The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-03-04
PENSIONS INQUIRY.
Special Examiner Taylor Gave Stories
TO the Newspapers.

Special Examiner Taylor Gave Stories
TO the Newspapers.
WASHINGTON, March 3.-Assistan Sec
rotary Russey ofthe Interior Department,
TO whom was given the supervision of
matters relating to the Pension Office,
testified to-day before the Special Inves-
tigating Committee of the House.
He said Secretary Noble told him he
thought the good of the office demanded
Special Examiner TayIor's resignation.
The Secretary told the witness he thought
Taylor was furnishing matter to the
newspapers.
Russey said he thought one or two
other persons were dismissed from the
Pension Olllce on the ground that they
were furnishing matter to the newspa-
peTs. Witness told Representative Enloe
that he never before to-day heard that
young Raum, when appointed clerk, col
lected notaral fee OF - cents from each
person appointed and promoted in the
Pension Office and did not know it was a
fact. Congress had passed law prohib-
iting the practice of the subject OF rerat-
ing pensions and making their rerating
claims date back to the time OF original
disability.
Russey said that while looking up the
pension laws. after becoming an Office
hibited rerating dating further back than
the medical examination, of which rerat-
ing was allowed. An investigation fol-
lowed and it was discovered that num-
Der of employees in the Pension Office
were being rerated.
ii G said the practice was in violation of
department decisions and violation of
the law. The practice had been stopped,
and he detied any man to show case re-
rated in violation OF the law under Com
missioner Raum's administration. Under
General Slack 100 rerated cases were
found, and under Tanner 300 cases.
The witness had estimated that if the
reratings were generally followed they
would cost $500, 0O9,0oO.
PaySon was asked about the reports in
circulation as TO the circumstances con-
nected with the rerating of Powell, an
Illinois politician, by Commission Black
DUNCAN Of Ohio asked: WAS that Gen
eral ". IL. Powell, Secretary Mobiles can
didate for Commissioner of Pensions ?'
Payson said: This very thing, when
attention was called TO it, was what
knocked him OUT
DUNCAN asked if Secretary Noble had
by letter requested Black to favorably
consider Powelps case.
Russey could not state.
Enlue asked how it was that General F.
W. Dudley had been rerated without the
facts appearing on record.
Russey said that Dudley was legally re-
rated under the Act increasing tensions
Tor loss of legs at the knee Joint. The
rerating did not go back to the date of
disability, but to 1886, the date of the Act
increasing the pension. Why the record
did not show the rerating he did not
know, unless because the claim was for a
specific disability.
To Enloe Russey said that the great
est abuse the pension Office had to con-
TEND with was the practice of Congress-
men pushing pension claims. lie did
not see how the practice could be stopped
except by law. Russey believed Commits
siOner Raum managed the office with eff
cheney and integrity.
Enloe inquired if Russey approved the
practice of giving pensions to persons OF
means.
Russey replied in the negative, and said
It WAS prohibited by law.
Enloe instanced one case in which an
Ohio woman worth $4,000 was getting a
pension.
Russey replied that his Office was con-
stantly investigating such violations.
Adjourned.
RAUM EXAMINED.
WASHINGTON, March 3.-The sub
committee of the House Committee on