The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-03-18
At WASHINGTON
Wholesale Restoration Of PEN
sions Perhaps-Efigy on
the White House
Grounds.

V@ani1lS0lCN' Marcn IL. lS95.-Int
thousands of pensioners in New Jersey
and especially those who nave suffered
from a reduction in their pensions, viii
DE interested in the decision rendered
yesterday by Judge Bradley in this cit,
in the case of a Michigan veteran named
Gen. Shakespeare. This old officer wa.
Informed several months ago thai hi.
pension had been reduced from $72 tt
$3O per month. He objected to this sum
mary reduction. and brought suit tc
prove that 1t was Illegal on the GROUND
that in the act of December q, 1893. tbs
Commissioner of Pensions is obliged t.
give a full and true statement of any
charges or allegations which form the
basis Of his actions whenever he re.
duces a pension. In the case of Genera,
Shakespeare. the Commissioner sent out
"a printed notice which was general an6
not specific in its terms. and the Judge
very promptly decided that it was not In
accordance with the law.
The full effect of this decision can be
appreciated when it is known that the
Pension Office has for the past two years
been reducing pensions by wholesale. and
in each case the notice has been the gen
eral printed one which the Court now de.
cides is void. In General Shakespeare's
case the government will LAY to pay him
the difference between $72 and $50 fol
a month since the reduction went
into effect, n the same course Will
have to be followed with all the other
money this will cost. It may be that the
Pension office will refuse to make the
restitution unless each individual pen
sioner brings suit for recovery; This
t6S the univ Uya in which q HhnloQa lie
restoration can be avoided.
At the Pension Office 1t is stated that
" q specific reason has to be given every
time a pensioner is reduced. 1t will take
a force twice as large as that now en-
ployed. The decision has created consid-
cradle consternation N the office. and
Republican hoid-overs. were aware oi
the Illegal curse which Commissioner
Lochren was taking. but did not care to
AN EFFIGY FOR THE PRESIDENT
For the first time in the history OF
this city. some one has been bold enough
to PLACE am efiEy dn the very grounds OF
kept quiet. n was not even made pub
Tic by the press associations.
The figure was found yesterday morn
ing by q policeman and the gardener. II
was stuffed with straw, and was clothed
In a black coat Inc trousers. with a dis
reputable black hat over a false face. A
tall paper collar surrounded the neck and
"a ~ al "a Nv 49,
ments of de Rotschdlds."
Whoever deposited this figure with the
significant legend in the White House
grounds managed to elude the force OF
night watchmen- Secretary Thurber gave
orders that the figure should be removed
as quickly as possible and hat nothing
should be said about it to anyone.
A VISITOR FROM PERTH AMBOY.
Mr.. Oliver NJ. Ramsay of Perth Am
boy, is at the Shoreham. He is the eldest
son of the noted shApIbudlder. Hugh Ram
say. and takes an active part in the man
agement of his father's plant. For our
generations the RamSays a been in
the ship-building business in this country
and lis bottoms now af1oat i'm New York
harbor and the adjacent waters testify
to their kill and activity. At Perth Am
boy they " one of the largest balance
dry docks IN the United States. and have
the room and equipment for the con-
struction of the largest vessels that float.
OF late they have built a large number
OF deep-sea dredges, and are now max
ing one of the finest class for the harbor
improvements at Galveston, Texas.
THE day of the wooden ship" said
Mr.. Ramsay, lis about over. Iron and
steel are the materials we must look to
henceforth hnNd ships constructed OF
them have every advantage of the old
time wooden ones. The depletion of our
forests would make the change inevita-
BILE, anyway, but aside from that the
maritime world is a gamer. by the new
conditions. The iron vessels are more
durable, can be operated longer With
less repairs, and are impervious to the
ravages of the teredo and the