The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-09
OFFENSIVE PARTIsANsHIP.
An Attempt to Hurt cleveland in a
Pension Case Decision.


WASHINGTON, Oct S-Some weeks age
decision was rendered in pension case by
Assistant Secretary Bussey relative to
new" disabilities and the rules Of evidence
governing the same This decision in effect
held that in claims for additional pension
based upon disability separate from that
for which a pension has already been
granted, and not mentioned In the original
application, the presumption was that this
new disability was not incurred in the serv-
ice. It was further held that while failure
to have mentioned this new disability would
not act in any sense as an
estoppel, yet to remove the pre-
sumption against it having originated in
the service evidence Of exceptional and
most convincing character must be fur
n1shed, Last evening there was sent to
Secretary Noble at his residence & printed
copy OF the supplemental decision in this
case, In which the grounds upon which the
original action was based were discussed.
This supplemental decision, which was un-
signed, contained language, particu-
larly in the heading, and brief
syllabus which the secretary regarded as
entirely uncalled for and extremely parti-
san 10 character, The syllabus referred to
reads as follows: "The arbitrary rule Of the
Cleveland administration in adjudicating
AhNA oooo Olhli1Ss DtAeo0 upJu BueReu new
disabilities, has been overruled by the Har-
rison ADMINISTRATION in the interest Of meri-
torious applicants, and the old doctrine Of
estoppel In pension claims set aside by the
present administration"
The secretary at once rewrote the de.
clsion, eliminating therefrom the objection
able language. He retained however, so
much of the decision as pertained legiti-
mately to it, and sustained the findings on
"a a svarr thn
retary made inquiries as to the author OF
the unsigned decision, which resulted in the
prompt dismissal of George Baber, menu
ber of the board of pension ap-
peals in the Office of Assistant Secretary
Bussey. The fact that the decision was
unsigned is held by some of the depart
ment officials as conclusive proof that Mr..
Busssy had no knowledge of the offensive
character Of the language Of the decision
and did not authorize its preparation. Mr..
Bussey has been in New orig for several
days past. In speaking of the matter this
evening Secretary Noble said it seemed to
him highly improper that there
should go into the records
Of the department. an opinion
upon a matter of law and decisive of rights
dependent upon the statutes Of the United
States, made by the government itself, In
which the language of this opinion is used:
The administration of the United States"
he said, lis conducted at one time under one
chief magistrate, at another time under an
other, and in Judicial opinions it is not
proper to make at each step q criticism of
what has been decided under q previous
administration. think the language of the
opinion unusual and uncalled for, and as
such l cannot tolerate it in the records of
the department, and while think the posi-
tion In the opinion as a supplemental ruling
is sound as an Interpretation OF a former
opinion do not consider that it was nec-
essary TO have indulged in suoh expressions
as are used in it. The record Of the depart
ment at all times will speak for itself and
no defamation in regard to what is in
tended will make any decision stronger"