The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-04

w AEIIlNdEOS, u. u, NltlTCll 0.--hSsl ISL
and Secretary Busscy, OF the interior de-
partment, testified to-day before the
special pension investigating committee
of the house. In response to questions
by Mr.. Enloc, Mr.. Busscy said Secretary
Noble told him he thought the good OF
the Office demanded Special Examiner
Taylor's resignation. The secretary had
told witness no thought Taylor was fur
nishing matter 70 the newspapers.
Witness told Mr.. Enloe ho had never
before to-day heard that young Raum
when appointment clerk collected u
notary fee 0! % cents from each person
appointed or promoted in the pension
office, and did not know that it WAS 4
fact.
Mr.. Enloo began an inquiry with
reference to J. jolly Jones, private Sec
rctary 10 Assistant Secretary Chandler.
who, it was asserted. had gone to the
pension Office and asked about pension
claims. Mr.. Bussey said Commissioner
Raum seemed 10 be annoyed about
Jones's visits.
Mr. Enloc Did il occur to you that
this man might take advantage OF his
position TO assume charge OF the claims
OF pension attorneys?
Mr.. Busscy replied that he hUd not
considered the matter very closely.
The subject OF the rerating OF PEN
sioncrs and OF making their rerating
claims date back to the time OF original
disability was then taken up.
Mr.. Bussey said that while looking up
the pension laws soon after becoming
an office holder, he ascertained that the
statutes prohibited L rerating dating
further back than the medical cxamina-
ton or which the reratlng was allowed.
An investigation followed and it was
discovered that the pensions OF num-
Der OF employees OF the pension Office
were being rerated. Some cases had
been "railroaded through in iorty-eight
hours"
The pension Office was every day get
ting applications for re-ratings to date
back and the thing bad demora!izcd
pensioners who thought because they
wero now receiving larger pension
they should receive back money from
the time oi army service. The practice
had been stopped and he delied any
man to show 4 case rc-ratcd in violation
OF law under Commissioner Raum's
administration. Under General Black
100 re-ratcd cases were found, aud
under Mr.. Tanner, 1900 cases. Witness
had estimated that ii the crc-ratinGs were
generally followed they would cost
SS00,000,000. Not all the employees re-
rated had been removed but ONLY the
men mainly responsible for the practice.
None OF the money received Illegally
had been recovered. 1t was found that
the pension money could not be rccov-
cred, nor could mans salary be at
tachcd; so that all had been done was 4
Recommendation to Congress to enact a
law to Cover the case.
Mr.. Enloe asked how it WAS that Gen.
W. W. Dudley had been reratcd with
out the facts appearing on tho record.
Mr.. Bussey said that General Dudley
was legally re,ated under an act inCreas-
ing the pension for loss OF leg ut the
knee joint. The rcrating did not 20
back to the date OF disability. but TO
1856, the date OF the act increasing the
pension. Why. the record did not show
the reratinc he did now know, unless it
was because the claim WAS for . specific
disability.
To Mr.. Enloc Mr.. Busscy said the
greatest abuse the pension office had to
contend with was the practice OF Con-
gressmcn in pushing pension claims.
llo did not sec how tho practice could
be stopped except by law 1t greatly
increased the worl; OF Congressman and
also OF the pension Office.
Mr.. Enloc asked if it were not posi-
bic to usc the pension Office as 4 politi-
cal machine, and ii it would not be bet
ter to take it out OF politics.
Mr.. Bussey said he had never used
the Office ior political purposes, and did
not sec how it could be readily convert
ed into = political machine.