St. Paul daily globe., 1889-10-14
MANDERsoN SPEAKS.
He Makes Few remarks on His
Pension Doodle.

Pension Doodle.
WASHINGTON, Oct. Ex-senator Man
derSOn, in returning the money paid to
him under the rerating of his pension,
wrote long letter to Secretary Noble.
After stating that the rerating was un
SO .icited by him (Mandersom the
letter continues: "On Aug. % I ad-
dressed letter to the commissioner,
OF which transmitted you copy, de-
clining to decide the question of accept
ance or rejection of the proffered rerat-
ing until a medical examination bv
board, to be appointed by the pension
Office. had determined the extent of my
present disability. On Sept. IA wrote
you that no examining board having
been appointed, and having had no in
formation that such a board would be
appointed in compliance with my
request, desired full and searching eX-
animation by you to determine whether
the action taken by the pension Office
was such as was warranted by the rules
of proceeding governing such cases. l
stated in my letter that l wished the
StrlcteSt construction of law, rule and
precedent, and that could not consent
to any Stralning of either. l also
requested you, if the proceed
ings were regular, to designate the
board before which [ should appear.
Your last letter gives me your opinion
that the rerating. having been without
application and without examination,
was not in pursuance of the.usual prac-
tice, was not i'll compliance with rule,
and was therefore unwarranted. L
hoped. before final action on my part,
that, as the matter had been precipi-
tated upon me, the opportunity might
be afforded to show it fully
upon its merits rather than
upon any technical ties of procedure.
This is evidently impossible under your
opinions, and without further delay |
send to you the rerated pension certifi-
cate, with the request that you cause it
to be returned to the commissioner of
pensions for cancellation. In thus re-
turning the only evidence | have re-
ceived of the action unadviSedly taken
in my behalf, upon your opinion that it
was not taken in compliance with
law. L am not compelled to
pass my individual Judgment upon
the advisability or propriety of the ac-
ton of the commissioner, whose perfect
integrity and good intentions 10 one
can question. | have kept silent under
the groSSest abuse and most undeserved
attacks, that did not suppose could
come to man who bad tried to do
his duty to his country in her need, and
had been grievously injured in that
endeavor, because l could not
by precii itatiOn of action reflect
upon gallant comrade, who GER
tainly supposed that within the require
nIents of the lawhe was doing kindly
and proper act. 1t is due myself to say,
however. that at no time since i was ad-
xieA ~ % Il
L entertained purpose to retain what
might be due under it for my own use,l
9ut did certainly desire to show nv
right to it if the steps leading to it
had been regular, and had the war
rant of strict law as well as of
substantial right. YOu say in your
opinion: The pensiOner, whose merits
are not to be indicated by pension rat
Ing. was not voluntary party to the
action in this matter, and it appears
that he neither sought nor expected it,
This is, perhaps, full vindicatiOn of the
course | have pursued, and for these
and other kindly words in your court
eOus letter l thank you. Very truly
yours, CHAS. +. MANDERSON."
In an interview Mr. Henderson said
that he had eliminated from the letter
as irrelevant certain views he enter
tdIUcu Will lcSdfu W UtUSlOiIS. llt
government" he said, ''practicallv told
the men who enlisted, You risk your
lives for the stability of the government.
If you come out well and safe there is
10 liability on our part; but If you re-
ceive injuries, then, as far as possible,
We will make you reparatiOn.' Now,
that reparatiOn can be practically made
i'll but one way, and that Is
by giving money reparatiOn,
which, from the magnitude of
the aggregate number of contracts,
must be limited. If it were said that
the INDECENT should receive this repara-
ton, then a slur would be cast upon
everv pensioner of the government,
and. as matter of justice, the reward
should be sufficient for his support.
But that is not the case. The pension
ers of the government are not pauperS,
and indigence is not and should not he
a necessary qualification of the pension
er, and the idea that seemed to be cur
rent to that effect is far from correct"