Telegram-herald., 1889-12-06
PENURI0US UNCLE sAN
AS 3 Debt Payer lie Is Pre-
Tough Ola Customer.
Eieh Enossh ~ Pa. But N0t taeiiusi g
DO ft fiii tas 81 C.sals pssis4--Nor - tiv
AlSass a. Ezss bt&a a. ner@
ksE-saFR Eisiag Statements

N El4E san - Alea O. taf - -r-ses
5.zs it L pruaslpls ~irh aln not O. pay them
as long ~ hs CAL asoll is. All wnal be Knows
about rel tape and al tbs hooxs and CROOKS
4 deiay l. a. there Is ~ Know. Every fe~
DAYS ons hears n th= paynlsnt ~ some claim
o. ths government q tas heirs = second o.
third generations Of the original claimant.
Taere ~as one s1ch eess not long sgo. Tar
tY-tares ys4rs zgo = Ual lost four or I've
government warrants Two q them ~ers
foalnd, ami oa beng presented 70 the treas
ury ~ lbs finders were pad
The others never Turned up, and, thougd
the owner proved u the satisfaction Z every
body bar the comptroller II the treasury
that these other warrants nad met different
fate tnan that hich befel me two which had
ucen presented for payment. and had indeed
been destroyed, the comptroller clung 10 the
possibility Of the warrants being m the hands
u innocent holders, and refused 70 order TO
lssIe aud payment.
The decision Of the Comptroller In such
rase Is supreme. IL cannot DC reviewed by
the president OF the supreme court. Tie
president may discharge the comptroller and
appoint one 10 his hiking, and the new comp
lroller may review and reverse decision,
and that Is the ONLY manner ia which the
sovereignty ot the first comptroller can be
attacked
Wen, IN the case spoken OF, comptroller
after comptroller upheld the decision against
the claimant The sons OF the original claim
ants, and finally their SONS, pressed for set
tlemeut, and al last, after more than third OF
a century. Comptroller Matthews reco snizes
the equities, reverses all former decisions and
gives the people their money. II they could
only set interest for the full period they
would be made rich.
Mrs John A. Logan is one Of the most
popular women in tho United States Her
husband was tho hero Of thousands OF sol
diers. No one would think there would be
the slightest trouble about Mrs Logan get
ting pension from the government But
there Is good deal Of trouble. She owns a
beautiful span OF coach horses, the gift OF a
friend, but she dare not bring them TO Wash
ingtOn till the pension matter shall be settled
in congress. Were Mrs. Logan TO ride
through the streets behind a pair OF horses
worth a thousand dollars apiece, people
would talk and ask each other what need she
had o. a pension-as if the quality Of
the horses her friends give her has aught
TO do with the justice OF her claim upon
the government and her country. But
Uncle Sam has a great deal more prejudice
than sentiment, and Mrs. Logan does well to
be careful.
Why, that most admirable lady is criticized
because she lives in fine house surrounded
by beautiful grounds, and because she smiles
and laughs and charms people as if life were
still bright aud good 10 her. These critics
think an applicant for a widows pension
should wear sackcloth and ashes and pass her
days in weeping. The people who oppose
Mrs. Logans pension cannot forgive her for
spending money at the Halliday sale. Old
Ben Halliday, after getting rich running the
overland stage line 70 California, filled large
house in this city-the one now occupied 10y
Secretary Noble-with the choicest furniture,
works OF art and curios that money could
bur. After his death there was n sale Mrs.
Logan attended for two days and made many
such purchases as a japanese tea set for S1S5.
The critics think that should be enough to de-
feat her pension bill, but nobody else is able
TO see the connection between the Halliday
sale and pension TO the widow of brave Gen.
Logan.
Uncle Sam is often downright cruel and
unjust in his unwillingness to pay obligations
till be is forced to do SO. A poor woman died
in this city tue other day, week or two be-
erty, as she had lived for twenty years Her
claim had been pending for quarter of cen
tury, and during the last ten or twelve years
she had done nothing else than press it upon
the attention OF lawyers and officials There
is 10 good reason why it should not have
been allowed years ago, for it was a perfectly
just claim. 1t was finally paid, but not till
the poor woman had ceased 10 need it. The
-. -r..t
headstone for her grave.
There was discharged from the govern
ment service the other day a man named
Barton. lie was a chief Of division in the
war department, and there was nothing
against him except that he did not have the
right kind Of politics. But two or three
years ago this gentleman, by his zeal and
adroitness, prevented the government being
swindled out Of $3.50, 900 on a fraudulent
claim. The claim had been proved TO the
satisfaction Of the officials to whom it was
referred, and an appropriation for its pay
ment mad been passed in congress. when
Barton set to work, and fairly, at toe risk Of
his life, succeeded in securing evidence which
defeated the conspiracy. Not long afterward
he asked for an increase of 500 year in his
salary and was refused. Now hs is dis
charged.
Tho employe of an individual, or even of
corporation, like a railway or steamship com
uanv. could insure himself life employment
aud pension by saving 10 his employers
s2s6,OOO But the government is literally.
corporation without a soul IL knows not
what gratitude is
Our Uncle Samuel is n pretty hard task
master One would imagine that the presi-
l.. 4 4 L
heart could wish for. the most complete hap
pinsSs. But here u whAtone Of the brightest
and most obegving public men Of his day,
Congressman Mckinley. thinks Of tho delights
II the presidency: When the last crowd be
fore election has been seen by the candidate
f1r president, SAYS Mr. Mckinley, when for
the last time the man who * soon % become
a ruler hears The admiring shouts q bis fol-
lowers. looks 10 a sea u faces turned toward
him as toward their leader. he has had AL
there is in the presidency Nothing remains
but labor. worry. responsibility, vsxAtion.
tbe necss<ity u rlppreszng sentiment and
r.R. ysars q the most absolute sacrifice
he man who wants b b. happy docs not a.
well - aspire D. the presidency Aud Jet
Mr McKmley Is altogethor Wiling O. "a
PRESIDENT fhough he must know rhersof %
sreaks. A. ia vas tae intimate friend - fwo
presidents Hayes AMI oaraeii
One q tho prominent o1lce hoi3crs ~ this
administrsiion. \ man wha has 500 mnch
slerssa r. First AEsfenl fostnasfer General
Clarha1n ue is nos infatuated ~lth puhlic
servir~. and ia likely - r-slrs sit months ~
a. hence VI CAfks1n sas farmers son.
q rosr rasr's EN-. -nf knsr shat fh- hari
ss.fs af E.Tni SO -ns re- a-~l affs~
yoke n oxen from bis fsther'z home Ia ths
Interior - ~ sfas~. f. Davenport ~ fu
bu4ur sft~r ioai n umf~f iounaeyiag Al
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