The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-01-28
POLITICS ARD TIE PENSION
OPFYGRs AGAIN.

AdVices from Washington inform N
that certain members OF congress are
desIrouS of Investigating that part Of
the report Of General John 9. Black
oommIssioner Of pensSons. which refers
70 the pension ONCE e having been a
Oos time all buT IN ASoWedly political
machine. prior 70 NE change Of admin
ieTation.
That u all very we'll, Measrs. Con-
gressmen, bat there il such . thing a.
being hoist on ons's own petard. 10
other words. every one Who hss any
rue kno~ledge upen The subject. knows
that such an investigator would simply
confirm General Blacks statement and
develop much more in the same dI.
rectIon.
The Commissioner Of pension Is BY
law made TesponsIble for she control
and conduct Of the pension o6iee. He
nay, II 90 disposed, be an autocrat In
hIs position. He is. OF couTsa, subor-
dinate to the secretary OF the interior.
but may direct the men working under
him without much rsk OF interference
from the secretary, Who u usually very
glad 70 allow this vast machine 70 b
entirsIy controlled ~ theeonmassionsr
Now If 1t should prove true that the
predecessor Of Genersl Black abandoned
his post Of duty ct Washington just prior
to the presIdentiSl election Of 1885, and
proceeded 10 Ohio and was most sctive
worker for the Republican cause until
victory perched upon the Democratic
banner. and that In thls he WAS aided
and abetted by certain employees OF the
pension ONCE, the showing would be q
most uncomfortable one.
And Il should here be stated for the
understanding Of the general public that
the special examInAtiou division Of the
pension ONCE IL the executive arm OF
that great oHlce. The chief of that
division under former administration
was also an autoerat in his place. At
his word Of command numerous en-
ployes could be hurried from point to
point, OStsnsibly to do Official business,
but really to carry out any private in
struclioOS that might be gwen them.
Now. II Il should prove true, that Just
prior % the presidential election In
1885 the then chief Of that division
abandoned his post Of duty At Washing
too, joined his superior in Ohio and
worked for the Republican cause until
victory peFChed upon the Demo
cratic banner and that he also was aided
and Abetted by certain employees Of that
division, the showing would be still
more uncomfortable
In the spring Of 1885 there were be-
tween two and three hundred special ex-
aminerS in the field dong duty in every
part OF the United States, and al uRder |
the immediate control OF the chief of
that division. On the FIRST Of July OF
that year this number was increased by |
the addition Of $50 others whose |
term of service was TO begin and |
did begin Ct that time; with |
increased salaries; their term of service |
to expire by Limitation of one year. These |
men were all appointed under Civil Ser
vice rules in this way: The Civil Ser
vice commission certified to the Secre-
tary Of the Interior, - It was their duty
10 do, q much larger number OF names
than were required TO all the vacancies,
and from these II was the duty Of
the Commissioner of Pensions to select |
such - In his Judgment. were
best adapted 70 do the work. Nov, IL Il |
should prove 5rus mat fr1En TnAf large
number or names, amAjority were %
lected who were better adapted TO do |
political than official work, or, in
other words, that they were largely |
members OF the dominant party, We
should have another and most uncom-
Portable showing
Taking all the circumstances into
confederation, the wonder is. not that
General Black made special allusion to
the politics Of the pension Office In so
important Gpaper IS his report to the
secretary OF the interior, bat that he
did not enlarge upon the theme 20 q
still greater extent.
p It 10 hardly probable that the con-
greesmen alluded to will push The pro
posed investigation. THE party has
ans enough 70 scSouns for without pre-
cipitAtinG the exposure OF others.
Should they persist. however, General
Black will be fully justified In produc-
ing his proofs. and, it is said, he has
them in abundance.