The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-04
THE PENSION OFFICE INQUIRY.
Assistant Secretary Bussey Testifies as
to KeDnnvalS and Rerafinu

TO Removals and Rerating.
WASHINGTON CITY, March Assistant Sec
retary Bussey, OF the interior department, to
whom is given supervision of the matters relat-
ing to the pension office, testified today before
the special pension investigation committee of
the House.
He said that Secretary Noble told him that he
thought the good of the office demanded Special
Examiner Taylor's resignation. The secretary
told witness that he thought Taylor was fur
nishlng matter to the news papers. He thought
one or two persons were dismissed from the
pension Office on the ground that they were fur
nishing matter to newspapers. He had told En-
loe that he never before today heard that young
Raum, when appointment clerk, collected
notary fee of IS cent, from each person ap-
pointed and promoted in the pension office, and
Gid not know that it was fact that congress
had passed law prohibiting the practice.
The subject of rerating pensions aud making
their rerating claims date back to the time of
the original disability was taken up. Bussey
said
While looking up the pension laws, after be-
coming an office holder, he ascertained that the
statutes prohibited rerating dating further
back than the medical examination on which
the rerating was allowed. An investigation fol-
lowed. and ii was discovered that the pensions
OF number OF employees in the pension office
were being rerated. The practice was in viola
ton OF departmental decisions, and Was a viola
ton OF law The practice had been stopped
and he defied any man to show case rerated
-, Nioialiou VI tue III" uuuer Commissioner
Raum's administration. Under General Black
LOO rersted cases had been found and under
Tanner 1900.
Bussey said he had estimated that il reratings
were generally formed they would cost $780,
O00OOO
Payson asked about the reports in circulation
as the circumstance connected with tho rerat-
missioner Black.
DUNCAN of Ohio asked II ii was true that Gen.
eral W H. Powell was Secretary Mobiles candi-
date for commissioner OF pensions.
Bussey said that this very thing when his
attention was called to it. was what knocked
him out.
DUNCAN also asked If Secretary Noble had by
letter requested Black to favorably consider
Poweils case
Bussey could not state.
Enloe asked how it was that General W. W.
Dudley had beeen rerated without the fact ap-
peariug on the record
Bussey said Dudley was legally re-rated under
knee joint. The re-rating did not go back to the
date OF disability but to 1856, the date of increas-
ing the pension. Why the record did not show
the re-rating he did not know, unless because
for specific disability. The greatest abuse the
pension Office had to contend with was the prac-
tlee OF congressman in pushing pension claims.
He did not see how the practice could be
stopped except by law. He believed that Com
missioner Raum managed the Office with eff
cheney and integrity.
Enloe inquired if Bussey approved the prac-
tice OF giving pensions to persons OF means.
Bussey replied i'll the negative, and said it was
prohibited by a recent law.
Enloe 1nstanced one case in which an Ohio
woman worth $50, 600 was getting pension.
Bussey replied that his office was constantly
investigating such violations OF the law. Ad-
iourned.