Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-25
THE PENSION INVESTIGATION.
HE SAYS THE PENSION cAsE OF REUBEN MEAL
HAS BEEN "yocKEyED WITH" IN HIS BUREAU.


HE SAYS THE PENSION casx OF REUBEN MEAL
HAS BEEN "yocKEyEp WITH" IN HIS BUREAU.
The Senate invest CATION OF Pension Commits
sioner Black yesterday, AFTER The STARS report
closed, took up the case OF Reuben Neal. The
record showed that in 1852 Representative
Pettibone was officially informed by the Pen
sion office that pension had been granted To
Reuben Neal, of Tennessee Mr.. rettioone in
dorsed the notice with the statement that he
dld not Know Neal. but believed him To he a
fraud and suggested that the pension be sns,
pended. IL was suspended. though ienersi
BLACK stated that the papers throughout the
case were uniformly in favor of the applicant.
lie thought, however there was enough IN the
record TO warrant the suspicion OF improper
motives. The report of an examiner showed
that DIR. Moloney had given the Information
upon which Pettibone acted: that MoloDey was
poiitlcal friend OF Pettibone, while Neal was "a
bitter opponent General Black said there was
GOOD deal IN the case outside the record, out
ne was not permitted To go outside.
Senator Plumb called Gen. Blacks attention
10 the following Endorsement in a jacket that
contained documents in the case:
"PENSIoN OFFICE, Jan. Ia, 1856.
Claimant. through Hon. A. IL. Pettlbone, In
formed name was dropped rs additional evil
dence does not change status"
Gen. Black expressed surprise and said IL
showed the case had been 'iockeyed with"
what, under your Administrations asked
the Senator.
'.les, SIR" replied Gen. Black "When a
man has only one or two clerks of his own
political persuasion in a great division like the
PENSION Office he is forced 10 take chances"
THE HEARING TO-DAY.
The Senate committee to-day resumed the
Investigation. Commissioner Black was first
questioned with regard TO his statement OF yes
terday, that rs he had but few clerks of his
own political faith. he had 10 run many risks o!
unfriendly action in his own bureau upon mat
tiers involving politics. In order 10 show that
he had not been able to put in men OF his own
political faith. he referred law the eject ol
which would be that il he awaited himself OF the
power OF general removal, ms power OF re-
appointment would be restricted 50 a. To reduce
his force 10y $50. He did not charge men in the
bureau with personal turpitude, but the en-
ployes there We're only human beings. and were
like most people, subject 10 human feeling, and
yielding TO partisan pressure ana Impulse lie
was satisfied that could he have divided the
force between the political parties, one element
would operate as "A check upon the other Gen.
Black said he had not retained men whose
personal or political dishonesty had been shown
10 him.
A DISCUSSION OF PARTISAN FEELING.
Senator Plumb remarked that democrats
were also subject 10 partisan feeling, and would
yield to pressure, etc; that men who would
connive at acting antagonistic 10 the head OF
the bureau were dishonest
Senator Beck said with some warmth, that
II Mr. Plumb was going to put argument into
the record he would insert some. lie added
that men may be violent partisans and seek,
by cooperation with others. 10 break down me
head of the bureau politically Tor Inc purpose
OF aiding in breaking down his party and
showing that a change OF administration would
be beneficial; and yet such men would not ht
considered personally dishonest. The Senator
added, AS his opinion, that the commissioner
ought TO be surrounded 10y his own political
friends.
TAKING Up THE NEAL CASE,
which the committee had under consideration
yesterday, Gen. Black Said, in substance. that
he became satisfied that Meals pension was
suspended because he opposed Congressman
Pettipone in the canvass of 1854 he produced
a telegram from Congressman l.. =. itouk, sent
in Ssi 10 Pension COMMISSIONS Dudley, sta
ting that Pension Examiner Payne Was an
nOunced to address political meeting, ana
asking that the civil service order DC 50 nodl
fled as to permit ii. Gen. Black had no answer
to this telegram, but he offered an alEdayli
which he said would show the reply was de-
livered After a great deaf OF discussion as L.
the admission of this affidavit and the rules
that should govern the committee, ID was deter
mined To summon certain witnesses ln the
premises whom Gen Black wanted ami TO then
take up that portion of the case.
THE CASE OF EX-sTATE SENATOR FIFER,
of Bloomington, Illinois, was next taken up
Gen. Black showed from the records that the
reports of seven pension medical examining
boards rated Fifer as entitled To SD a month;
that on April 10th, 1884, Senator Culom wrote
TO Commissioner Dudley, commencing flier
as one of the best men God ever made, aud urg-
ing an increase OF pension To S24 = month; that
on that same day an order was issued lncreaS
ing the pension TO S;24 a month,and giving him
arrearages amounting to ST. 10. lie dld MOI
mean to impute anything wrong 10 senator
Cuiom. but he did think that the swift action
of the Pension office, in the face OF seven mech
cal boards, upon the request OF senator, IN
dicated that politics governed the action OF Inc
Pension office.
The committee adjourned until 10 am. nexl
Wednesday.