Mower County transcript., 1889-07-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.,
(From our Regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, July 26, 1889.

WASHINGTON, July 26, 1889.
Secretary Noble has created a commo-
ton bv appointing committie to In
vestigate the relating 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 inter.
viewed Secretary Noble, Assistant Sec.
retary Bussey and Commissioner Tanner
on the subject, and can therefore tell
exactly what it means For quite q
while Secretary Noble has been flooded
with complaints about the looseness OF
the methods in vogue in the pension
office in reguard te the re-rating of pen
sions; it was alleged that large number
of the employees of that office had within
the last year had themselves rerated
Illegally, 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 par with the
usual complaints OF the class of people
who oppose our whole pension system
and everything connected Herewith.
But the complaints continuing to increase
he called the attention of Commissioner
Tanner to the matter. and that gentle
man, after 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 employees
having charge of the matter. 1t was then
decided as the best thing to do, to have
the system thoroughly INVESTIGATED, and
at the reques: of Commissioner Tanner
the same committee has been authorized
to investigate the charges of favoritism
that have been made against the Office.
The system of re rating now in use was
managed by Gen. Black when he was
Commissioner, and nobody blames Com
missioner Tanner for what has happened
under it, though it is expected that the
investigation will show that certain en-
ployes presumed on his we'll known
friendliness towards the pensioners, to
prevent his looking to closely into the
doubtful cases they had re rated. 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 Assist
ant Attorney Generals office. Their in
structions are to get at the facts, no
matter who they may effect. They are
now holding daily sessions in room at
the pension Office.
Attorney General Miller went to Deer
Park in response to telegram, Wednes
day to consult with the President about
certain matters relating to the depart
ment of Justice.
1t is said that Thomas Furlong, of St..
Louis formerly a railroad detective, will
soon be appointed Chief of the Treasury
Secret Service, He was at first opposed
by Powderly and the labor organization
on account of his work during the St..
Louis railroad strikes, but Powderly has
written to the Secretary of the Treasury
withdrawing all opposition and his ap-
pointment is daily expected.
Representative Ewart, of North
Carolina denies the report that the re-
publican Representative from the south
had decided to cast their votes for Rep
resentative Brewer of the same state for
Speaker of the House until they can
get their claims for patronage recognized
by the administration. Mr.. Ewlart says
he has no complaint whatever to make
against the administration, and that he
prefers Mckinley for Speaker, but is
prepared to support Burroughs, Cannon
or any other republican that favors the
Blaine bill and the repeal of the internal
revenue laws.
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Bachelor does not believe in Mugwum-
perry. Among the applicants for Chief
of division in one of the bureaus under
him was 1900 clerk who was heavily
endorsed by leading republicans. Ac-
cidentlY it was learned that the same
clerk was an applicant for the same posi-
ton under the last administration and a
few minutes search revealed the fact that
at that time his endorsers were all demo
Gratis He is one of the thrifty kind that
always manages to keep solid with the
party in power. He not only got left in
getting promotion but, it having been
found necessary in order to keep within
an appropriation for two $1,000 clerks to
be reduced to 81 400, he was one of them.
The impression among most republi-
cans is that the civil service commission
is unnecessarily bothering itself about
the discharge of certain democratic
officials There is no law to prevent dis
charges.
It has been found necessary to make a
change IN the civil service rules governing
the Railway Mail Service. The laborers
are to be excepted.
The Presidents horses have been tax en-
to Deer Park.
The W. G. Coup Show at the Rochester
Fair Sept. to ].