The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-07-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
rom our regular Correspondent

|
it mean" was asked on all sides, aud
all sorts Of sensational answers have
been given. Your correspondent has
interviewed Secretary Noble, Assist.
ant Secretary Bussey and Commission.
er Tanner on the subject, and can
therefore tell exactly what it means.
For quite while Secretary Noble has
been flooded with complaints about
the looseness Of the methods in vogue
in the Pension Office in. regard to the
re rating Of pensions; it was alleged
that q large number Of the employees
of that office had within the last year
had themselves re.rated illegally, and
that they were drawing large amounts
of money to which they were not en-
titled. 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 in
crease he called the attention of Com.
missioner Tanner to the matter, and
that gentleman, after q little investi.
CATION, 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 request of Commissioner
Tanner the same committee has be n
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
of Pensions, and nobody blames Com.
missioner Tanner for what has hap.
pened under it, though it is expected
that the investigation will show that
certain employees presumed on his well
known friendlness toward the pen.
sioners to prevent his looking too
closely into the doubtful cases they
had re.rsted. The committee now in.
vestigatiDg the matter consists Of DIR.
Geo. Ewing and H. L. Bruce, of the
board of pension appeals and Judge
F. L. Campbell, of the Assistant At
torpey Generals office. Their in.
structions are to get at the facts, no
matter who they may affect. They
are now holding daily sessions in a
room at the Pension office.
Attorney General Miller went tc
Deer Park in response to a telegram
Wednesday to consult with the Presi
dent about certain matters relating tt
the department Of Justice.
1t is said that Thongs -i';i I ;aillong, o
St. Louis, fnrRierly railroad detect
lye5 Will soon be appointed Chief 0
7 the Treasury Secret Service. He wa
at first opposed by Powderly and th,
labor organizations on account Of hi
work during the St. Louis railroad
strikes, but Powderly has recently
written to the Secretary Of the Treas
ury Withdrawing all opposition anc
his appointment is daily expected.
Representative Ewart, of Nortl
Carolina, denies the report that th,
. Republican Representatives from tn
South had decided to cast their vote
for Representative Brewer of the SAM
, state for Speaker Of the House unit
they could get their claims for patron
! age recognized by the administration
E Mr.. Ewart says he has no complain
whatever to make against the admin
istration, and that he prefers McKin
ley for Speaker, but is prepared t
support Burroughs, Cannon or an
s other Republican that favors the Blai
}. bill and the repeal of the interna
revenue laws.
Assistant Secretary Batchellor doe
not believe in Mugwumpery. Anon
the applicants for Chief of divisio
r in one of the bureaus under him wa
1000 clerk who was heavily en
dorsed by leading Republicans. AZ
cidently it was learned that the sam
clerk was an applicant for the sam
position under the last administratio
and a few minutes search revealed th
:. fact that at that time bis eudorsel
were all Democrats. He is one Of tn
thrifty kind that always manage I
keep solid with the party in powe
He not only got left 10 getting a pre-
motion but, it having been found nee
r essary in order to keep within an al
preparation for two 81 600 clerks to