The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-04-28
That 480, 900.
fContinued from frat page

right. The writer OF the article in the
Gazette may be that sort of man, but
the soldiers are made Of better stuff.
1t is charged in the article that six
special Pension Examiners we're sent to
this county in the campaign Of 1884 to
aid and assist me-to.wit: Zeverly, La
Force, Pagenhoff, Patton, Scale aud
Boardman. It is a sufficient answer to
this to say that during the campaign
Boardman was stationed in the Territory
of Dakota, Patton was stationed in the
State OF Kentucky and Scale was sta
toned at Terre Haute, Indiana. They
came home day or two before the cleo
ton to vote. That is all. As to La Force
and Pagenhoff have no recollection Of
their being in the district at that time.
They may have been here but I did not
see them. Zeverly was, I think, station.
ed at Hillsboro. I have no knowledge
that he took any part in politics, and ]
feel quite sure that he did not, for the
reason that the rules of the Pension De-
partment at that time especially forbade
special examiners from taking any part
in political campaigns while on duty.
The Pension Department while under
the administration Of Col. Dudley was
never used as a political machine. One
year ago last winter committee Of the
House of Representatives, composed Of
a majority Of Democrats, was instructed
to examine the Pension Department. 1t
was sought to charge C,l. Dudley with
using his official position to promote the
interests of the Republican party. After
an investigation lasting four months and
the taking Of an immense amount of tes-
timony, the committee found nothing
and in its report abandoned the idea of
attempting to implicate Col. Dudley.
A similar investigation by a committee
OF the United States Senate has been go
ing on during. the present session and
has resulted in the same way. The
most rigid examination shows that Col.
Dudleys's administration OF that Office
was eminently wise, honorable and effic.
lent.
The same, however, can not be said oi
the Pension Department at the present
time. The whole machinery and power
OF that office is now used to promote the
interests of the Democratic party. Spec.
ial examiners whose whole duty should
be to investigate obscure and difficult
pension claims are now sent out over the
country with instructions to devote their
time to political business only. They
are paid out OF the Treasury of the
United States to hunt up evidence
against Republican officials. Instead oi
spending their time in the proper duties
OF their Office, they 60 from town te
town and house to house, seeking tc
find and manufacture scandals against
Republicans to be used in the approach
ing political campaign. Wherever they
can find dissatisfied person or a claim
agent who wants to obtain favor with
the party in power and can persuade him
to say something to the prejudice OF the
last administration they do it. They
take the affidavits of these people and
file them in the Pension Department tc
be used as political thunder in the next
contest. The Gazette publishes the fact &
little prematurely. Ihave been aware ol
it for some time. One of these special ex'
aminers under Government pay came tc
this district. His conduct while here
was not only violation of his duties al
an officer, but was absolutely disgrace
full. His performances are pretty vel
known. In one instance he produced 6
bottle OF whisky and tried to get pen
sioner drunk, hoping to find something
against the Republicans, but he failed
for the reason that the soldier had moth
ing to tell. He went from pensioner te
pensioner and by threats or coaxinl
tried to obtain affidavits. So earnest die
he become that he would stop people ir
the road and inquire of them if they
could give him any information agains
me or the Republican party. In mos
cases he was treated with the contemp
he deserves. am told, however, tha
he obtained some affidavits. About th'
time he left he confidentially informed
one of our citizens that he was gettini
evidence to be used in the next cam
paisn.
Here we have the disgusting spectacle
Of an official of the Pension Department
travelling over the country at Govern
ment expense-his railroad fare, hote
bills and salary paid out of the publ
treasury, while he is getting materials t.
aid the Democratic party in its efforts t
retain power in the country. In tn