The National tribune., 1893-08-03

Gen. Forney, of Alabama, one of the members
oil the National Gettysburg Battlefield Associa-
tion, had an interview with Gen Grant, Acting
secretary OF War, in regard to the general
WORK oil the Association. Gen. Forney has been
III at his Alabama home for some weeks. and ia
on his way to Gettysburg to join his associates.
Col. Nicholson, President of the Association. is
expected in Washington shortly to confer with
secretary Lamont as to the plans of the Asso-
citation.
x*x
Foreigners continue to come to Washington in
groves, Ell route to Chicago. Guests from every
European country have been registered at all
the hotels during the past week. In almost
every instance the man registered only bis sur
name as is generally the habit with all Euro
peans except Englishmen, who usually prefix
Initials or given names as we do in this coun-
try. Among the distinguished visitors at the
Arlington was the Princess Furstin Vadcolsky,
OF 81. Petersburg, Russia, accompanied by her
Secretary and maid
as
The mystery of the Disappearance of Howard
Martin, Secretary of the United States Lega.
tlon at Pekin, China, has never been cleared
up Some of the foreign residents there be-
lieve that his mind was unbalanced. He left
debts to over $685. 900. OF this sum $40, 600 was
Tor handsome furs, which he used to line his
room IN cold weather. 1t is supposed that when
he left Pekin he dropped down to Taxa, a
hitle below Tientsin, in honseboat and there
got on board sailing vessel. No news has
been heard from him by the State Department
SO
The total number of pensioners under the
act Of June q. 1890, who have been notified
since the 4th Of March last that the payment
of their pensions have been suspended is sp-
Proximately $3.50. The number of pensions
granted under the act is about $4,000. About
20 per cent. of the number paid to soldiers
themselves are being suspended pending the
receipt OF satisfactory proof of their inability
to perform manual labor and that their disa-
bility is not the result of vicious habits. IF
the same ratio is maintained through the entire
list, at least $4,000 will be suspended.
w*~
1t was reported that the Pension Bureau off,
Gals had discovered that some Is employees of
the Bureau are now drawing rates of pensions
In direct disobedience Of orders issued by
Secretary Noble and bis assistant, Gea. Bassev.
1t appears that the order cutting down their
pensions has been kept in the files of the Law
Division Of the Bureau, and was never enforced
By either Corp'i Tauner Or Gen. BAUM while
they were Commissioners. These men were
clerks in the Bureau. and had their pensions re-
rated during the early part of Corp1 Tanners
administration of the Bureau, some of them
dnifa of 1
ing. and the rerating was obtained through
political influence. A Congressional investiga-
ton followed, and several clerks were dis
missed, while the pensions Of others were re-
dnced- 1t was said that the order reducing the
pensions of the Is employees above referred to
was found the other day tucked away in
drawer, and had never been obeyed
Ex-Assistant Secretary Bnssey and ex-Com-
missioner Tanner give very positive and cir
cumstantial contradiction to this statement.
Corp'l Tanner never saw the alleged reducing
decisions. Gen. Bussey stated that no such
decisions had ever been promulgated. During
the Tanner investigation he had personally
taken up number Of cases Of pension employees
whom he thought had been illegally rerated,
and had written out a decision in each case.
These were signed by him to identify them,
and were to have been presented to Secretary
Noble and the President, but Secretary Noble
took another course regarding the investiga-
tion, and Gen. Bussey put them away in his
desk without having laid them before the
higher authorities. One day Commissioner
Raum requested TO look at them, and took
away nearly a score OF them with him to do so.
He had evidently forgotten to return them.
and the finding of them gave rise to the as
sumption that they were authorized decisions
and the Government had lost money through
their being kept hidden away.
The War Department last week refused the
request of the Board Of Managers of the Worlds
Fair TO allow the West Point Cadets to remain
in camp on the Fair grounds one month in
stead of two weeks. as originally intended.
The Department referred the request to the
Superintendent Of the Academy, who returned
it disapprOved on the ground that an extended
stay would seriously interfere with the routine
OF the Academy. The War Department has
also notifed the cities along the route that the
Cadets would not be allowed to stop over. sew
eral cities having asked that this permission be
given. The corps will take along its own tents
and equipments and the Fair people will pro.
vide flooring for their beds. The bows will be
given every opportunity to see the exhibits
but Will DO kept close in camp and will not be
permitted to take part in any festivities. This
is the first time in the history of the Academy
that the corps has been allowed TO take so long
journey. their previous jaunts having been
limited 10 trips 10 New York City and to Wash
ington TO attend Inauguration ceremonies.