The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-29
THE PENSION INQUIRY.
If Any Wrong Has Been Done the Presi-
dent VIII Spare No One.

dent VIII Spare No One.
Washington Special to Philadelphia Inquirer (Rep.)
Commissioner Black while at the head of
the Pension Office. drew not only his liberal
salary as Commissioner, but 500 q month
pension as "a total wreck" Despite the
wreck racket, he fought valiantly for the
presidential nomination until Presi-
dent Cleveland sat down upon his aspira-
tons. Having spent all his money in this
scheme, Blacks admirers who had been
running him got together and arranged to
present him with purse to pay his debts.
This was to be done by a contribution of
s. per capita among the employees. stbey
numbered about 800, sum of at least So
600 was expected. but the anti-ring clerks
would not pony up. The project being In
danger of getting out. 1t was abandoned In
the scope originally intended.
There are a number of persons in every
branch of the service who are drawing two
payments from the government. and In pro-
portion to their influence their rating is
highest.
The trouble with Commissioner Tanner
has been, as far as the talk of the depart
ment goes. in surrendering to the unscrupu-
lous clerks in his Office. Being a willing
subject of their schemes, he has gotten
himself outside of the lines of the law i'll
the premises.
1t is intimated that if the Investigation
should show anything wrong or irregular
the President will spare no one. He pro-
poses to have clean administration, no
matter where it strikes.
The administration of pension affairs is
destined to become an important matter of
Congressional investigation that Will bring
it into party politics, and by the next
national campaign 1T may be anticipated as
a campaign issue. The enormous sums
paid for pensions to persons in every COM
munity who show no visible evidences of
an inability to earn living on account of
wounds or disease contracted in the war
have already produced considerable reflex
of public opinion, even among Republicans.
The wholesale measures likely to follow,
which will keep on until bankruptcy over
takes the national finances. will further
stimulate the movement to fix limit some
where.
There have been grave apprehensons in
the minds of the Republican statesmen of
Congress that the demagogy of the small
fry politicians. in using the iaudable OBJ
jects of the pension law for selfish partisan
purposes, will lead to serious consequences.
1t was admitted by Senator Allison, when
last in Washington, that the re-ratings,
statutory increase and projected en-
largement of the scope of the PEN
sion laws already threatened to con-
sumo the surplus, and might prevent
a revision of the tariff for the reduc-.
ton of revenue on the line of protec-
ton. The prospect of tariff revision is as
much for increasing the duties on some ar
tlcles thus reducing revenue, as for lower
ing where American competition affords
sufficient protection. The Senator seemed
fearful that these re-ratings and other en-
largement of pension expenditures might
necessitate an increase of revenue, which
would necessitate laying new taxes to meet
the expenses of the government on account
of enormous pension expenses. Such q me-
cessity, forced entirely by Republican leg
lslation, would make the pension to soldiers
a boomerang TO STAY the party by the very
measures proDOsed to maintain it's support
by the majority.
A memDer of the administration init
mated that the pension question was one
ton from the President, and the result of
the preliminary investigation would I'M
doubtedly lead to further inquiry.
The development In the pension re-rating
case of Senator Henderson, of Nebraska,
which has been made salient point in the
opening proceedings of the pension inquiry,
IS likely to lead to some interesting details.
1t appears that the Senator in 1865 was
granted pension of SIS a month for half
disability. Since that time he has been
examined several times, but no report has
been made allowing anincreased disability,
despite reputed pains in his back ana legs
Last June, however, his case was called for
by Commissioner Tanners private secreta-
ry, Squlres. a member of the board of re-
view, and by him was turned over to the
medical referee aud few days after the
Nebraska Senator, who is one of the most
active members of the upper branch of
month for life to date from discharge,
which gave him arrearages aggregating
$1,000. The whole transaction consumed
just six days. The parties to this transac-
ton have been dismissed. A medical ex-
animation of the Senator will be ordered,
and if his condition does not indicate total
disability proceedings will be instituted
for refunding of the money.