The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-19
COMMISSIONER BLACK.
He Instances the Pension Of Gen. T. W. Ben.
nett as One that Was Irregularly Granted.

WASHINGTON, March 18.-Senators Cullom
tchairman), Harrison, Beck, Plumb and Kenna,
of the sub-committee on expenditures of public
moneys, assembled at the committeeman tkis
eveEing to continue the examination of Commits
sioner Black. Extension Commissioner Dudley,
whose administration of the Pension Office is
understood to have been the subject of certain
allegations in Commissioner Blacks report, which
gave rise to the investigation, was present.
Senator Harrison repeated his inquiry Of the
last meeting if the Commissioners could furnish
the names and numbers in any cases which had
been allowed or rejected on account of the
politics Of the claimant General Black, in re-
ply, furnished list of twenty cases, all of which,
he said, came within the classes referred to. He
said he would furnish, in addition, three or four
hundred afidavits when the committee should
have examined the list, in support of his
allegation that the Pension Office was conducted
as political machine Commissioner Black
said in answer to further inquiries that the list
by no means comprised all cases of the character
referred to- of which he had knowledge. He
hrst referred to the case of Colonel Thomas w.
Bennett, of the Indiana volunteers a certificate
Of which was issued in March, 1882, the rate
being $22 so month. There were papers in the
case, the Commissioner said, to show that it
went to the Commissioner before it went
to the board of review. The Commissioner sub
mitted personal letter from the claimant TO
Commissioner Dudley in which the writer sets
forth the extent of his disability, and makes
plea for speedy action. If this can be obtained
the writer says it will add another to the many
obligations he is already under to Colonel Dud-
ley, and which. he hoped, he would be
able to return in a way which
would be fully appreciated. The letter
WA dofn Rfnrr Tod NAwr
and the case was made special the 18th of
November. The was sent to the Commits
sioner on the 1st Of March, 1883, and the pension
was allowed on the I'd of March; the finding of
the medical referee was made on the 18th OF
March, nine days after the allowances were
made.
Among the disabilities for which the claimant
asked pension was sunstroke, incurred
on the field II. in May 1854 sn sats
that on that date the claimant
was absent on sick leave. The affidavit of the
adjutant of Colonel Benefits regiment was
read, testifying that at the date named Colonel
Bennett was on duty The day was intensity
hot, and the affant saw the claimant partly dis
mount and partly fall FROM his horse, in q sort of
faintlng fit Water having been thrown on his
face he recovered sufficiently to take an ambul-
lance Colonel Bennett complained of the effects
OF his mishap for several day. said he had had
sunstreke, and afiant often heard the surgeon OF
the regiment refer to it as sunstroke.
Senator Harrison questioned the witness
sharply as to whether ne meant to say he would
not consider evidence of that character. the sur
geon being dead, as competent in the establish
ment of the fact of sunstroke.
General Black said il it had been for reasons
personal to himself and he wanted that claim adj
mitted, and had he been susceptible to
such influences it might be competent;
but he didn't consider that unsupported afh-
davit proved sunstroke, nor Rould ten such aft
davits.
Senator Kenna asked in what the Irregularities
in the case consisted
The Witness-The irregularity consists. first
in the order that, after the case had been passed
upon by the examiner, it should be brought to
the Commissioners instead of going from the ex-
amner to the board of review, then to the medi
Cal Office, aud from the medical Office back to the
Commissioner.
Mr. Kenna-Have you any knowledge on the
subject of the relationship which existed between
the applicant and the Commissioners
General Backbone, personally.
Mr. Kenna-Have you had information-no
matter in what form-touching the relationship
that existed between the Commissioner and this
claimantl
II have"
HAS that been in the form of written com
munlcation, or oral9"
Oral"
Are the parties who made the communication
accessible to the committeep
'"They will be accessible"
Taking that record, does it, in your iudg-
ment, support the granting of the claimg'
ut does not. according to the practice Of the
Office then established"
Commissioner Black left papers in other cases
on his list with the committee for examination,
STIMULATING that no others than the members
should be allowed to see them.