The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-10
The Transfer OF the Pension Bureau
to the War Department Would
Hurt Them.
The Latter Branch of the Public
Service Does not Favor the
Idea.
Nevertheless the Feeling Among tho Pur-
est Public Mon Is That the Change
Would be o Desirable Thing.

interior to the wal department. has mot
with pronounced approval from the best
class of public men. The politicians do not
like the suggestion, however, because the
reform sought to be effected would interfere
seriously with the game of playing upon the
soldier vote in campaign years, besides
breaking up a political nest which they are
interested in feathering. Naturally. az
politicians, they prefer the existing order
of things and the continuance of tho PEN
sion office here AZ an asylum for hundreds
of hangers-on.
But the real friends of the old soldiers
all declare that in the proposed transfer of
the bureau il contained the real solution of
. grave problem.
As might be imagined, the war Office does
not desire the transfer made. That de-
partment may be likened to 4 prim n
highly respectable old woman whose
home for years had been a quiet AID
methodical one, and the pension bureau 80
an un~governable boy who for years
was the terror of his neighborhood.
The old lady is aghast at the suggestion
that abe should harbor such IN urchin. She
has hoard Of hin. She knows his record
from first to last, and if she can help it the
youngster shall not come into her comfort
abls quarters and subject her to the annoy
ances others have suffered at his hands.
Dropping the figure, an instance may DO
given of how much better the war office is
prepared to deal with this question of pen
sions than the pension bureau as now organ
ICED and conducted. When congress was
debating the dependent pension bill last
sans u Atdrr$o Aroon q q tn hnU ~nnv arrlI.
capts would be likely to present themselves
if the measure should become law. Senator
German, who was opposing the bill, because
he thought it would take much more money
out Of the treasury than the republican
leaders were willing to coneede, applied
to the war Office for an stimat of the
probable number Of applicants. He was in
formed after the matter had been investi-
gated that the number would reach 100000,
and might even go higher. He used that
estimate in debate, and forthwith raised an
indignant protest from the republican lead
prepared at the pension office, that the num-
Der would not go above 30O, 600.
The result has vindioated the estimate of
the war Office. The measure became law
about a year ago, and the number of appli-
cants for pensions under it is already over
pension Office estimated and within $4,000
Of the estimate of the war Office.
A triumph like this for the war Office over
he pension Office is not wholly the result of
possessing better facilities for making such
an estimate, but it ia due as we'll
tics does not enter, while in the
other it ia supreme. The reply of the war
office contained only the figures taken from
we'll assorted records. The rely of the
pension Office was prepared with the view
of helping along the pending legislation.
no conservative republican might take
fright and oppose the bill because of the
Immense sum involved.
A %wsll-known public man said to a CORE
spondent:
II have seen no suggestion for a long
time that struck me with as much force as
does this enc about the transfer of the PEN
sion bureau to the war department. The
transfer ought to be made. Common sense,
common honesty, Justice both to the PEN
sioners and to the government-all require
it. But it Will take hard fighting to &C
complish it. The politicians are welded to
that bureau and will not relinquish their
hold ON it if they can help it. 1t provides
them every year with enormous campaign
funds, besides good places for some of their
lieutenants. But the interests of the peo-
pie are superior to those of the politicians,
and the peoples interests call for a CHANGE
Edward A. Wilcox, one of the clerks dis
charged by COMMISSIONS Raum a few days
ago. tells n curious story of his dismissal.
Wilcox was a confederate soldier, and has
never tried to conceal the fact, either from
his colleagues or from Commissioner
Raum.
ga few days before Memorial day." he
avs, "a person, unknown to me. came to
my desk and laid down q subscription pa-
per requesting a contribution to be used to
decorate the graves of union soldiers in the
cemeteries about Washington, Although /
served in tho rebel army, since | came
into the pension office nine years ago |
have been q regular contributor to this
fund for decorating the graves of union
soldiers, but there was something in the
manner of this man so eyesperating that
my anger was reused, and | replied that.
having served in the rebel army, [ ought
not to be asked to contribute. ] afterwArd
scertalned that my reply had been CON
veyed to Gen. Raun. and subsequently it
got into the newspapers.
"Raum called me into his private room
and asked me If | had been correctly re-
ported. ! admitted tbs accuracy of the
statement. He thereupon informed me
that would be dismissed. | do not expect
to be reinstated, and | shall never AJAX
to be-"
The other employees of the office who were
dismissed under charge of having supplied
the enemies of tho administration with in
formation in regard to the mismanagement
OF the pension office promise to make it very
warm Tor Commissioner Raum. They are
all we'll backed and one of them il a
brother-ln-law of n republican congress-
man. They are discreet and not inclined
to talk for publication at this time, but all
promise that when the democratic house of
representatives takes up the Investigation
of the pension office there will be more cold
facts forthcoming than the public has
dreamed of.