National Republican., 1886-12-02
The Cnm,nIssioner of penslons.

The Commissioner of Pensions.
Attention is Invited to the large space
allotted in this issue for explanations con-
cerning the deeds Of omission and commits
lion Of Commissioner Black, Of pension
bureau fame.
1t can be truly said that Of oil the presi-
Dental appointments outside OF the Cab.
met, Gen. Black has received more atten-
lion than any other person from the press
OF America during his short official life.
To look upen, the general impresses you as
a strong, handsome, intellectual, brave man.
Such q combination should produce q just
man, and would do so were he not bitter
partisan.
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN hopes to set
the general good example by treating him
fairly.
In the case Of the Litter signed by john
G. Black, commissioner under date OF
Nov 90, 1856, addressed to C. ID. Penne.
baker ~ Son, attorneys, Of this city, the
following words were used "You are iu-
formed that the claim filed by you June 81,
1856, was rejected trithom examination"
The letter should have had one more
word 1t would have then read-without
q medical examination. This error Is eX-
planned by very worthy lady clerk in the
Office by the following letter. addressed to
the commissioner:
HoH. J. G. BLACK, Commissioner Of Pensions
SIR: acknowledge myself the writer OF the
accompanying letter, and am truly sorry that,
through inadyertence, words were omitted
which seemed to have caused criticism on the
Office and more especially on you as the head
OF the bureau.
Ipromise for the future tha: more care shall
be taken by me to prevent recurrence of er-
rors. Very respectfully, S. J. NEAL.
Nov 70, 1886.
We also publish, for fuller explanation,
the following letter of Fred Mack, the
chief Of the eastern division of the Pension
Office;
lCcrt. 2CCtCO-Martin Kelley, Co. I, OF n. Y.
NOlsl
OrnCR, WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. 30, 1856. -
GEN. JoHS C. BLACK, Commissloner--SH; In
the matter Of the above entitled claim, have
the honor to report that the soldier was PEN
siCncd Jan. %, 1854 at the rate Of two (s2) per
month from the date OF his discharge for gum
shot wound Of the neck, upon the certificates
of DR.. A. NJ. Smith, examining
surgeon at Pittsfeld, Mass, aud
the Springfield, Mass, board. He
filed claim for increase through Samuel
Erskine, OF this city. March T. 1881
which, after an examination by the Spring
field, Mass, board was rejected May 10, 1884
Sept. 80, 1856, he filed another claim for in
crease through G. d. Penuebaker & son, of this
city, which, after an examination by the board
of surgeons at Pittsteld, Mass, was admitted
at four (s4) dollars per month from Nov. Is
1sS5--thc date of the certificate OF the board o.
surgeons II may be proper to state in this
connection that the board did not recommend
increase,
June 81, 1856, he fled third application fol
increase through G. D. Pennebaker u Son
which was rejected without medical exami-
nation July7. 1886, and a circular, of which
the accompanying is copy, was sent TO thC
attorneys and claimant. Oct 8, 1856, Penne
baker hlCd q slip asking the condition Of the
claim, and on Nov. %, 1856 the inClosed letter
was written by Mrs. S. ], Neal, in which the
rGme Of the claimant and the words "a met
ical" were omitted The letter should have
been written substantially as follows
"In reply to your inquiry relative to tho
Clpim for increase pension Cert. No. 2566O0
OF Martin Kelley, Company /, 81 New York
volunteers, have TO state that said claim was
rejected without medical examination July
Z, 1856, and both yourselves and the claimant
were so advised on that date,
mo evidence has been fled since that time
IhowiIg or tending to show that injustice wa
dope ty the action above indicated and no al
legation Of injustice has been made by him OIL
yourselves" Very respectfully,
FRED. MACK,
Chief Eastern Division.
In order further to give our readers the
tcntGt Of both sides Of another case whlcl
we have permitted correspondents to critl
else in the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, We
print communication from Frank A.
Butts, chief OF the army and navy survivors
diyision
DEPARTMENT or THE INTERIOR, PENsIoN
OFFICE, WAsIuNGTON, d. c., Dec, l, 1885,
EDITOR NATIONAL REPuBLICAN.-S SF Two
communications have appeared In recent Is
sues Of your paper crltlclsing the action OF the
pension otlice IN regard to the case of John X
LRdd, n veteran OF the Mexican war and OF the
war Of the rebellion. l have read these COM
municNtiOns with some interest, and feelnl
convinced, from my personal knowledge OF
pension matters, that there was something
crooked IN the case named, placed the cont
muniCatlOns in the hands Of Gen. Black, COM
missioner Of pensions. who at once di-
IoCted me 10 draw the case, examine
It carefully, and find out all the
facts therein. ] submit the following a
the result of my investigation The first point
TO be noticed is that the report OF the speoa
examiner, upon which pensioners name wa
dropped from the rolls bears the date OF jan
., 1850. This report was approved in the spo.
Cial examination division and the case for
waIded to the board of review for final action,
where the decision of said division was con
frmCd, and In due time all the papers were
properly approved. In this connection It must
be remembered that although the papers ap-
proving the final action in the case arc sgped