New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-21
COL. McLEAN'S STATEMENT.
HIS CONNECTION WITH THE GARRISON CASE.
THE ORDER he ISSUED WAS SIMPLY FOR \
MEDICAL ExAMINATIoN-wHAT Is TIKI
EXPLANATION OF GENERALS
RAUM AND BUSSEYi
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE IBrBrNI.l

Washington Sept Colt will he remembcreo that
In the recent published statements OF Commissioner
Raum relative to the now notorious John D. Usr'so"
case In which it is claimed by The Tribune that tn'
three Pension Office clerks-J. +. Lathrop, ". "'
Whorter and F. W. Pvor-set ASIDE both the aaVer'e
action Of the Commissioner Of Pensions and the sec
rotary Of the Interior. has ben Reiterated that 'r
rsons rejected claims for chronic daIrhosa were r.
opened by Deputy Commissioner William T. Mclean
who was, on May IL. 1885, actnG o. Conn'le"one'
OF Pensions In the issue OF september 3. leU' l"c
Tribune correspondent clearly proved, from tue rcoi
d ~ o,stu ttseH. that TIE Official referred 70 ou
not authorize the reopcning OF the rejected ciam III
any sense whatever but nicely issued on order Tor inc
medical examination Of the claimant upon the pc'u
ing application for tncrsess.
AS recent things have occurred In tho PENSION
Hurenu hoxsvSr witch show that 1t has by no nS"u.
heard ~ last Of this clajm, and that tho Puons.'
ouanions Of Commissioner Raum have ALREADY cav, ~
20 be cited ss preceden. for the adjudication o. nc
cases IL was deemed tn be only fr to Colonel HcLean
late Deputy ComsasGone1 Of Pensions, 70 oo'su, "''
own stotemeut as 70 ne msanIng OF the oueT "'h -"
tss,,sd In IA caeim aD> slsO concerning nus sensi
kuovlsdse q tn case. l. representative Oh !ie i,,
une therefore called upon Colonel Mclean, WOO s"eN
that wolfe he had no grievance OK complaint
In maxs seufnst any efia under the present AomipS
ttion and vas anxious not to DO drawn Into any con-
trovsrsy whstevsr, he was willing to state .onen! ~,'A
his views were about the matter he sain '"aV
e,.Aments came to him By the hundreds asking nun :"
dive orders for thak medical axamnssson here 10 "'sF
inctou there icing two boards OF surgeons VI tae wy
and third one In the Bureau OF Pensions 1see' ."n
posed Of medical gentlemen among tne or.p'v ~
rbe latter. from its peculiar composiuon' hc VorS
rroner considered to be the best qusn1ed 10 'uoxe
through ocuh. demonstration Of ths soldiers scoioi
phv s,cai condition aud to deliver an e. catiea'S
opinion upon IT, An examination oy 'he UNIV
hoard, was also most likely to satisfy one Psn
s,oner who deemed that II was organized oS u'o
h,chesA medical authority In the Bureau 70! ue"o
reasons Colonel Mclean said he had an unoers'AuaS
With the medical referee that when be slSuo0 o'os
for examination the latter were TO DO maoe ny ~oe
oasoe board vAsneger tho press Of business "so'0
permit ,..A.
Colonel Mclean he'd rcd Commissioned -Haums rs@
,ents and The Tribune articles upon tno J0nii o.
Garrison case. and his order Of May IL, 1857 gVen
therein was an order to the Medical D!vlsioD' VIE
Tia DESIGN Of having the pensioner exemineo " uo
o1ce board Press Of business, however haa oVioony
prevented this being done; hence the man sPpeSN"
before one Of the city boards. Tn's oroeT, GU
nbatoally declared the exoloal, was an order TOP
melicai examinstaon ppre aud simple. That was Mo
whole scope and intent II covered no other pent'
and had no further effect direct or indirect, upon
GAFrtson's claim.
Colonel Mclean states further that he did not
know th&t there was any rejected claim when 'ae
soldier desired to have reopened nor was the auoaV"
OF Francs carter, upOH WIheu ~ W." >'""~ -
opened it, shown 10 him. He WAS not aware. other
the. Garrison had fled any claim for rcrating The
peusioner sought an order for medical examination
upon q claim for increase and obtained it. That was
ell.
When asked II be remembered anything about the
claim prior TO the recent publications. Colonel Mclean
said that he had not the slightest recollection OF 1t
or the claimant eltlough the latter worked In the
Pension Office. 1t absolutely impossible TO 10
member specific claims, among the many hundred
which he passed upon, unless in the rare case
Of some personal friend or comrade whom no knew
intimately.
To the query as to whether he had talked
with Commissioner Raum or General Bossey'
relative TO this matter since the publications con
corning it. The late Deputy Commissioner replied uau
lie had done nothing Of the kind. He did not know
Mr. Rsum personally, and hence had never talked with
him upon am subject Assistant Secretary Bussey he
had Known in the West years ago and here but dc had
never talked With him upon this claim since ne cnNcrco
upon his Official duties here
From the foregoing interview 1t will plainly ap
pear that the cowsrdly attempt TO throw the
tlame Of these rascally ransacu9ns upon
o.; aLle and conscientious officer. who. although OF
different political faith showed mneh Nndness 70 re
publican sunmHnates ha& prSved Tt' ooH..nn% =,
add that both Commissioner Raum and Assistant scerc
tary Busscy. he is informed. have state1 In M
u.istahable language that puty-Connissioner NC
Lean not only rcope2nd the rejected Garrison claim
MAJ MAJ King SHeside: CSionei Mclean remembers the
case. Ne has a distinct recollection OF It, -,
In view Of what Colonel Mclean SAYS, what Is the
explanation Of Nessrs. Bussey and haums