The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-07-19
WASHINGTON LETTER,

WASHINGTON. D. G.. July ID. 1898.
Facts are stubborn things. and now that the
democrats have an opportunity to examine the
pension roll they are turning up evidence every
day to prove that the claim made by democrats
for years, that millions of dollars were being
paid out Illegally for pensions, was correct.
Cases are numerous where men are drawing
$72 month for total disability and are in addi-
tion following ordinary avocations and drawing
the same salaries as uninjured men. Twoc cases
of this kind turned up this week right here in
Washington. one man a musician regularly
employed, al d the other a government clerk,
and there are many more here. These two men
were re examined and their pensions reduced
to SIT and $2S month respectively, and so ap
parent was the justice OF the reduction that
neither of them availed themselves of the right
to appeal from the decision of the Board of Ex-
aminers.
little incident occurred this week at the
Pension Office which showes that politics do
not enter into the present conduct of that Office
A democratic congressman called to protest
against the reduction of the pension OF prom.
inent democratic worker in his district, and
said that the man had influence enough to
throw his district, which is close. to the repub-
licans. The papers in The case were produced
and it was conclusively shown that the man
was drawing larger pension than he was en-
titled to, and the Congressman had to acknowl-
edge it, although still asked that this partic.
ular pension be not reduced. He was informed
as other democratic congressman have been
who called on similar errands, that the policy
of this administration was to administer the
law as it exists. without regard to the politics
Of the pensioners.
Secretary Morton thinks the work of the
Weather bureau should be confined to the pur-
poses Tor which it was established and that the
employ ment OF high -salaried experts to exper-
lment along lines which nobody really knows
anything about is all wrong. and in conse-
quence OF those thoughts he has notified several
professors who have been engaged upon WORK
that was OF no Immediate practical use either
20 The Bureau or 10 the pubic. that their SER
vices will be dispensed with. The Secretary
intends that the entire talent of the Bureau
shall be devoted to improving the daily forecast
OF the weather. which he believes to be The work
which is the most bene hcial to the public How
the tur would n.y." remarked man who knows
considerable sboutthe inside workings of some
oil the other so-caIled scientific bureaux of the
government ii man ike Morton was put in
charge OF the Geological and the Coast Survey
oAASSes LIZ AhOWs SHOuSn ABOUT sciences not
to allow himself to be bamboozled by the fake
scientists whose sole ofject in life is to hold
on to the soft snaps they now have''
Senator Voorhees, whose long Congressional
experience makts his opinion valuable. takes
no stock in the talk about the extra session be
ing short one. Speaking of 1T he said: Con
gress "lii probably be in continuous session
unlIi August 15 1sy4. Ii not longer" Repre-.
sentative Wilson. OF West Virginia. the gentle
being chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mittee of the House. should MIR. Springer not
get it again, a4sO thinks the extra session viii
run into the regular session. and th at the latter
will be an unusually long one, Mr. Wilson
thinks the tariff will be taken up just as soon as
the Ways and Means committee is announced
by Speaker lrisp.
Many misstaIements have been made con-
cerning the alleged antagonism between tee
and the silver democrats in
Congress. Representative Wheeler. of Alabama
is and has been for years. a silver democrat, and
this is the way he expresses his antagonism: Il
have unbounded confidence in Presidena CIeve-
land. Secretary Carlisle and the Democratic
party. Mr.. Cleveland struck the key note in
his letter of acceptance when he demanded leg
lslation which would give adequate money for
our business needs. and also legislation which
would insure the proper distribution of this
money throughout the country. Under his wise
leadership we will be able to frame measure
which will be satisfactory to all the interests of
our land.