The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-04
PRACTICES STOPPED.
They Should Never Have Been Allowed
the First Place,

| They Should Never Have Been Allowed il
| the First Place.
WASHINGTON, March 3.-Assistant Score
tary Bussey, Of the interior department., t,
whom is given supervision of matters re.
lating to the pension office, testified to.da,
before the special investigating COMMITTEES
of the house. He said Secretary Noble tolc
him he thought the good of the office de-
manded Special Examiner Taylor's resig-
nation. The secretary told witness he
thought Taylor was furnishing matter ia
the newspapers. Bussey said he thought
one or two other persons were dismissed
from the pension Office on the ground that
that they were furnishing matter to the
newspapers. Witness told Euloe that he
never hoard before to-day that young Raum,
when appointed clerk, collected notary
fee of 25 cents from each person
appointed and promoted in the
pension office, and did not know
prohibiting the practice. The subject Of
rerating pensions and making their rerat-
ing claims date back to tho time of original
disability. was then taken up. Bussey said
that while looking up pension laws, after
becoming an officholder. he ascertained
that the statutes prohibited rerating dat
ing further back than the medical examin-
ation on which the rerating was allowed.
Investigation followed, and it was disoov-
cred that the pensions OF number of em-
ployes in the pension office were being re-
rated. Bussey said the practice was in
violation of all department. decisions and a
violation OF law. The practice has been
caso rernted in violation Of the law under
Commissioners Raums administration.
Under Gen. Blaok LOO rerated cases were
found. and under Tanner 1900 cases.
Witness had estimated thai if reratings
were generally followed, they would cost
SSo0.OlD0oo. Payson asked about tho re-
ports In circulation connected with the re-
rating OF Powell, an Illinois politician, by
Commissioner Black. Dugan (O.) asked
"Was he that Gen. W. II. Powell. Secretary
Mobiles candidate for commissioner of PEN
sions, who said this ve'y thing, when his
attention was called to il. and was what
knocked him out?" Dugan asked il Score
tary Noble had by letter requested Black to
favorably consider Powel,'s case. Bussey
could not stxte. Enloe asked how it was
that w. w. Dudley had becn rerated with
out the facts appearing on record. Bassev
said Dudley was legally rerated under tho
act increasing the pension for the loss of u
leg Mt the knee joint. The rerhting did
not 20 back to the date of disability, but to
1856. the date of increasing tho pension.
Why the record did not show rerating he
did not know, unleBs because for specific
disability.
10 Enloe. Bussey said the greatest abuse
tho pension office had to contend with was
the practice to congressman pushing pen-
sion claims. He did not see how the prac-
tice could be stopped except by law. Bnssey
believed that Commissioner Raum man
agod the office with efficiency and integrity
Enloo inquired if Bnssey approved ths
practice Of giving pensions to persons of
means. Bussey replied in the negative, and
,t,sl.
Enloe instanced one case in which an Ohio
woman worth $40, 900 WAS getting pension.
Russey replied that his office is constantly
such violations Of law.