to compel soldiers, widows and
orphans to submit their appeals for paltry pittance
at the hands of the Government to man who, though
entitled to pension of $50 month only. has managed
" an .exaggeration of his disabilities by some
equally disrepuable hocus pocus proceedings, to
pension OF more than three times that amount.
II was not thought possible, however that this same
would dishonor and insult loyal Union soldiers
to compel thom to receive their quarterly stipend
from the hands of exrebes and Confederate sympa-
tizers. Yet this is what has happened Commissioner
Black to-day places rebels whore it in thoir power to
pass upon the claims of Union soldiers. wonder what
his old comrades will say him at the Lext reunion if
he should have the hardhood to attend it in the face of
| such facts these.
| On Monday n week ago w. w. II. Davis. the new
| Democratic Pension Agent for the Philadelphia dis
trct entered upon the discharge OF the duties OF his
post One of the first official acts performed by this
worthy order the discharge OF three clerks. all
| of them wounded Union soldiers, AMI put in the
place of of them joseph barbiere, friend OF his OF
many years staining IA the sequel VIII show AT the
| time the appointment made Mr.. DAVIS contented
himself with saying that l,arbiere was native OF
|
| more than twenty years. This was true enough. 1t
would have been moro honest however, and decent If
| Mr. Davis had added that Mr. Barbiere had been q
Northumberland in the rebel army and that he was
the author also OF book III which the most yenomous
| abuse ia heaped upon the North AMI IL which every
Northern OF any prominence during ana after the
war is yillied The writer of the book cannot plead
party passion sectional hatred, which so high
while the conflict lasted an excuse for the malicious
Of ms book. tor II Not printed until three
| years after the close of tie Neither can Dir.
DAVIS say that he did not know OF its existence Tor he
printed il Lnse the title page shows. Here 1t is
J " Scraps from the Prison Table BY Joe BaTbiere,
Lieue Colonel late {. s. A.. Doylcstown, Penn.
| ". W. III. DAVIS, printer. 1858"
Barbierc, IL appears from perusal oil the book was
taken prisoner and conveyed 10 JJhnsons Island, in
Sandusky Bay ohio. lie gives his experience while In
| prison. lie describes saadusky as that hole OF
Abolitonsm. and whines over the oppressed South
lie raves about the :" cncroachment OF the Radical
party and Its " war upon the Constitution. That he
chief seems natural eonngh and that he should tax
Nrz the author of the Andcr onviile atrocities, ne
| " the murdered Wirz, who was more sinled against
| thar SHINING" will surprise but lew. but that
| Democratic Official whether physical wreck or
not. should sanction the appointment OF nan who
speaks of Lincoln a. political scaVelger, OF wen
dell Phillips It hat dirty dog and fanatic. the negro
thief aud slandercr Of Souihcr people, CT Governor
BrJwnow IT, Parson Br0wnlowl rs )" blasphemer,
charatan BLACKBOARD. clerical hypocrte, scoundrei,
ucendi ry~ an6l of Secretary Stanton cs that arch
| military hcnd OF the War Department who " has
placed himself in position To be shot at, and OF
whom " il /, but fair should make target that
nai sbonlJ have the npertinence and offrontcry
compel loyal Union soldiers to receive their pensions
from hands that in cold blood, after the war was over
| and evil passion had ill a measure subsidized. could
write such alrocous lies and yillalnous faseEoods
about mea OF them resting in their graves hon
Ored and tOurncd by Nation. seems 10 pass III COM
| prehen-ion But "a drawing pension oi %lOO
| q month a. pl ysical wreck can do a great many
things which on ordinary being imbucd with ordinary
ideas dccency and honor cannot ana putting reDeis
| In the Pension Office II one OF them
But for the sagacty OF the gentleman at the head Of
the Customs Division OF the treasury Department the
people who will gather at Niagara Falls on the ION
TO witness the formal opening OF the National Park
would have been deprivej OF the pleasure OF having
the 18th Canadian Volunteers participate ~ military
body In the ceremonio, Of that alspcious day. The
| Collector at Suspension Bridge IS very sharp fellow
il seems He knows thing or two. Hearing that the
| volunteers were to attehd In body come over In
fact. full regmentals. armed equipped and prepared
| to stay. he consulted his better hell
| Z" Oar | admit them" he asked. " An armed
force foreign foe perhaps, on the sacred SOL OF my
beloved country No. let not Inc take the RESPONSE
bity." .
So this shrewd Collector straightway wrote TO Mr.
Maninng to inquire what he should do III the premises
The letter arrived this morning but tho Secretary had
| " gone a-fshIng What to be DONE Tho com
mnnicaiion shown to Mr. Fairehid.
" What have here y exclaimed that clever
persou This h an International question, question
of ipomacy Let II be sent to the state Department
Secretary Bayard was nj his home IN Delaware The
young diplomats in charge nodded their heads grayey.
This may involve n a war;" they said. II we
refuse to admit the foreign foe such action might be
| regarded u insult by tho Qutens majesty lhN
| wouId never do II we admit them, the-perhaps tire
| whole matter better 90 to the War Department
To the War Depa tment Il went. Secretary Endcott
was in New-York. Chief CLERK T~eedale looked at
the letter. read il once read 1t again. rested
his weary sad on bis hands kept thinking aud think
ing and finally delivered this opinion:
This l. not q question oil war. No question OF hight
Ing the Indian is involved 1t Is question OF peace
Let IL 60 to the Treasury
Back to the Treasury 1t went. " Send 1t 10 tho
Supervisor OF Special Agents" mpatcntly exclaimed
Assistant Secretary Fairchild.
Up to the Office of Colonel Martin II was carried.
" hat does not belong to my department.. sad the
handsome colonel his eye over the paper
" Th. ought to go to the customs division
To the customs division It went Chief Mcd i
looked ut it. What have i to do with this T. no
asked, and at repaired TO Mr.. Faircbd.
The Assistant Secretary said " McGregor, THIS Is
customs question don't you see e
"Oh. yes Mr.. McGregor rel lied suddenly, as II n
bright idea had stru him, oi course 1t IA. Strange
didn't see it before. of course 1t is question Of
customs. These come INTO this country they
are workmen They carry their tools; that's where
the tariff element IN Their arms are their tools
OF trade, and such come in tree OF duty Oi course
that's IT, How supid in not to nave seen the point
before"
"Oi course" chlmed in Mr.. Fairchild. " Plain
day. No duty to be paid Instruct the Collector at
Suspension Bridge at once Good-day.
81 hear" said an oscc-seeker. to-day. who has been
hanging about the Capitol for the last two months in
the vain hope OF capturing an once, tnat hDen ~
He ia the author OF Silver Threads Among the Gold
Ii that il So might well 90 home. 10 think that
the Admin stration should reward snch people wphe
old.fashoned Democrats compelled TO look on and
grin Its disgusting" Ii never occurred to the
speaker that the author OF " Silver Threads Among
the Gold might be an odfasEioned Democrat hitl-
self.
The Impression prevails that the President Is not IA
vorably Impressed with tue WORK eono by the scientific
bureaus th- He IL credited with de-
secure, possible their aboshlnent by Congress
next winter. o." II not that ut last reduction IN the
expense OF running them. Said wellnfOrned person
on this subject today: 81 think attempt Will be
made nex winter induce Congress TO provide for the
different bureaus Institutions such the Fish Com
nsson National Museum, Geographical Survey aud It's
many subdivisions and Others IN separate appropra-
ton bills not heretofore. In the sundry tvil APP
prol ration bill This would enable tho President 10
veto any number OF them. lio Is believed 10
lllnk hui mcanlY OF tho ynlne OF EoOlogiell work