Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-07-08

The Pension Bureau and Politics



1t is a deeply significant fact that
after all the howl about turning the
rascals out only one annual report
was submitted at the first Congress
sional year after the change of ad-
ministration which involved any
accusation against Republican
predecessor. That one complaint
was lodged against extension Com
missioner Dudley by his successor,
General John c. Black. The charge
was, to put it briefly, that General
Dudley had increased the allowance
of some pensioners on political
grounds. The investigation of this
grave charge began on the 10th of
March, and at last it has been shown
so plainly that even General Black
can not deny it that the accusation
was without foundation. 1t was
made, contessedly, on general rum
or" The accuser guessed at it, and
investigation proved his surmise to
be without the slightest foundation
in facts.
The Inter Ocean takes no pleas
ure in the humiliation of General
Black. Whatever his faults as Com.
missioner of Pensions under a Demo
cratic administration, he was MAIN
ed for life by rebel lead. That is a
fact which files perpetual plea for
charity in his behalf. But having
cruelty assaulted his immediate pre-.
decessor, whose military record is
quite as good as his own, he has
only himself to blame for the sorry
predicament in which he now finds
himself, blooming example of the
prediction that she that taketh the
sword shall perish by the sword"
Not only has the Investigation
shown that the charge was without
foundation, but that the accuser him
self has been guilty of the very
offense charged against Mr.. Dudley
The war is no longer defensive or
the Republican side. 1t has beef
carried into Africa, and the blacl
continent is in no small danger %
being overrun by an irresistible army
of invasion.
The Commissioner had no specifi,
cases in mind when he brought thu
charge. He simply incorporated in
to an official report stump speech
When called upon for a bill of par
e ticulars he searched about for case
in point. To guide him in his re
search he made note of the case
y in which the applicant or some frien'
urged, as shown by the papers i
the case, that the petition was in tn
interest of good Republican
Wherever he found any such sug
gestion of partisan Partially he look
e ed the case carefully to see if tn
n application should or should nc
have been granted on its merits, an
- in every instance he was compelle
to admit that General Dudley wa
justified in granting it. OF cours
that made the exoneration complete
With the last day of last mont
the committee began to inquire int
ty the suspicious cases OF increase gran
IN ed by General Black, and judgin
from the result of the first days il
quiry the Commissioner will fin
that he has stirred up a hornets mes
The first case exposed was that of
Sc pensioner whose application for {
increase had been denied by Gener
Dudley, but allowed by Gener
- Black, two years letter, the increa
as being from $I2 month to $72.
i seems that between the two apple
. tons the petitioner turned his polit
cal coat. A Republican original
he supported Cleveland in ISS
1t is now in order for General Blac
h. to explain his reason for overrulir
ny the decision of his predecessor. v
ed do not say that this case does n
admit of an honorable and non par
san explanation, but it certainly loo
al very much as ifthe present Comm
!, sioner had done just what he minus
iis ly accused his predecessor of doin
nc This and similar cases calling f
investigation may result in puttir
John {. Black in very uncomfort
il. BILE position, amp make him cur
,r the day his evil genius led him
!. insert stump speech in his fir
. annual report as the head Of II
Pension Bureau.