The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-08-15
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital.
TINE PENSION BUREAU INVESTIGATION.


Pension Bureau investigation thus:
The committee recently appointed by Sec
rotary Noble to investigate the alleged illegal
Teratings Of pensions by the Pension Bureau
officials has completed the FIRST week of its
labors. The original order of Secretary Noble
directed that the investigation should cover all
operations Of the Bureau during the last -
mouths but superficial examination c0nyiuc-
ed the committee that the labor involved in a
searching examination of all cases diudicated
within that time would occupy them at least
six months and SO upon the tacit understand
ing, IL not express direction Of the Secretary,
the committee have thus far confined their
work TO the months Of December in last year
and May in the present year. The e&amiua-
tion covering these months will probably be
completed by next Saturday or early i'm the
coming week, when q report will be made to
Secretary Noble.
Ii is learned from parties believed 10 have
n knowledge of the work Of the committee that
during the month of December last under Com
missioner Blacks administration there were
found TO have been made about I,500 reissues
of pensions, and during the month Of May IN
der Commissioner Tanners administration
about l,o00 reissues. These reissues cover all
clauses known 10 the pension laws aud Include
all cases Of rerating, which, il is said, average
from 3 10 5 per cent. of the whole number of
reissues. Therefore the reratinEs found in
these two months will probably aggregate less
than 209 III is stated further that the Teratings
probably do not average more than from So 10
s. per month. bat the arrears in many cases
are carried back 10 the date of the original APP
plication. some OF them as far as 1855.
- The investigation, so far ms it has gone, is
believed 10 have convinced the committee that
there has been gradual increase i'm the num-
Der OF pensions reratcd since late i'm the Sum
mer or early Fall of last year. IL is conf
IDENTIFY asserted that the committee have dis
rR,~#a e al
character either in the number of reratings or
The amount Of money involved"
THE PRESIDENTS MOVEMENTS
As stated in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE Of last
week, President Harrison and party arrived in
Boston "Wednesday morning, and from that
time until his departure for Bar Harbor Me-,
Thursday evening, continued ovation was
given him. He was baDqueted aud held sew
eFal receptions. and thousands OF the loyal
Yankees shook his hand. He Was kept busy
from his arrival until his departure, which
took place ON Thursday evening. Walker
Blaine was on hand TO escort the party TO Bar
Harb0r. Al almost every station along the
route crowds gathered 10 give the President
welcome, TO which be responded i'm most cases
by simply coming oGt on the platform Of the
ar and bowling 10 the crowd.
The party reached Bar HaFbOr without acct
dent. and the entire village turned out to re-
oeiye the distinguished guests Of tie United
States Premier, Blaine. The party soon made
themselves at home in their new Summer
quarters, and the President received q number
OF distinguished guests.
The ovation given Gen. Harrison at Boston
was perhaps the greatest ever given any living
American, every class Of people trying to do
him honor, and all who could possibly get
within the charmed circle shook his hand.
The banquet was attended by all the notable
people OF Massachusetts, and was a success from
-#
were of frst-class order. The people OF the
Bay State evidently appreciate our President
CLEVELAND AND CAPT LORD.
/ doubt IL any Administration Of these
United States has ever peTpctrated many
petty meannesses as the one that finished itself
last March. It was not alone The sneering
spitefai and wicked pension Eetoes. full Of i'm
suiiing slUrs at the Union soldier or soldiers
HidOWE but there were many other things al
mos. as petty and mean.
Docs any onion nlan believe for moment
that Gen Drums scheme about the rebel Gags
would have been sat upon aE il was il IL had
not been that the indignant 0utcry from the
loyal people aud press of the North burst forth
in condemnation. without respect to party iinesg
Not much Had the protest been confined 10
the opposition alone every rebel flag to-day
would be Ia possession of the men that carried
them against us q quarter-ceBtHFy ago.
Here is q case IN point During the early
days Of the war young boy mp in Maine left
his studies, as thousands Of other young men
did and sh0uidered mHsket I'm the 18th Ne.
where be served aE Sergeant Tor seven months
before be was promoted 20 Lieutenant, early in
1863
ln the Charlottesville campaign, in the fol-
lowing May, be was 50 desperately wounded
that be lost his left leg, and the Surgeons barely
Enoceeded in saving the other He was trans
fcTrtd To the Veteran Reserve C0rps and served
thr Eel srFT
a. Lieutenant in Tie Regular Army. IL one Of
the four regiments for disabled officers and
men.
When the Army was reduced In 1863. 70, be
was transferred 10 the Goth Inf la which be
dad valuable service, despite iis disability for
over u FeaEs-l6 yearE "a First Lieutenant.
AT iAsts IA the Summer Of l5S7. be became the
Senior Lieutenant ia his regiment, and as a
captain had applied 10 be retired al the end Of
August, be EaW promotion in sight at last
dc aidn't get il. Aug. .. 1857. against his
Wish, aud 10 his great surprise, he was placed
On the retired list. and six days later HE junior
received the coveted promotion 10 Gartain
Coming here 70 Washington, his friends inter
ssted themselves IN has behaif, and special
aci 81 Congress was passed, authorizing the
President 10 promote First Lieut.. Thomas w.
Lord 10 be Captain on the retired list.
The act was duly approved, bot despite all
efforts on the part u Capt Lord or such friends
Cleveland would not take action under the
law, and Lord issfill Lieutenant When the
law vas passed this Gossip contained con-
EraiulatOry paragraph regarding the Tighting
Of The injustice done Capt. Lord he was bre-
Eetted Captain for gallantry in acti0nl and
supposed be bad been promoted.
hear that ez Senator Palulef-n0w Minister
Dbpa8n-iBteBdg that the facts Ia this case shal
be brought 10 tie attention Of President Har-
Tlson 90 soOn Ar be has cleared away the appli-
gators for Office, aud do not doubt that with
Ger. Harrison as President, Col Proctor rs Sec
Rotary Of War, and GeE KeitOn az Aaiutant-
General, this gallant officer will at last have
justice done him.
Capt. Lord LAS taken mp his residence here.
and has many devoted friends who will be
glad ~hen be secures his just rights.
VETERANS AUsT DE SELECTED.
Assistant Attorney General Tyner, for the
FOst0iiice Department, in response TO a letter
from w. y. Cooley, Chief Clerk Of that Depart.
ment, asking the law officer " three names
were submitted by the Civil Service Commits
sion Tor appointment, and one Of them was a
discharged soldier or sailor, that the man who
bad seen service must be appointed, suggesting
IN The inquiry that IL the appointing power
were allowed no choice ia such cases ii would
be useless Tor The Commission 10 certify more
than the name Of the eE soldier or sailor re-
piled " that IL but one eligible was certified
that person might become incapacitated and
Hall 70 appear; hence, the convenience and do
hifADiiily OF having three names on the certi-
he'd list" 4his opinion Of Gen TyHeF has been
saF.sNN