National Republican., 1886-12-01
A Challenge to Pension Commissioner
John O. Black, or otherwise Called
the UphyslcnI Wreck.n


the "Physicni Wreck"
ruiron NArioSAL REPUBLICAN,: Prince Met
territh, the Austrian diplomat, once said: "a
Iublic Official to be vi giant in the interest of
the empire must be just, honorable, aud with
,ut prejudice; otherwise his vigilance partake'
Of selfish molvcs." This much in answer u
Gaze published in the New York Herdii of
Yesterday entitled "a foxy pensioner who was
discovered through Gen. Bluca'S vigilance
IL will be remembered That Oh the 1ith day OF
october last published in your paper wha,
regard q great injustice upon an old aud
crippled solder named John X Ladd. did
not publish the same for the purpose of bring
ing GiscrCdit upon Gen. BlacR, tho commits.
siOnCr, for distinctly stated that the heads Of
The departments may know nothing personally
OF the ease; hut simply to bring this case tn his
and public notice because the old soldier wasby
action Of the pension department pint In great
distress with apparently no one to help him,
next addrcsseda Il respectful letter, dated Ott
81, TO the honorable Secretary of the Interior
TO the effect that rehcGring In this case ought
TO be granted, and that would be pleased to
bring the old pcnsiouer TO him If he desired to
examine him In person. then addressed au
additional letter, dated Oct. 30, to the honor
able Secretary Of the Interior, wherein gave
some of the reasons wny reOpening of this
case should be granted, and offered to submit
conclusive evidence that this case was not de-
cided according to law. / appeRded an aili Ia
VT, which, according to law, was alone sut.
viding there was any disposition on the part
Of those having the case In charge to do JUS
tice.
Instead OF that received letter from the
assistant secretary, ID. l.. Hawkins. dated Nov.
81, informing me that on account of the strong
language had used and fearing thut injustice
might have been done to Laid. the pension
Il G papers In the case been again examine I,
and the decision Is adhered to. Now, Mr..
Editor, what principally complain of, is that
all the proceedings, including the decision in
this case, are eX pafte, and that no opportunity
is allowed the claimant to refnte these eN pnrte
statements, and the fact referred to III the let
ter of the assistant secretary that the papers
his representative being ever invited to be
present, confirms this charge.
The New York HCrdld publishes decis' on
rendered By the pension Office which claim
to be ex parie, made up of eX parte statements,
and In respect TO which / wrote to the honor
able Secretary of the Interior in my letter dated
oct 20, rs follows: eve claim that the record
quoted in the decision in this case Is not cor
the decision nre garbled and ex parte, so as u
manufacture bad-looking case against this
pensiOner."
This charge. It appears, was not taken intC
| consideration when the papers, as / am nov
informed, were again reviewed. nor have
| been invited to sustain the charge. IL Is there
| fore still open. Mr., Editor, why does the pen
| sion Office or the Interior Department. refuse Il
| Teexumire this case and allow the pensione
TO be repIcse nted? Surely, If they are rgh
| and Ladd is wrong, they ought TO be but to;
| glad to establish that fact and give the com
| plninant every opportunity to do so. | an
| incin to believe that they know an injustice
| has been done TO Laid, and they are not VIII
| ing TO acknowledge II. Let the pension com
| missioner and the gentlemen presiding owe
| the Interior Department remember that the
| people Of the United States demand justice fo
| the Union soldiers. ISAAC COHEN.