New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-21
PROVING PENSION FRAUDS.
THE PHYSICAL wRECK' UNDER FIRE.

THE PHYSICAL WRECK" UNDER flhh.
HOW PENSION CERTIFICATES HAVE BEEN Is
SUED WITHOUT APPLICAToN-CITING A
CASE
WASHINGTON. April 2o.--In the general debate
on tho Pension Appropriation bill in the House
to-day General Henderson, OF Iowa, threw the
Democrats into great confusion and startled the
entire House by producing proof that the Phys
ical Wreck" in charge Of the Pension Bureau had
been guilty Of at least one gross violation of tho
law for the benefit Of veterans Of the Mexican
War General Henderson had read statements to
prove that the claim set up by Black that, under
this Administration. pension claims have been
adjusted with greater promptitude than under Re
publican Administrations, Is baseless and untrue.
No Democrat was ready TO deny the proof. he
then called attention TO the unusual expedition
with which claims under the Mexican bill have
been settled.
~Why,s said he, = in some osses certificates were
issued to men who never had applied for pensions
urdcr that act A Democrat challenged INN to
nilmo such case. Z" I will do il for the benefit
Of my Democratic brother" replied Mr.. Henderson
. / respect a man of an inquiring turn Of mind
and am always ready to crafty him whom it is in
my power.'
General Henderson then said that no desired, In
the first place. to call attention to the third section
any person shall be placed on the pension roll
proof shall be made Of the right Of the applicant
to pension. He wanted members Of the House
to notice that the Commissioner of Pensions could
not lawfully grant pension until an application
had been filed and proof made. He then sent up
to the clerks desk to be read slip from Chicago
paper which set forth that Black had ordered
pension certificate to be issued to Colonel William
\. Morrison that the clerk to whom he gave tho
order objected that Morrison had filed no applcar
tion that Black replied to the effect that he per-
sonally knew that Morrison was private soldier
in the Mexican War and served for more than sixty
days and was entitled 10 pension that thereuPon
Q pension certificate issued and sent to Nor
rison, who returned 1t 10 Black with curt note
stating that he never had applied for pension
under the act, And thanking the fhyslcal
Wreck" for bis courtesy.
GENERAL HENDERSON CITES AUTHORITIES.
The Democrats did not know that Henderson
bad anything back and Mcdonald, Of Minnesota
and one or two others fatty denied the truth Of
the statements In the newspaper paragraph.
@Wen, now. II you will be patient. will show
you that it Is true" remarked Henderson, after a
modest pause, and then he sent up and had read
letter from Morrison to Mrs Mulhgan United
States Pension Agent at Chicago In which he
stated that greatly to his surprise, he had re-
oeived from her check on account Of the first
settlement due him on O certain certificate Tor q
pension for his services IN the Mexican War. lie
never naQ uppueQ IOr any ptucion5
ahe check The Democrats looked blank. Fl
nally Outhwaite Of Ohio, who used to be a school
master. rose. with some afectation, and SAID
well now, give US another. You have said
that you could sHs rsfSrsa lou nave 0
1T seems to he It would DO better for you TO hke
notice this before sskng for others You cannot
escape the point This man. this pious Commissioner.
who distinguished himself In his hrs, report by try
Ing TO oboouy mis- predecessor brother soldier
who had part his body the battle field who said
that Pension Bureau from turret to founda
ton political machine has undertaken TO violate the law
He only prevented from doing by the honesty Of
gallant soldier OF his party who refused to have
share or DO tho beneficiary Of such q transaction.
would he have refused II he had been q
Republican, shouted two or three Democrats.
a All, well. do not know replied Henderson;
that the Commissioner of Pensions has violated
the law for the benefit OF q member Of his own
political party That is the point in this case. .
The DEMOCRATS had no moo to say. General sll
80 the subject of pensions, read long and care
fully prepared speech on the subject. AfteT
II was passed 1t appropriates $500 1880.