The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-06-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.


President Cleveland is deeply interested in
the Efforts that are being made to ascertain if
the carelessness OF any person was responsible
for the horrible tragedy in Ford's old Theatre.
which killed 81 and injurt sixty odd clerks in
the Records of Pensions office OF the War De-
partmeat. although he has wisely refrained
from taking any action that might be consider
ed as interfering with the properly constituted
suthcrities now engaged in that task. Great
pressure Is being brought to bear on him to sus
pend or remove Col Ainsworth. the army officer
who is at the head of that Office. and upon whom
q great many people are disposed to place she
blame. but Mr. Cleveland's idea of fair play is
such that it is probable that he will thke any
action until there is more tangible evidence OF
col. Ainsworth' guilt than public clamor for
making him a scapegoat. If he be guilty sure
ly that fact can hardly escape the coroner's jury
now investigating and the court of inquiry
which will take the matter up at the close OF the
inquest.
The improvement in tthe financial situation
has been very marked during the last few days
and Treasury officials and others who keep
cloks watch financial affairs believe that the
turn has cine In the flow of gold abroad and
that The situation will continue to improve. 1t
Is that the god in the Treasury is aga in
increasing at n gratifying rate and tnat there is
at present no demand Tor gold for shipment
abroad Secretary Morton expresses the opin-
ion that from now on our cereals will take the
place of the gold which we have been shipping
10 kurope, and the tact that the large amount
of gold which the Rothchilds contracted to fur.
nieh Austria has all been delivered, is also
thought TO have been q factor in causing q cess
alton in the European demand for gold.
The Government has lost in actual cash. &C
cording to Secretary Carlisle's figures. in car
rping out the provisions of the Sherman silver
law. nearly 100000. representing the differ
ence between the amount paid for the silver
new sto red in the Treasury vaults and its pres
ent selling price. If lG really had 10 be sold at
once the loss would probably be much greater
because OF the further depreciation in price
that would follow placing such large qunnti-
" OF silver on the market
among the consular appointments made this
week WAS that OF Bennington h. Bedle, of New
jersey. 10 be Consul at Shefie d. England. in
place OF Benjamin Folsom. resigned. MIR. Fol-
som, who hAs held The position since his ap
pointment early in the first Cleveland admins.
tralion. is a cousin of Mrs. CleVeland's,
and as Cousin Ben," he figured in all the re
publics papers as proof that President Cleve,
land as not in earnest when he declared him.
seif opposed Lepolism. W onder what those
sAu6 le1OWs WILL say uOW ludt MTs EO1SOm HAS
Voluntarily resigned2 The chances are that
they " i'll ignore it entirely ard say nothing.
Secretary Carlisle has. in one respect. a long
lead of all the other heads Of Departments.
Since taking charge of the Treasury he has re-
placed more than 200 republican officials. ..out-
side tie classified service. with good democrats.
Democratic Cengressmen, after hard and
stubborn fight. have succeeded in convincing
Postmaster General Bissell that his rule against
the removal of fourth class postmasters who
have served for four years or more, unless
charges are preferred against them, is a bad one
and it will be recalled and all republicans who
have been in Office four years or more will be
replaced by democrats just as fast as they can
be got st in Mr.. Maxwelps Office.
A letter received by Mr.. Cleveland this week
furnishes conclusive proof, if proof were need
ed, of the witdom Of the establishments in the
Per sion Bureau of Board Of Revision. the sole
duty OF which is TO gOover all the pensions that
have been granted under the law of 1890 and
determine whether they were granted in ac-
cordance with proper construction of that
law. The writer of this letter. MIR. J M Bur-
nett. is an ex-employe of the office. who vol
unfairly resigned during the last administra.
tion because he could not conscientiously take
part in carrying out Raum's methods. He tells
the Fres1dent u q large numDer oi pensions II
legally granted, and gives nam~s. dates and the
numbers of the applications. SO that his state.
ments may be easily verified. He says thai
thousands of pensions have been Illegally
granted. and that they are not confined to cases
in which Ithe law was wrongfully construed
but include an enormous number granted II
direct violation of law. Mr.. Burnett concludei
by expressing the BELIEF that at least $50 900 00
year can be saved by q thorough and rigit
purging and revision of the pension rolls.