The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-10
And Persons Who Have Secured Appoint
ments in an Irregular Way Will at Once Be.
RemOyed-Eforts to ImprOyeth Service.
Samoan Affairs Will Be Allowed to Wait
the Decision of the Commissioners.
A Proposed Change of Civil-Service Rules
That Will Benefit x-SOldiers-Condition of
the Historian Bancroft-Capital Notes.
THE PENSION BUREAU.
1t VIII Be Overhauled, with q View to In.
creasing the Efficiency of the Service.

It VIII Be Overhauled, with q View to In.
creasing the Efficiency of the Service.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, April 9.-Commissione
Tanner says he is determined to thorough
ly overhaul the Pension Office, and with
view to doing this he has set at work some
of his most experienced and reliable assist
ants, for the purpose of ascertaining what
is needed to make the Office more efficient.
A list is being prepared of special examin-
ers in the field and the Office, and clerks
who were put into positions under General
Black, through civil-service examinations.
who did not pass fair examination. 1t
Is stated that more than half of
the special examiners who were ap-
pointed through pretended civil-service
competition were, in fact, subjected to no
competition at all. A re-examination of
the papers shows that the percentage at
tanned was far below that required by law
in order to make them elegible for appoint
ment. These men were, in many instances,
practically selected before they presented
themselves for civil-service examination,
and the latter was simply matter of form.
After this list has been made up and proof
COlicCbCu VI tuc ldCt llldb buclI ClNu-oCi NlOo
examination was a fraud, the names
of lot of men will be presented to the
Secretary of the Interior for dismissal. 1t
is probable that Secretary Noble had this
in mind when he said TO your correspond
ent, yesterday, that there would be a great
many changes made in the force of the
Pension Office in a short time. 1t is un-
necessary TO say that all of these special
examiners, agents and clerks who were ap-
pointed through fraudulent civil-service
examinations are Democrats, and were put
into the Office for a political purpose.
Enough has been found in the investigation
of the condition of the Pension Office to
prove that the Office, during the last three
years, and especially the past summer
and fall, was used in the most outrageous
manner as a political machine: but not only
was the Office itself filed with employees in
violation of the law, but pensions were al
lowed with a view to political effect Under
the circumstances it is probable that nearly
every one of the men employed by General
Black will be dismissed within a very short
time. The office is really in ten times
worse condition that General Black ever
it, and it will be remembered that
smirch the management of the
office under Colonel Dudley, through a
congressional Investigation. proved dead
failure. The exposures which commissioner
Tanner will undoubtedly make of the man
agement of the Pension Office under Com
missioner Black will prove sensation.
This is not a matter of politics, but one OF
justice to the pensioners, applicants f0r
pensions and the country at large.