National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-07-15

-ObDging Con. Rosecrans.
The examination Of Pension Commits
sloner Black was continued by the Senate
committee on expenditure of public money
yesterday morning. Senator Plumb pro-
duced the official papers in the case Of Peter
Whine, Of the I'd United States infantry,
and asked Gen. Black II the case was granted
under his administration.
The commissioner, after examining the
papers, replied In the affirmative. Nearly
an hour and half was consumed In read
ing the papers in the case. From these IL
appeared that claimant based his application
upon q wound claimed to have been received
at Cold Harbor, where he was taken prls-
oner, and upon an attack Of chronic piles,
from which he claimed to have suffered per-
manent disability. The paper disclosed the
entire absence OF any record evidence Of
either the wound, of the disease, or OF
treatment In the hospital or elsewhere for
them. In fact, there were two witnesses In
claimants behalf, one Of whom was pro-
.nounced by the examiners to be bad char
acter-"a dog fighter, cock fighter, and q
veryhard drinker."
The testimony of the other was marked
doubtful" on the ground that he had him
self tried to secure pension by fraudulent
means. Both these witnesses were them
selves applicants for pensions and Winnie
was witness for each. The records as far
as they were read show that the examiners
passed adversely upon the claim because OF
the absence OF any valid evidence In Its
favor. Commissioner Dudley had written
TO the claimant notifying him that further
evidence was required and specifying It's
oh ali "A 4.
OF number OF men who were supposed to
know something Of the case. Gen. Black
caused similar letters to be written, and In
reply to au inquiry by Senator Plumb said
he did not know of any subsequent testl-
mony received in the case. He suspected
that none had been received. On the 4th
Of June, 1885, Gen. w. s. Rosecrans wrote
to Commissioner Black that he (Rosecrans)
had seen most Of the papers In the case aud
was clearly OF the opinion that further dila-
tory motions ought not to be allowed.
Upon this letter Commissioner Black In
dorsed to the chief of the southern division:
"Action; make special. (signed) Commits
sioner.n
On the 9th day Of June Gen. Black
wrote to Gen. Roseerans informing him
that the case had been made special, aud
placed In the hands OF new examiner,
who reported that the record OF the War
Department did not corroborate the claim
ants application as to the origin of the
disability. This letter recited in brief the
evidence In claimants favor, and declared
that further evidence was required. A
postscript to this letter appears In Gen.
Blacks handwriting aslfollows: "Dear Gen.
eral; Please call, j. @. B.n
Mr.. Plumb asked II any OF the testimony
called for In that letter was Furnished; TO
which Gen. Black replied ~ don't know
except from an examination of the files.n
An examination of the files showed that
there was no additional testimony except a
denomination Of the two doubtful wit
nesses. Papers of subsequent date written
by the examining authorities Of the PEN
sion Office restate at great length the de.
fective nature Of the testimony In claim
ants favor, and the utter absence of record
evidence Of disability. Upon the back of a
report, dated the 26th day Of August, 1885,
was an Endorsement by the commissioner
deciding that the claim for piles should be
rejected, and the claim for wound should
be admitted. The decision continued
"The fact that he was prisoner when
wounded prevented his furnishing further
testimony Senator Plumb produced q
letter dated Aug 90, 1885, addressed to
Gen. Black, marked "personaW and be-
ginning my Dear General: You were so
kind as to take some pains beyond your
dutysabout the case Of Peter WHINE"
1t was now about 11:30, and Senator
Beck, who had two or three times init
mated that he must go into the Senate to
attend to some business In the morning
hour, arose, and in tone which indicated
length Of the examination, said
that he should not remain any longer, and
that he proposed to state what the commits
sioner could prove in the Senate ON the
very first opportunity.
"Very well, Senator" said Senator Har-
rison, 1--WE will be there"
Senator Kenna asked leave to introduce
resolution, and at the same time Senator
Plumb proceeded with the reading of the
letter. The chairman recognized Senator
KeDna, who offered resolution that the
committee sit on next Saturday, aud that
the commissioner of pensions be requested
to lay before the committee all document
airy evidence In his possession material to
the inquiry touching the conduct Of the
pension office.
brief, but rather spirited and irregular
colloquy between Senator Kenna on
the one side, and Senators Harrison and
Plumb on the other followed. During the
colloquy Senator Plumb succeeded In read
ing the letter, and 1t went into the record
as follows:
Personal. l-TREAsURY DEPARTMENT, REGs-
TER's OFFICE, Aug, %, 1ss5-My Dear General
You were so kind as to take some pains be-
yoDd your duty about the case of Peter Wynne
" ItVueht. from tnc leltOf giving
the outcome OF your examination and the due
bill of the special examiner TO Peter Wynne, 1t
Is clear 70 mt that the examiner did not tell
himself and see the papers he has. This Will
oblige me, who would otherwise call person.
ally with Mr.: Wynne. who Is u very honest
man. Your friend, W. 3. RosEcRANs.
Gen. j. s. BLACK, Pension Office.
Senator Plumb said that he was willing to
sit on Saturday or at any other time TO con-
tinue the investigation, and tho commits
sioner could have the opportunity to submit
papers for the examination Of the commit
tee, SO far as he (Plumb) was concerned,
wheneverhe might choose. But he never
would consent to have eX parte aflldavlts
gathered from all parts Of the country put
Into the record without being first exam
ined by the committee to see II they were
material.
After some further discussion the resolu-
tlon was voted down by party vote. The
chairman said that II II was at all consistent
with senatorial duties, he would ask mem
bers OF the committee to come together on
next Saturday.
Senator Kenua said he would ask the
commissioner to bring such papers with
him as he might think Important.
The committee thereupon adjourned,
leaving the Wynne case suspended at IN in
teresting point and "to be continued at the
next meeting"
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