The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-15
It Established Precedent That Has Been
Since Followed in Similar Re-Ratings Made
By Commissioners Black and Tanner.
Indians Who Will Soon Be Allowed to
Vote, and the Efect0n Dakota Politics.
Reed and McKinley's Contest for the Speaker
ship-Indianian for Postmaster ofthe House
The Fight Against Senator Ingalls,.
PENSION RE-RATINGS.
Difference Between Senator Manderson's Case
and Others Allowed by Black and Tanner.

Difference Between Senator Manderson's Case
and Others Allowed by Black and Tanner.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14.-It is learned that
Secretary Mobiles, decision in the re-rated
pension case of Senator Manderson, in
which, as indicated in the Senator's letter
to the Secretary. it is held that his re-rat-
ing was unlawful, was arrived at some
weeks ago. though not made public, and
thus established a precedent. which has
since been followed by the department in a
number Of similar cases. Senator Mander-
son, however, it is said. occupied a some
what different position from a majority Of
the pensioners re-rated by Commissioners
Black and Tanner. and particularly those
who occupy official positions in the Pension
Bureau. His case was considered and an
increased pension all ed him without
any application on his re or, in fact, any
knowledge that his cas- 8 being consid-
cred with view to AMI ase. until he had
received his certificate from the Commits
sioner of Pensions. Without drawing
the arrearages that the certificate
showed were due him. Senator Man
derson at once wrote to the Secretary Of
the Interior, inquiring whether the
increase in mis- case was made in accord
ance with law. The Secretary. in response,
forwarded to the Senator a COPY of de-
cisiOn which had just been made IN his case,
in which it was held as before stated. that,
while the Senator was wholly blameless in
the matter the re-rating and increase were
clearly in violation of law. Ihereupon.
Senator Manderson promptly returned the
certificate to the department., that it might
be cancelled.
''One important difference" said an Inte-
rior Department. official, to-day. between
Senator Manderson's case and the other
cases, particularly those of the pension OFF,
Gals. is that he first sought TO ascertain
whether the re-rating was lawful, and.
having found that it was illegal, forthwith
returned the certificate without drawing
the money. Another distinctive feature in
the Senator's case is that he made no appli-
cation for re-rating. While this is also
true of some of the others, 1T Is not true or
large number"
1t is learned that there are twenty-one of
the employees of the Pension Office whose
ratings have been increased 1t is said
that among the first duties the new Com
missioner will be called upon to perform
will be the recovery of all moneys illegally
paid on pension claims. The Commissioners
undoubtedly has this right, and in those
cases where the money has been placed be-
yond the reach of the law. the governments
can apply all future pension payments to
the liquidation of the debt. So far, how
ever. no attempt has been made to recover
any of the moneys so unlawfully paid. A
number of the twenty-one employees of the
Pension Office whose pensions were re-
rated and increased have left the govern
ment service since this action was taken.
A large proportion of the number, however.
are still in Office, and it, therefore, will be
comparatively easy to compel repayment
by Withholding both salary and pension
until the debt is cancelled. 1t is stated at
the department that number of re-ratings
were made during the latter part of Conn
missioner Blacks administration, some of
which were in every feature as irregular as
any allowefby Commissioner Tanner.