New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-25
MR.. BLACK CAUGHT IN A TRAP
HIS CHARGES PROVED TO BE GRoUNDLEss.
FAILURE OF HIS FFFORT TO MAKE PARTISAN CAP
ITAL OUT or THY PENSION OFFICE.
FAY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUsS.1


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WASHINGTON March Ex-senator Culloms
Committee on Expenditures OF the Public Money con-
tnued to-day It's Investigation into COMMISSIONER
Blacks charges that political tests had been applied ny
his predecessors In granting pensions the charS es
were made by Commissioners Black In hs annual report
dated November IS The resolution for an
Investigation passed the Senate on January ~ Inc
first meeting OF the committee was held on March TO-
At that time Mr. Black SAID that he was not prepared 70
produce any evidence sustain his charges but would
furnish abundance" at tho next meeting OF the com
mlttee week later Mr.. Black was Still unprepared
to name single At the next meeting
he produced the papers in twenty cases. which he sad
were all that he had any knowledge or To-day Mr.
Black said that ho had particular cases tn mind when
he wrote his annual report and that sne evidence he
had gathered since the passage OF tho senate resou
ton on January 81.
In the case OF General Thomas Bennett tia only alleged
evidence that Mr. Black had political consdera
tons had anything do with grantug+he pension was
statement I'm the OF letter from General Bennett
to Commissioner dudley in regard to the case, in which
General Bennett said "In consideration OF my pov-
erty my long and faithful services in the army ana my
almost complete prosration from these causes stated In
the application believe 1t my duty to myself and
nv family TO make the application Any
favor in the way OF facilitating my effort will add an
other obligation to the many which you have placed me
under to you"
Although this letter was marked personal" and
stamped "Prva e." Commissioner Dudley hadleft 1t
I'm the office Mr. Black made oft as alleged PROOF
of his charges He admitted the record Of the case
showed that it been examined I'm the regular way
and that the examiners passed 10 were still retained
in the service and that he had not taken any steps TO
stop payment of the pension.
Senator Harrlson-Havey ou received letters urging
the claims Of applicants account OF their being DEM
ocratsl
Mr.. Black-Yes, sir.
Senator Harrison-Have you taken action on cases
where man complained that he had been Disseminated
against as Democratic
Mr. Black remember only three such cases In these
instances action taken but not because OF such ap
peal+.
The next case was that Of Captain j. a. WHIST OF
Indiana When Mr.. Harrison took 1t up Mr.. Black
hastily exclaimed: 81 wish to Withdraw that case"
Mr. Harrison said that 1t was of tue cases left
with the committee at the previous meeting and that
it could not be withdrawn.
Senator'S Beck aud Kenns maintained that Mr.. Black
had the right to withdraw III but It was decided that
should be done until after ne was examined IN re-
gard to It,
Mr. Harrison-Did you wish to withdraw tho case 81
OF the politics OF the claimants
Mr. Black decline TO answer.
Mr. Harrison-ls not the withdrawal OF the case made
because Of the discovery that the claimant Is Deu-
Mr. Black I don't know yeti have not completed the
After being pressed further Mr. Black said that he was
told yesterday that the majority or the committees nsu
good Joke on him rs OF his was that or an old
Democrat Tie mad concluded That this WAS the case
Mr. HARRISON said that Whist was chairman or the
Democratic Committee OF indianapolis auu nSu oeem a
Democrat all his lie II appeared ny INC papers SUI
mitted that DR.. z. r. Ravens, Republican, who was
Secretary in Indiana at the me that the pension
was granted, had made affidavit IN regard to
ed Mr. Blasf to % put il down as political
Black expanaOn said that he thought that the case
had rot been fully made out by the Examining BOatd,
Mr. HarrisOn-DO you not accept OUTSIDE eVluehce
sometimes in deciding on such casef
Mr. Harrison-Have you taken any steps to stop the
payment Of this pensloDl
Mr.. Black-NO, sir
Mr. Plumb then took up the examination of Mr. Black
in regard to the next case, which was that OK
Reuben Neal, whose pension had been suspended
on complaint OF Congressman PettibOne, Republican.
He had written that he claimant was not entitled 10
uenson according to evidence furnished him by his
fImv nbvscian Mr. Black sald that the had been
examined at the time and recommended Tor admission
and that there seemed to DO nothing In IL hat was ao
verse 70 It's admission the rolls, and that there was
NOT enough evidence TO warrant suspension. But
It had been done at the request OF Repubn-
il appeared Neal had never been mustered into inc
service but he asserted that he was wounded on his
Mr. P9mb-Is the fact of suspe ground Of sus-
pictonl
Mr. Piamb-Haye you taken any steps to reinstate
this man on the rolls
Mr. Black-NO. sir. 1890 .,
Mr. Plumb-Will you take this suspension paper ana
read the second Endorsement on 1t - 20 1000
Mr. BlacK-I read: " Pension ONCE January 49, 1855
The claimant, through the Hon. A H. PettlDone IN
formed thar the dropped and auutOnal evil
dence does not change the status
The members OF the committee laughed.
Mr. Black was confused aud, hesitatingly, he ex-
claimed: That would indicate that the thing mas peer
iockeyed with in my office man has TO take chances
Gers he has ony two or clerks of his own faith
among such large number OF employes ,,
As Mr. Black had submitted paper showing
that he had made SO appointments, no one seemed
to think it necessary 70 examine him further and the
committee adjourned.