The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-08-09
MORE PENSION RAscALITY.

In the purging of the pension lists the
worst fraud yet discovered has just been
unearthed in a violation not only of the
law but of the express instructions of
the secretary Of the interior in the cases
affected. 1t will be remembered that
four years ago when Tanner took charge
Of the pension office one of the first
things done was a rerating of the office
force. each member being kindly adj
vanced by a brother official. This action
was exposed and Secretary Noble at once
appointed a special board to investigate
the matter, and the board reported that
thirty-two employees, by collision, had
Illegally rerated themselves. The secre-
tary discharged ten of the men, and 9TH
ers were allowed to resign, but sixteen of
them, who had strong political backing,
were allowed to remain in office. 1t was
ordered. however. that their pensions be
returned to their former status, and
special instructions in writing to this
effect were given in each case by Assist
ant Secretary Bussey. 1t is now found
that Tanner ignored the instructions. as
did also Raum. and the sixteen rascals
have been drawing their pensions as re-
rated during the four years with the con-
nivance of Tanner and Raum.
In this case there can be no possible
excuse of ignorance or oversight. The
subject was given too great prominence
for that. 1t was the subject not only
of the department investigation and spe-
cial inquiry by congress, but also univer-
sally discussed by the newspapers.
Neither is there any possibility of mis-
understanding the instructions. for they
were very pointed and clear. The follow
ing are specimen extracts from them.
In the case of Joseph Dickinson Mr.. Bus
sey wrote.
Your action of June 3, 1889, granting
the pensioner a reissue of his certificate
and rerating his pension at $50 per month
from discharge was clearly not justified
by either the law or the facts in this
case, and it is therefore disapproved.
He commented on the case of Dennis
T. Kirby as follows:
The ordinary applicant for increase of
pension is put to the trouble and eX-
pense of going before a board of surgeons
for examination-an expense which he
can often i'll afford. No examination
was required of Mr.. Kirby although it
would not have cost him cent The or
binary applicant, who has not access to
a commissioners private secretary, must
wait sometimes many months until his
case is reached in the regular order of
business, unless in immediate danger Of
death or of the poor house. This one
receives his certificate within a week
although in the enjoyment of fair health
and comfortable salary. If there is
any reason why he should have been
thus favored it has not been made a
matter of record. Your action in the
premises is therefore disapproved.
In the case of Purley B. Dickerson he
said:
1 do not possibly see how there can
be a difference of opinion as to the
meaning of a statute so definite and pos
tive. No construction or Interpretation
IS necessary. Your action is disapproved
as being totally without authority in the
law. You are hereby requested to recall
Mr.. Dickerson'S certificate and reissue Ii,
allowing it the rates provided by law.
These are but samples Of instructions
that were in every case clear and distinct.
They were given by the republican as
sistant secretary. They were supposed
by everyone to have been obeyed long
ago. 1t is not therefore surprising that
on being informed of the facts a few
days ego Mr.. Bussey Indignantly de-
nounced the action as an outrage. 1t is
an outrage. and 1t is more than that.
1t certainly must come within the ma
tional statutes against embezzlement and
conversion of public funds, and the men
who perpetrated the fraud ought to be
brought to justice if there is any justice
to be had in such cases Tanner and
Raum had just as much right to fill their
own pockets as to authorize these men
to do so. contrary to law and contrary
to instructions. That they permitted
such action is evidence that there was
much more rottenness in the conduct of
the office and that it was necessary to
keep some persons quiet