Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-25


For some time past there have been rumors
about the pension Office in regard to the finan-
cial operations Of Major Barker, the chief of
the record division, and other prominent Off
Gals OF that bureau. According to the
gossip a1oat these men borrowed money
OF the clerks under them and when
they were pressed to repay the little loans
they silenced the opportunities of their credit
ors by threatening either dismissal or reduc-
ton in their salaries. 1t was also asserted that
sum of money raised in the record division
for the benefit of the widow of a clerk recently
deceased never got farther than the pockets of
Maj. Barker.
GEN. BUssEY INvEsTIGATEs
In order to get down to the bottom Of these
stories Gen. Bussey, the assistant secretary of the
Interior Department acting upon the sugges-
gestlon OF Judge Chandler. the acting secretary,
went over to the pension Office this morning and
began little investigation. Gen. Bussey sat
with commissioner aum as kind offs court and
examined all those who knew anything about
the financial operations of the peneion Office
officials. as well those who were
ject. Altogether twenty witnesses were
examined and when the investigation
was concluded Gen. Bussey said that it was
found that Maj Barker had borrowed some
$40 which had been obtained on a note in
dorsed by Donahue. whom, it was claimed,
represented a money lender not employed in
the department
BARKER's NOTES PAID.
Another clerk said that Barker owed him $50,
which Barker denied, and the charge was not
maintained. This note of $40 had been paid
by Barker, and the legal proceedings insti-
tuted, it was claimed, was the result of
conspiracy to bring Barker into dis
repute. Barker paid the note soon as he was
notified that it was due. This amount repre-
scented his entire Indebtedness. as far as Gen.
Bussey could ascertain. The latter asserts that
Maj. Barker was not in the habit of borrowing
money more than men ordinarily do. He SAYS
that Ma. Barker has proved very efficient in
his present position and that the work of his
division is well up.
THE MONEY PAID TO THE WIDOW.
1t was also found that the $3.50 collected for
Mrs. Moore. the widow of deceased clerk. had
been paid to her, not, however. by Mai
Barker, who never handled the money at all. but
by Maj. Ripley and Mr.. Landon. the assistant
chief. The charge that Maj Barker had visited
gambling houses with Green b. Raum,
jr., was not sustained by any evidence that
named Donahue had Endorsed notes for a
money lender and had personally looked after
their collection and had used his official posi-
ton to secure their payment.
DoNAHUE TO BE DISMISSED.
Gen. Bussey says that Donahue will be dis
missed. The rate Of interest which the loans
carried was found to be 10 per cent month
and Gen. Bussey says that he does not think
that man who engages in business of this
kind Is proper person to be i'll the govern
ment service. The result Of the investigation WILL
therefore. be the vindication of Maj. Barker
who, by the way, il not a relative even to a re-
mote degree Of Gen. Bussey, as has been
serted, from all the charges made, and the loss
of position by the clerk Donahue
WHERE THE RUMoRs STARTED.
Gen. Bussey further states that it transpired
in the investigation that the rumors in regard
to the pension Office and the character of the
officials were started by a man who was for
merly employed in the pension Office, but who
was dismissed some timesago for cause.