The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-07-31
The CAPITOL.
LETTER FROM OUR REGULAR
CORRESPONDENT


Secretary Noble has created a
commotion by appointing COM
mittee to investigate the rerating
of pensions for the past twelve
months. "What does it mean !"
was asked on all sides, and all sorts
Of sensational answers have been
given. Your correspondent has in.
terviewed Secretary Noble, Assis-
tant Secretary Bussey and Com.
missioner Tanner on the subject,
and can therefore tell exactly what
it means. For quite awhile Score.
tary Noble has been flooded with
complaints about the looseneas of
the methods in vogue in the
Pension Office in regard to the re-
rating of pensions; it was alleged
that large number Of the employ
ers of that Office had within the last
year had themselves rerated illeg.
ally, and that they were drawing
large amounts of money to which
they were not entitled. At first the
Secretary paid little attention to
these complaints believing them to
be on a par with the usual COM
plants OF the class of people who
oppose our whole pension system
and everything connected there
with. But the complaints continu-
ing to increase he called the
attention of Commissioner Tanner
to the matter, and that gentleman,
after a little investigation, came to
the conclusion that the re.rating
had been very carelessly done, if
there had been no criminality on
the part of the employ eas having
charge of the matter. 1t was then
decided as the best thing to do to
have the system thoroughly inves-
tigated, and at the request of
Commissioner Tanner the same
committee has been authorized to
investigate the charges of favOri-
tism that have been made against
the Office. The system of re-rating
now in use was managed by Gen.
Black when he was Commissioner
of Pensions, and nobody blames
Commissioner Tanner for what has
happened under it, though it is
expected that the investigation will
show that certain employees pre-
sumed on his we'll known friendli-
ness towards the pensioners to
prevent his looking too closely into
the doubtful cases theyihad rerated
The committee now investigating
the matter consists of DR.. Geo
Ewing and H. L. Bruce, of the
board of pension appeals, and
Judge F. l.. Campbell, of the Assis
tant Attorney Generals Office
Their instructions are to get at thu
facts, no matter who they ma!
effect. They are now holding dali!
sessions in a room al the Pension
office.
Attorney General Miller went Il
Deer Park in response to a Telegram
Wednesday to consult with TIN
President about certain matter
relating to the department o
Justice.
1t is said that Thomas Furlong, o
st. Louis, formerly a railroa'
detective. will soon be appointe'
Chief of the Treasury Secret Ser
vice. He was at first opposed b,
Powderly and the labor organiza
tions on account of his work durin
the st. Louis railroad strikes, bu
Powderly has recently written t
the Secretary of the Treasury with
drawing all opposition and hi
appointment is daily expected.
Representative Ewart, of Mort
Carolina denies the report that tn
republican Representatives fror
the south had decided to cast thei
votes for Representative Brewer {
the same state for Speaker of tn
House until they could get thei
claims for patronage recognized b
the administration. Mr.. Ewal
SAYS he has no complaint whateve
to make against the administrator
and that he prefers Mckinley &c
Speaker, but is prepared to supper
Burrough, Cannon or any othe
republican that favors the Blair bi
and the repeal the internal revenu
laws.
Assistant Secretary of the Trea
ury Bachelor does not believe
Mugwumpery. Among the appl
cants for Chief of a division in on
of the bureaus under him was
$1,000 clerk who was heavily el
dorsed by leading republican
Accidently it was learned that ii