The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-06-23
FRIDAY, JUNE a3, 1898.
WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, June, 10 1893.

=
from an attack of rheumatism for sew
eral days, which taken in connection
with the knowledge that he has been
dieting himself for some time to re-
duce his flesh, which Notwithstanding
the enormous quantity of the hardest
sort Of work he constantly does, has
been increasing, was made the foun-
dation for numerous sensational ru-
mors concerning his general health.
Your correspondent is assured by
those who know that Mr.. Cleveland's
general health, barring the rheumatism,
is excellent. He expects, in company
with Mrs. Cleveland and baby Ruth to
leave Washington tomorrow or next
day for his Buzzard Bay cottage, where
Mrs. Cleveland and Ruth will spend
the summer. Mr.. Cleveland will re-
turn to Washington within a week or
ten days, possibly sooner, and will re-
main, making occasional visits to Buz.
Yards Bay until the last of July when
he expects to 60 for at least months
stay. The fact that he expects to
spend the month Of August away from
Washington effectually disposed Of the
rumoled earlier calling Of the extra
session of Congress, a rumor that
prob,bly had its origin in the wishes
Of those who have been here clamor-
ing tor an immediate extra session.
The coroner's jury has nearly com.
pleted its task of investigating the
Ford's Theatre catastrophe, and its
verdict is looked forward to with great
Interest. 1t is we'll nigh certain that
it will blame Col. Ainsworth for con.
tributory negligence, if for nothing
worse. In that case the grand Jury
will probably indict Ainsworth for
manslaughter, and its finding will nee
essarily carry some weight with the
Army Court Of Inquiry which will look
into the matter this week. Col. Aims
worth is still at the head of the Rec.
ords and Pension Office of the War
Department. and owing to the peculiar
conditions surrounding the position,
would still be the legal head of the
office and continue to draw his salary,
even II he were suspended by the Pres
ldent as he may be before the end of
this week. Alnsworth is Colonel in
the Army, but he has neither regiment
nor command he is not in the line
OF promotion and cannot be transferred
to other duties by the President, and
ne is the only man in the army who
cannot be. Col. Ainsworth- can only
be removed from the army by Court
Martial, and so long as he remains in
the army 1t is doubtful whether the
President has authority to appoint any
other man chief Of the Records and
Pension Office, although he can desig-
nate another army officer to perform
the duties temporarily. A little politi-
cal tinge has been given the matter by
the appearance Of Senator Proctor as
the special champion OF Ainsworth.
Although Secretary Gresham will
neither affirm nor deny the statement
that Minister Blount has resigned,
those who know the intentions of Mr..
Blount say it is true, and the presence
OF Hon. Proctor Knott, of Kentucky,
an Washington, has caused the belief
that he will be his successor.
Twenty army officers have been de-
tailed, under the act of July 1892, to
act as Indian agents. There was con-
siderable difficulty in finding officers
willing to serve and the President did
not care to detail men for the duty
against their wishes.
When next pension day comes
around there will be some disagreea.
bly, surprised men, among those who |
will Apply for their checks at several
OF the Pension agencies throughout
the country. The failure to receive
the customary check will be the first
notice these men will have that they
have been dropped from the pension
roll as result of the examination now
being conducted by select committee
1 OF examiners, OF all the pensions grant |
\ ed under Raum's construction Of the
act of 1890. Although this work has
fjust commenced many names have
u already been dropped and many more
N will follow. The men who are being
4dropped by this committee are not
strictly speaking fraudulent pensioners,
\ falthough they have drawn public |
money to which they were not entitled. |
The wrong was committed by Raum
lin so constituting the law us to make
them eligible for pensions, and for
THAT reason it is not probable that any
g'attempt will be made to recover the
tmoney already paid to those who have
f|been or will be dropped, as will be
ione in cases where the pensloner got
,n the roll by fraudulent acts of his
own.
M Congressman Tucker. of Virginia,
lays "lf Mr.. Carlisle keeps on the way