Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-04
GEN. RAUM DEFENDED
By Assistant Secretary Bussey, in
the Most Vigorous Manner.
HOW RE-RATINGS WERE MADE.
The Commissioner Tells How Much Money
He Needs This Year.
WORK BEING KEPT UP WE'LL 10 DATE


sions, of which Mr., Mutchler, of Pennsyl
vania, is Chairman, to-day examined Gen
erals Raum, the Commissioner of Pensions,
with reference to the estimates for pension
appropriations for the next fiscal year. The
Commissioner said that last year 81. $50, 600
had been spent for medical examinations
and this year 81, 500, 900 would be spent,
which would bring that work up to date.
The work of medical examination had been
pushed forward with great deal of energy
and the appropriations on that account
could be reduced for the next fiscal year
The actual amount of money expended or
account of pensions during the first si1
months of the year was S63, ,065, ,673 There
was now on the books SOS, 934 995 against
which ne acquisitions had been made, and
about SIS, 0o0, 900 was in the hands Of agents,
30 that S43, 600, 600 was on hand for the bal
ance of the fiscal year.
Mr. O'Neil, of Massachusetts, suggested
that this amount of money would not be
spent during the remaining months of this
fiscal year.
General Raum replied that it must be re-
membered that the work was being pushed
up close to date, and that as the first pay
meuts on new claims averaged elS5, consid-
cradle money would be necessary for this
purpose.
Nj. Mutchler called attention to the fact
that Si25, goo 600 was asked for the next fiscal
year; that last year Sl24, 600, 600 was spent,
and that on March the expenditures were
100000 under the expenditure for the cor
responding month OF last year, so that there
ought to be money left over this year.
Mr.. Bussey Placed on the Rack.
Assistant Secretary Bussey, of the Interior
na1 orf=r,N Nprat 10 hnrr1 ia
supervision of matters relating to the Pen
sion Office testified to-day before the Special
Pension Investigating Committee of the
House. In response to questions by Mr..
Enloe. Mr.. Bussey said Secretary Noble told
him he thought the good of the ofice de-
manded Special Examiner Tay!or's reslgna-
tion. The Secretary had told witness he
thought Taylor was furnishing matter to the
newspapers. Mr.. Bussey said he thought
one or two other persons had been dismissed
from the Pension Office on the ground that
they were furnishing matter about the office
to the newspapers
Mr.. Enloe asked if witness did not know
that nine persons were dismissed on this
ground.
Mr. Bussey replied that he was at Pine
Ridge, S. d., at the time the removals were
made, and could not tell the number re-
moved. Witness told Mr. Enloe he had
never before to-day heard thai young Raum,
when appointment clerk, collected a notary
fee of 25 cents from each person appointed
or promoted in the Pension ONCE, and did
not know that it was fact Congress mad
passed law prohibiting the practice.
Mr.. Ensoe began an inquiry with reference
to J. Jolly Jones' private secretary TO As
slstant Secretary Chandler, who, it was as
serted, had gone to the Pension ONCE and
said Commissioner Raum seemed to be an
noyed about Jones' visits.
Mr.. Enloe-Did it occur to you that this
man might take advantage OF his position
to assume charge OF the claims OF pension
attorneys?
Mr. Bussey replied that he had not consid-
cred the matter very closely.
The subject OF the rerating of pensioners
and of making their rerating claims date
back to the time OF original disability was
then taken up.
RAPID Railroadins of Pensions.
Mr.. Bussey said that while looking up the
pension laws, soon after becoming an Office
holder, he ascertained that the statutes uro-
hibited rerating dating further back than
the medical examination on which the re-
rating was allowed. An investigation fol-
lowed, and it was discovered that the pen
sions of a number of employees of the Pen
sion Office were being rerated. Some cases
had been ''railroaded through in 4s hours"
Mr.. Payson asked if the practice with ref
erence to rerating had not originated with
Commissioner Black, and if under Commis
sioner Tanners administration the practice
was not the same. except that the time of
passage on these claims was made very
short.
Mr.. Bussey said that the practice was in
violation of departmental decisions and in
violation of law. The Pension Office was
every dav getting applications for reratings
to date back, and the thing had demoralized
pensioners who thought because they were
now receiving larger pension they should
receive back money IRON the time of army
service. The practice had been stopped,
and he defed any man to show case re
r-o+ +a1 ir,x iflo Of 10 ovr atc--
sioner Raum's administration. Under Gen.
eral Black l.7C0 rerated cases were found,
and under Mr.. Tanner 300 cases. This num-
cases. An average of si,6OO was involved in
each rerated case.
Many Millions in the Business.
Witness had estimated that if the reratings
were generally followed they would cost
$500 600 600. Not all the employees rerated
had been removed, but only the men mainly
for the practice. None of the
money received illegally had been recovered.
1t was found that the pension money could
not be recouped, nor could a mans salary
be attached, so that all that had been done
was a recommendation to Congress to enact
q law to cover the case.
Mr.. Payson asked about the reports in cir
connected with the rerating of
Powell, an Illinois politician, by Commits
sioner Black.
Representative DUNCAN. of Ohio-Was that
General w H. H. Powell, Secretary Mobiles
for Commissioner of Pensions?
Mr.. Payson-And this very thing, when at
tention was called to it, was what knocked
him out.
Mr.. DUNCAN asked If Secretary Noble had
by letter requested Commissioner Black to
favorably consider Powells case. MI. Bus
Mr. Enloe asked how it was that General
W. W. Dudley had been rerated without the
facts appearing on the record.
hut oral md
regularly rerated, under the act increasing
the pension for loss of leg at the knee
Joint. The rerating did not go back to the
date of disability, but to 1856 the date of the
act increasing the pension. Why the record
did not show the rersting he did not know,
unless 1t was that the claim was for Q
specific disability.
Congressmen the Greatest Bother.
To Mr.. Enloe Mr.. Bussey said the greatest
abuse the Pension Office had to contend with
was the practice OF Congressman in pushing
pension claims. He did not see how the
practice could be stopped except by law. 1t
greatly increased the work OF Congressman,
and also of the Pension Office.
Mr.. Enloe asked if it were not possible to
use the Pension Office as a political machine.
and II it would not be better to take it out
Of politics
Mr.. Bussey said he had never used the
office for political purposes and did not see
how it could be readily converted into a
political machine. His orders were that all
pensioners should be treated alike He be-
lieved Commissioner Raum had managed
the office with efficiency and integrity; and
IL an investigation should demonstrate any-
thing To the contrary, he should be glad OF
an opportunity to remedy matters.
Mr.. Enloe next inquired if Mr.. Bussey ap-
proved the practice of giving pensions TO
persons of means. MIR. Busscy replied in the
negative, and said it was prohibited by a
recent law.