New-York tribune., 1886-01-09
GENERAL BLACKS EFFRONTERY.
WANTING TO HAVE HIS PREDECESSORS IN.
VESTIGATED.


WASHINGTON, Jan. g." Whom the gods
would destroy they first make mad" Not content
with issuing an annual report replete with false
hood and Misrepresentation, in temper and Ian
guage as libellous and viIulent any campaign
document that partisan malice or political hatred
gave birth to- Commissioner Black has gone so far even
as to induce his friends in the Senate to support
resolution looking investigation of the Pension
Office during the administration OF his Republican
PREDECESSORS Surely q more certain method Of
self destruction could not well be imagined.
General Black Will have no ono to blame
but himself If an investigation OF his office
is ordered the results or such an inquiry there
can be but little doubt. Tho administration OF the
Pension occ last March has been notoriously
for the benefit OF Democratic politicians and so little In
the interest of the soldier that the committee OF in
vestigation will have difficulty In finding material
for just criticism and rightiGl condemnation.
Look ut Commissioners Black himself! What n satire
upon the sense of Justice OF the Administration Here
mau drawing pension OF 800 month"; pension,
mind you higher than that paid any other soldier OF
the late war, be ho maimed or crippled man
blind I'm both eyes, man who has lost his arms, man
whose legs have been carried away, man whom want
suffering and disease have rendered insane, gets only
$72. rho Commissioner OF Pensions receives SIS a
month than what this Government accords to the
unfortunate people l have mentioned. And he is the
only person that draws large an amount o. the
more than 800 a According to General Blacks
own report only 030 draw $72. and
S34 mon $50 month. The remaining 242.637
pensioners all draw less indeed. on the average,
1t ia doubtful whether they draw than - month
each And how did the present head OF the fension
Onice obtain his ponsoni IL was upon the fepresena
capable of any effort" that "his ability 20 pursue MS
life avocatiOn Is permanently Impaired mat no "as
simply destroyed" aud that was "only question ol
how long he will i've"
These we're tho statements mad, upon honor bys
soldier and gentleman which in iuced Republican Al
minstration TO give General Black apepsion higher
than paid TO any other man before Were these
true even The evidence seems TO permit 0t only
For years after the war General Black was
candidate for almost every Office within tho gift OF the
people OF Illinois. He was u candidate for Congress
number OF times he aspirant for Gubernatoris
states often. Does this show that he
is Incapable of any effort and Is II possible ior
destroyed" str ,It to perform tho duties OF the
office OF Commissioner OF Pensions
When General Black became Pension Commissions
IL might have been supposed that he WOMB
Who had fought sid. by side with him and to whom the
hood. lie ,id nothing OF the kinda on tho CONTRARY,
the fact that a man was soldier and Republican
seemed to bo warrant enough many hsancesto mas
For months the official was Kept busy The yigor
protest ON the part OF woman MIss sweet. oi
Chicago PEELED the President to call reluctant halt
General Black obcyed the order IN sullen silence
weeks after the sweet episode he was al hs WotA
again. lie turned out Colonel stephenson, as brave
soldier as ever lived, whose wounds are testimony
enough n that wanting to his worth ana claims 10
recognition and bluhhered crocodile tears when no IN
formed him of his decision. HedscharEei Major laWes
another gallant soldier lie requested the rcsgnation OF
W. +. Ford. He insisted upon the retirement OF pr
Hood. lie said that Captain Fischer
must leave tho office. lie felt it
Ms duty TO dismiss j. V Balon man desperately
wounded NJ Shiloh who had refused 10 make an appica
ton for pension because he still able TO hobblc
abont on crnchcs perform his work 10 tho sat-fac
ton OF the Office II Is sufficient to show what regard
Commissioner Black really has for the sol
he wanted. an examination OF "a Few oi
the appointments made by General Black or upon MS
RECOMMENDATION and with HIS knowledge would furnish
it,
Alta book sale recently OF the auction rooms OF
the CITY knocked down TO the state Depart
nrnt after some spirited bidding. calf bound copy of
The Nrgaia Amanhck for the year OF our Lord 1873
fitting Virginia. Maryland. North Carolina. etc. pub
lished at Williamsburg IN l772 what gives the book
It's chief value the sheets Of writing
paper interleaved IN II covered with
memoranda and account OF personal expenses
during 1873 In tho handwriting OF Thomas Jefferson.
Fight leaves are occupied on both ,hes by his law
cous as they stood the beginning OF the the
end 80 which 4 s,'s."erF gLlL ueS.isS f'1 -. nfss.
ice Tor the xix years from 1907 10 l112 Then follow
covered both sides with legal notes ana
memoranda day by day during the year BE
ginning at tho other end OF the book thirteen
accounts. one page containing Mrs Jenersons receipts
and payments for tho whole year. IN -FOUR remaining
leaves con ain memoranda concerning Mr.. Jenersons
library OF $50 volumes (tferward the nucleus OF the
reaent library OF Cougress tho division OF lands hints
for contracts with etc. The book Is Drowned
by hundred years OF but IA In good condloh
The price paid for it was ~.