The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-12
THE PENSION COMMISSIONERS.
Remarkable Airs of the Inflated Cock-Spas
row Who Presides Over the Pension Bureau

row Who Presides Over the Pension Bureau.
#. O. Crawford, In New York World.
Pension Commissioner Black is credited with
very decided notions of the dignity of his posi-
ton, and is taken that his spacious Office in
the new Pension Building, in Judiciary square,
shall not be invaded with impunity by anybody.
Members OF Congress. as well as ordinary NOR
tails, have felt aggrieved by the exclusiveness OF
General Black, and the opinion is steadily gain
ing that reform in this respect would not be
dspleasing to those who find it necessary to
visit the Pension Office. According TO the Evens
ing Star, Senator Mitchell, who ia chairman Of
the Senate committee on pensions. is very
indignant over having been refused an in
terview by Commissioner Black. He called
at the Pension Office and asked to see the
Commissioner. The messenger al first refused
to take his card in. He insisted that he had
right to enter, and commanded the messenger
to announce him. With much reluctance the
messenger complied. but retired to state that
General Black was busy, and could not be dis
turbed.
''Does he know who amt asked the Senator.
Eyes, sir; but he's busy" replied the mes
senger.
The Senator went into the deputy's room and
requested to be shown into the presence of the
Commissioner, expressing. the opinion that, al
chairman of the pension committee. he had the
right to see the pension officials on business.
The deputy took him into the room where Gen.
Black sat looking over his mail As they en-
tered the General looked up for an instant. and
then, without saying word, went on with his
work and completed it before stopping to see
what his visitor wanted.
Special to New York Tribune.
The administration of the Pension Office since
last March has been so VIGOROUSLY for the benea
fit of the Democratic politicians and lutte ia
the interest of the soldier that the committee OF
investigation will have no difficulty in finding
material for just criticism and rightful condem-
nation.
Look at Commissioner Black himself! What
a satire upon the sense of justice of the admins
traton. Here is man drawing pension OF
800 month"; pension, mind you, higher than
that paid to any other soldier of the late war be
he ever so MANNED or crippled. A man blind in
both eyes, man who has lost his arms man
whose legs have been carried away, man whom
want, suffering and disease have rem
dered insane, gets only $72. The
Commissioner of Pensions receives 500
month more than what his government accords
to the unfortunate people 1 have mentioned
And he is the only person that draws so largo an
amount. On the entire pension list there is not
single man that gets more than $l00 month.
According to General Blacks own report only
$50 men draw $72. and 834 men $50 month.
The remaining 242 637 pensioners all draw less;
indeed. on the average. it is doubtful whether
they draw more than So a month each. And
how did the present head of the Pension Depart
ment obtain his pensions 1t was upon the rep
resentation that be was physical wreck" that
he was incapable of any effort, that mis- abil-
ity to pursue his life avocation is permanently
impaired" and that it was 'only question Of
how long he will live"
These were the statements made upon honor
by a soldier and gentleman, which induced
Republican administration to give General Black
pension higher than was ever paid to any other
man before Were these statements true at the
time they were made, or are they true even nowf
The evidence seems to permit of only one an
swer. For years after the war General Black
was a candidate for almost every Office within
the gift of the people of Illinois. He was a can
didate for Congress number of times; he was
an aspiraut for gubernatorial honors twice. and
he hoped to secure a seat in the United States
Senate at least as often. Does this show that
he is incapable Of any effort and is it possible
for a physical wreck" man that sis simply
destroyed" to perform the duties of the Office of
Commissioner of Pensions9
When General Black became Pension Com
missioner it might have been supposed that he
would display some regard at least for those
veterans who had fought side by side with him
and to whom the Pension Office furnished the
means of pecarious livelihood He did moth
ing of the kind On the contrary. the fac*
that a man was soldier and Republican
seemed to be warrant enough, in many instances,
to hasten the new Commissioners zeal in the
cause of reform" For months the official AZ
was kept busy. The vigorous protest on the
part of woman, Miss Sweet, of Chicago, COM
PEELED the President TO call reluctant halt.
General Black obeyed the order in sul.en silence.
A few weeks after the Sweet episode he was at
his work again. He turned out Colonel
Stephenson, as brave a soldier as ever
lived, whose wounds are testimony enough b, ;f
they were wanting to Lis worth and claims To
recognition, and blubbered crocodile tears when
he informed him Of his decision. He discharged
Major Halves, another gallant soldier He re-
quested the resignation of w. T. Ford He in
sisted upon the retirement of DR. Hood. He
said that Captain Fischer must leave the Office.
He feltit his duty to dismiss ]. Y. Ballou, man
desperately wounded at Shiloh, who had refused
to make an application for q pension because ha
was still abe to hobble about on crutches and
perform his work to the satisfaction of the Office
Tits sufficient to show what regard Commissioners
Black really has for the soldiers But il any ad-
ditional evidence should be wanted an exami-
nation of a few of the appointments made by
General Black, or upon his recommendation and
with his knowledge, would furnish it.
Democratic Debt.
Columbus Republican.