Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-04
MAJOR BELLS PENSION.
He Drew One, but Gave It Up
Voluntarily
His Letter to the Commissioner Sur
rendering His Certificates and
the Indorsement Thereon.

deputy Commissioner Bell Of the pension
bureau has been rigorous In his demands for
the enforcement Of the recent decision of
the Secretary of the Interior about pension
ers under the act of June a. 1890 who are
drawing pensions amounting to the limit
allowed for total disability but are not dis
abied. 1t now appears that Major Bell was
drawing a pension Of S12 per month for
loss OF teeth and disease of heart" but
when the secretary's decision was issued
that man cannot draw $12 per month
under that act unless he is totally disabled.
Major Bell promptly resigned his pension.
He would not continue to perform the ardu-
Gus duties OF deputy commissioner of pen
sions and draw a pension which belongs
only to man totally disabled.
But Maj. Bell is SO modest that the kuowl-
edge Of the good example which he set has
just come to light, and the public would not
nave known of his worthy action had not a
wicked newspaper man routed out the case,
determined that Major Bell should no longer
hide his light under a bushel. He is prob
ably convinced now that 1t Is a violation Of
the spirit Of the law to draw $12 under the
act Of June q, 1890. If not totally disabled,
but he looks at the matter in the new light of
Secretary Smiths decision. While he was
drawing his s12 per month he was laboring
under the construction put upon the law by
Commissioner Raum. Under that construc-
ton Major Bell thought it all right to draw
tne pension, but when the search light Of
Secretary Smiths decision was turned upon
the matter he saw things differently and
even waiting to lake advantage Of the the sixty aSS
days grace allowed other pensioners In the
same category.
Mr. Bells Letter.
Major Bells action in the premises - sx-
piained by the following letter:
H
Hon. William Lochren. commissioner Of
Sir: On the I'd of February. 1882. / was
granted q pension under the act Of June
.loss Of teeth and disease W Of III heart" art The .H
Washington, d. c.. board Of examining sur
Eeons. consisting Of Drs. Hood, Little and
Of snd at M mSnn fsE loss
Of heart and catarrh.
Under the construction placed upon the
October Is. 1880. was clearly " entitled ii 't to
the $2 per month allowed me, but under
the construction placed upon this law by
eision Of the 9th instant, I DO not feel that
! am legally entitled to pension. and
therefore return herewith my certificate
name be dropped from the rolls. the said aid
dropping to take effect May "a, issa the
date OF the late decision.
Very respectfully.
Ssisned HENRY c. BELL
Upon this letter appear the following
official Endorsements Of the office
Let the pensioners name be dropped
from the rolls as requested by him. taking
effect May "a. 1888.
VIM. LOCHREN
Commissioner"
May 81, 1893. Pension agent to drop
from rolls after payment. to include May
q. 1898. Order OF commissioner based on
request Of pensioner). Third auditor ad-
vised.
............ .... J. w. c.
Some good natured badinage is being in
dulge1 In by Maj. Bells associates, and
one prominent official Of the Interior De-
partment said today: This looks to me
like q case Of Davy Crockett and the coon
You know they say that Davy Crockett
was such a sure dead shot with the rifle
that one day a coon. which Crockett had
espled in tree. looked down upon him
and said, Is that you Mr.. Crockett Well
you need not shoot: I'll come down. The