The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-19
REDUCING THE PENSION. LIST.
A Sample Of the Summary Process Adopted
BY President Clsvelands Commissioner.

Special 90 the Indianapolis Journal
WORTHWHILE. Ind. June 17.-One of the
best soldiers that ever did four years of
faithful service for his country and sur
vived the terrible storms of battle through
which he passed was Andrew J. huffman.
of Hamilton county. than whom there is
no more honored or respected citizen. He
enjoys the highest esteem and respect OF
all who know h,m. He IL man of intea-
rity, and although suffering constant and
most excruciating pains from the disaDili.
ties incurred in the discharge OF his duty
as soldier. he has always been.
and is to-day. of the most in
dnstrious farmers in his section Of
the country. Mr. Huffman was promoted
for meritorious services and was. during
lis four years of service faithful in the
full discharge of every duty incumbent
upon HIM a soldier. While lifting some
heavy cannon he SO strained himself as
TO produce q rupta re. resulting In hernia.
His love of country and devotion to the
cause of che Union forbade his acceptance
of discharge for disability, and he brave
ly put on a truss and. although suffering
constantly. continued In the full discharge
of bis duty. His pride and man hood for
babe his making application for q pension
for many years. and this delay made it
more difficult for him TO prove the circum-
stances under which he incurred the injury,
but the facts were finally fully established
and he was granted pension at the rate
of 81 per month, when. under the rule for
rating for specific disa ilitles, he ought to
have been rated at Sl4. Mr.. Huffman has
always worn double truss, w hioh he Is to.
day compelled to wear and the disability
IS as great to-day as it ever was. He has
not been subjected 10 any medical exam
inatiOn. and no one has had any opDOrtun-
ity to learn his true condition, which could
f.aA q.
his person. and this hos not been done at
any time, except the examination on w ioh
ho was granted the pension. Yesterday
Mr.. Huffman called at the little town OF
master delivered to him an enveiops to his
address from the Bureau of Pensions
which. on opening. be found TO contain
this communication:
FINANCE DIVISION.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., JUNE II. 1893
sir-I have to ady wise you that 1t appears from
medical evidence on Tile in this bureau that rho
disability resulting from left ingulnal hernia
qncompietel Tor which you were granted pen
Payment of pension on your certificate. No. 29l-
676. has therefore been suspended, pending
the receipt or such answer al you may desire TO
make. all statements OF yourself or others TO be-
made under oath. III, after the period OF sixty
days from this date. You have failed TO satisfac-
torily rebuf the evidence referred TO- and no suf-
ficient reason appears why an extension of time
should be- made, yOIr name will be dropped from
the pension roll. Such evidence must be sub
mitted in the form OF affidavits, and the enyel-
ope inclosine them TO this bureau should be adj
dressed 10 the Commissioners OF Pensions, with
"Finanee Division" marked In the lower left
hand corner. This letter should be returned
Herewith. Very Respectfully,
WILLIAM LoCHREN, Commissioners.
Mr.. Andrew j.. Huffman. Lapel, Madison county,
Indiana
On reading the notice Mr. Huffman was
dumfouDded. He IL o Democrat, and AS
such voted for Cleveland. He thought the
charge that the Democrats would reduce
the pension list IN this way was inbound
ed. but this IN ost convincing bit of evid en- ce
proved TO him the error of his way and he
declared that ne would never more support
= party whose hostility to the Union SOL
der and the cause for W hIch he tonight too X
this eowardly course of showing that hos
Utility. The notice Ia on u printed blank,
whlch shows that preparations are made TO
| DO a large amount of this kind of business
The pensioners are not sub iected TO any
test or medical examination. The an-
nouneement OF the receipt of this notice
by Mr.. Huffman called forth expressions
| of the strongest condemnation from ALL
without regard To party affi lliation or DO
| liticsl elnnice. The chairman OF the Dem
oeratic county central committee. in n con-
vcrsation with Mr. Hulfmann. endeavored
| land responsible for this b ut Mr.. Huffman
| propouDded the pertinent inquiry: Nv no
/ II responsible for IL II no IL notP Indigna-