New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-17
the theatre After distributing tho dipomts- no re-
inaiued u short time tina platform.
COMMISSIONER BLACK IN A CORNER.
FAILING AGAIN TO PROVE HIS CHARGES AGAINST

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FAILING AGAIN TO PROVE HIS CHARGES AGAINST
Ex-COMMissioNEW DUDLEY.
WASHINGTON, June 16 tSpcciaD.
cenrniss oner Blncks frantic attempts to prove that
party Considerations entered into tho question OF grant
ing pensions with predecessor have placed him IN An
awkward position. He has nv for several weeks boon
ransackug tho flies OF his bureau With tho object OF
discovering in which applications Tor pensions
granted purely political grounds but so far no
has not succeeded In finding single case. He arrived
the of the Senate Committee investigating this
matter with bundle OF papers this morning which he
thought would clearly provo tho wholesale Islander
which he launched against Commissioner Dudley
ia his annual report. but under the close and rigid
cross-examnation OF Senator Harrison, General Black
was for ada that he had made out and
that ridiculous charge OF "poiIics in tho Pension
Office under Republican Administrations" was based on
nothing except his dis ordered Imagination. The case
considered to-day that OF JOHN H. Spurrie Assist
ant surgeon OF the 18th Indiana Regiment Spurrier was
badly used mp during short clmpasD a. shown by the
records falling victim finally to chronic diarrh@a and
nasal eatarrh which PEELED hts retirement from the
service lie applied for a pension. and without any
solicitation bis part Congressman Crmbacx OF
Indiana wrote to Commissioner Dudley, under date OF
October %. 1882, as follows:
II saw DR.. spurrer at Rn'hvil e this
wants 10 20 another climate, hut he can't until lie
gcts his pension He Is good man and an active
mttee and I anxious that his good LIE may he
spared. Can you take up MS claim and have it put
through | hope yOu can"
The case WAS made n special and tho pension
granted after thorough investigation by the proper
officials. There is evidence that its favorable const-
fastened by Mr. Cumb cks letter or that the
rules the violated in dealing with the case.
Even General Black willing TO admit that the claim
a Just one but that reference shonld have been
made 10 the claimants political seryices--thss Mr..
Black with eyes raised to the ceiling OF the room, &C.
clarod highly improper.
Being asked by Harrison whether the claim,
respective OF the reference tO political services l nos
iusiify being made" special General Black grudg-
ingly admitted that il dtd. once more Mr.. Harrison
asked whether It would not be fair % a-eume that Com
missioner dudley had acted upon tie merits OF me case
but General Black after moving re,fe-sy about IN MS
chair. finally blurted out something about Mr. Cum
backs experience in public affairs and his knowledge Of
the WHY. that would make the wheels 20 round rms
extraordinary assertion led sharp cross examlna-
ton part OF Senator Harrison lie insisted NJ on
knowing what General Black meant by making tle
wheels 20 round" but the latter eyade1 al dircct
questions last sail that Mr.. Cumb1ck in his de'ra
have the claimants put through wa not MN 10
omit anything that would facilitate that end.
The next taken up was that or CONGRESSMAN
Ifoul of Tennessee The records showed that Mr.
Iouck ableu in the service and That he h M made
application for pension which Application was sup
ported By ihe atdavits OF two physicians. Mr.. Houk
his pension AMI also reiues: that his case he maze
special. This ali General Black had TO submit or
the present. and pen ling the investigation OF MT.
Iouls case the committee adjourned.