Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-07-16
Debate Over Extra Clerical Force toi
the Dependent Pension Service.

The House went into committee of the
whole for consideration of the bill appro
priating 1886 iS9 for an additional clerical
force of six hundred and thirty six TO carry
into effect the provisions of the dependent
pension act.
Doekery of Missouri criticised the ma
iority committee appropriations for not re-
porting bill making appropriation to pay
pensions which would be granted under the
dependent pension bill. and intimated the
failure was attributable to political reasons
The appropriation would not be made be-
fore the November elections.
Cannon said money would be appro
prated and paid just As rapidly as pension
certificates were issued.
Dockery charged the majority Of being
affrigh,ed by the startling appropriations
made a; the present session and was run
ming away from the provisions Of the PEN
sion laws In refusing to appropriate the
necessary mo ley until after the elections
Cutcheon of Michigan inquired whether
the gentleman had any doubt that the sp-
propristioDs were already made and would
cover all pension claims which might be
aljudcated before the next session of
Congress.
Dockery replied that he was not called
upon to pass on that question. Congress
appropriated for the ensuing fiscal year
which ended the 30th of June and he WAS
insisting that this rule should not be de
parted from albeit the appropriations of
this season were mounting np.
Sawyer of Texas, predicted that the next
session of Congress would be called upon
to appropriate no less than $4,000, 900 to
supply the deficiencies in appropriations for
the payment of pensions.
Enloe of Tennessee, thought before any
Increase of force was granted the pension
bureau, 1t should be asceItained whether
the charges brought against the present
commission were true. 1t had been alleged
in resolution offered hy Cooper of IIdiana
that the commission had changed the ruling
de partment in the interest of q pension at
torney of this city. This h III taken hun
dreds of thousands of dollars of the peo-
Piles money. and paid it TO claimants who
were net entitled to anything. As has been
alleged the pens OF office is corrupt from
bottom to top. He himself belle we'd tn,
office was reekipg vith corruption in every
department
J. ID. Taylor, of Ohio, didn't believe that
any me mber had right to make such an
infamous charge against an executive
tfiicer.
Enloe de eclsred that every other depa:i-
men, bureau of the government excep, the
pension bureau was conducted on busi-
ness principles and was open to investga-
ton About that bureau there appeared
something sacred or something rotten. In
his opinion, the reason that bureau had not
been Investigated WAS because of the rot
L.. ~ faI
Cooper. Of Indiana, said that facts come
to his knowledge which substituted the
rumors circulated in the newspapers re-
spectipg the commissioner of pensions
lie was ready to prove before competent
committee that the charges were true
lie expected TO prove that the commissioner
of pensions outrsgeous!y sold out the
ruling 10 behalf of a firm of pension at
torneys in Washington.
Cannon of Illinois said hin party while in
power would appropriate money to pay the
debts of the government. including the
pension debt. As 10 the statements made
by the gentleman from Indiana. he had not
known until last Friday that Cooper intro
duced the investigation resolution. IL he
( Cannon had introduced such resolution
and hearing was in progress, he would
\ NAtt bUlli ttit ntAIiuk was GuIHptShti-
might be that the administrati N of the
pension bureau wss corrupt, but If so. the
| name Of no witness ha! been mentioned 30
/ show it. If il va. corrupt, let it he showr-
( From an acquaintance of 30 years with
Green B RsuD, from hi. honorable career,
| tae responsible position held by him for
years in the treasury. sr1 his uniform goo.l
chsrac-pr-from sil these things. he would
& u. u -
I days he had fallen under temptation, which
vas rare case. For ole. ne would not
Z condemn bin until proof was shown,
Chesdle Of Indiana eoatsaded that the
J present astpinissr&tion Of the pension vas
/ the best it had ever had since its organic :
ton.
Evans Of Tennessee declared the appoint
nent Of Government employees to TO vari
ous STATES unfair, and alluded to the ciy.i
service law as tie great National lottery.
Peters stated a. the reason shy no sd-
4d.taonsl appropriation was made to carry
out t,e provisions of the dependent pension
bill, the course of the pension ciSini fled
under tbst act Il vas trst numbered an
fdseksteds stEsa call vas made on the rec
ord aiyisisn of the war department and on
the ssenrd auditors cffice for Information
Next came the order for medical exsr,ine
ton, followed BY a reference from tn,
exsmi-st;oa TO the Medical referees OF ibe
pension bsreAn- The next step vas thf
adjudication Of the case by the ajjudicsi.nG
division. and next a reference to the board
of review. The claim vas then sent to the
certificate division, and the operation ended
by sending the certificate 70 the pensiar
agent. All this required time Few. il
: any. Of the cases could be sdjuiics:sd De
fore the frst Of January. q, which tins
Congress would be in session, ready *
make the necessary appropriations
A little coiio4uy IN regard to the ciyi
, service law arose between Csnson afl
HoCk, asd some warmth was shs~a IL ID.
/ dialogue, growing ous Of remark BY Csn
7 non 70 the effect thzs Houk say in the BIZ
: an increase 10 clerical force and TO. tene
! ss of old soldiers