The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-10-11
BUSSFY'S BREAK.
lie Uses the Pension Department for Cam
paign FurpOses.

paien Purposes.
Washington, October S.-(SpeciaL)-A
sensation was caused here today by the
publication Of Il pension ruling Of Assist
ant Secretary of the Interior Bussey,
which is beyond question the most eX-
traordinary official document ever pro-
mulgated from an executive department
Of the government 1t is u campaign doc
ument Of the most brazen character and
hundreds of thousands of copies We're
printed for secret distribution. The rul
ing provides for the adjudication of a
large number of increase claims, based
upon disabilities developed long after the
war, and which were not even limited at
in the pensioners original application.
For three years and a half this admin
iStraiOn has followed the precedentS of
former administrations regarding this
class Of cases, but the political exigen-
cieS of the campaign have made it neceS-
Sary to throw out this additional drag
for the soldiers votes. In the decision
Busscy refers diSparagingly TO the Cleve-
land administration and declares the pol
icy of the Harrison administration is to
give all statutory provisions the most
generous Interpretation with the "ayoW
ed intention of insuring the blessings of
the pension system to all its benetCiarieS.
The decision braZenly denounccs the
democrats as enemies OF the pension SyS-
TEN. The comparison drawn between the
Cleveland and Harrison administration,
the structures on the former, are without
parallel III an official ruling, and today
when Bussey ascertained that his infa-
nous ruling had fallen into the hands Of
the democrats all the copies were ordered
destroyed Immediately. 1t is claimed that
BuSSey'S superior had 10 knowledge of
the circular before it appeared in the
newspapers, but it remains to be seen
whether President Harrison will rebukc
his subordinate for his gross violation of
official prOpriety.
Late this afternoon Secretary Noble was
Informed Of the existence of the circular
and after an examination of it there was
a stormy scene between him and BuSsey.
Noble was wild with rage and himself
sent an order to the pension Office re-
calling the Bussey decision and instruct
ing the examiners to proceed under the
old rulings.
Gresham IL urting Them.
Notwithstanding the attempt of the
republican managers to appear indifferent
to Judge Gresham's reputation Of the
republican platform and the republican
nominee, it is evident that ans ac-
ton was q hard blow to l." " real
tied fully the strong hold csham
has, not only upon his iriends
in Indiana and Illinois, blt . aztec
ton of the laboring men o.i account or
his uniform judicial decisions in their
favor where q question between labor and
capital came before him.
Some of the presidents close friends
here have for several days been consider
ing the ACCESSIBILITY of putting out a
vicious attack upon Judge GreShams
character in the hope of breaking down
the effect Of his support of Mr. Cleveland.
They propose to procure aiildaVltS not
only to show that Gresham was sore
head in 1888, and for two months OF the
campaign sulked in his tent, but they say
they can produce proof that Gresham,
DESPITE all denialS to the contrary, Sent Il
delegation here to plead with the presl-
dent to place him on the supreme bench.
The presidents refusal to appoint hlm'
they declare, is the real animuS or his
present course.
1t is hardly probable that the issuance
of such an attack will aid the republican
cause. Those who know Judge Gresham
know that he is n high-minded gentleman
of unsullled integrity and spotleSs char
acter and an attempt to defame him Will
doubtless have an exactly opposite effect
from that intended.