The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-07-29
AN ENERGETIC MAN.
Pension Cases Disposed of by
MIR. Davis.

Assistant Secretary Accompiishes MUCH
Nork-His Method of Making DECISIONS
Some Recent Opinions
Probably there has never been more P''"'-
taking Assistant Secretary oil the in'eiioi
tban Webster Davis. He is an ehefsetc
vorker. ard the Government oilee houts oo
-, r.,rosa,,t the time he spends at ms iaoors.
o. wa,k he sits down To fresh ba,ch OF
nensiou a,,l,eals and motions the SIZE % VIZ" VIC
would be calculated 10 awe iiiah 1883 "eeu .I
toned 10 doing whatever nc ahu. 'l,,ass
The aispaich consistent with thofousuhes'
NJ, Ar Davis is Quick and thorough.
rrbcse4napers come from the Board OF Pension
anna,ls and the Re reviewers, and are ready TOT
his inspect ION i'm ty rewritten form, WIN o'nei
necessary documents attached Inc spesiai e"'e e
received during the week are attehueu 70 az
once Mr.. Davis reads carefully every case
49, tho irst real, ing of case lie takes up the
cases cited for reference IN connection 'neio
uitl makes comparisons, consuits printed nc
ris;o,,s and the laws and If he agrees Win the
case rs raised upon he afiixes his Signature.
Freonently he sends decision back With the
rcouest for all the papers In the case, the "oi VI
examining which is very laborious ana teaio GUS
Rnt Mr.. Davis goes over it from END 10 emu oeloie
be n,,tcs his decision. If he does not agree
with his subordiuates who have handled a case
becalls in the man who has written the decision,
with which his associates have agreed, anu
goes over the case with him. otbers are SUN
lines consulted. If Mr.. Davis, after an con
cludes that the decision recommehueu - ohe
that should not he made, he ASKS lhaU - - Do
rewritten in accordance Win ui'
the case 81 ould be decided.
This of course is only part of Mr.. DAVIS
work. He has call upon his time almost every
minute of every day. 1t is believed that ne Is
doing his best 10 adjudicate the cases thab
come before him in the best interest OF the
Government and those whom the cases anect.
The Assistant Secretary has reversed the
action of the Bureau under Commissioner
T,orhrpn in the case of Chester T. Haskell
Guardian of the minors of Levi Rollins, 90. u
iI5th OHIO. a pensioner under the act OF june
o. 1890 WHO died April e 1895. The guardian
fled application April %, 1880 which was
treated by the Bureau as claim nhaer the
general laws, and calls were made Tor the ieces-
sary evidence to establish II, including evidences
of The origin in service and continuance OF SOL
dier's fatal disease.
TIE claimant on Jan. "a, 1896. filed an atfida-
xit in which he stated that he never intended
To file claim under the general laws, but under
the act of June q, 1890; that he did not Know
of any disability that soldier contracted In the
army that led TO his death that he was IN
formed by his attorney at time oil ming OF the
difference between the two laws, ana he be-
l7eved heldid file claim under the act OF June
q, 1890"
The Bureau then informed him that his ap-
nlfcation could not be accepted under the latter
act. as il did not contain the necessary allega-
lions. but was essentially claim under the
general law He filed another application
April A. 1885, containing the allegation that II
was made under act of June %, 1880 The
first claim was rejected On the ground that the
soldiers death WIS not shown 80 be due TO his
military service, while the other was admitted,
the pension to be received from date of fling
the second declaration. Claimant appealed,
contendng that it should have commenced
from date Of filing original declaration.
The Assistant Secretary finds that the first
declaration contains all necessary allegation;
for a minors claim under the act of June q,
1880. except it does not designate tlfat it was
fled under the act. 1t fails to state that the
soldier died of disability contracted in service
and line of duty. as required in claims under
the general law. 1t is held that the affidavit
explaining claimants purpose was sufficient Il
maka The decI.ration valid under the act q
June q. 1890, and the action of the Bureau in
withholding pension from the date of filing
was error.
Mr.. Davis has reversed the action of the
Pension Bureau in rejecting the claim for back
pension made hy Louisa v. Fitzpatrick, widow
OF the famous Major General, aud has reopened
the claim for further adjudication. She prob
that the cause of Gen. kiipatrick's death
Bright's disease, was incurred in the service
The widow already draws pension conferred
by Congress IN 1884, but the claim is for pen
sion from Dec. g 1881, date of his death, Il
July i, 1854. date of the action by Congress
In the case of Emma Besenus, widow o.
John Besenius, Co. X, 9th U. S. (Mexican War
the Assistant Secretary reversed the action o.
the Bureau. rejecting her claim The soldier
was pensioDed at IS month, Nov. %
1857, under the act OF Jan. 30. 1887. II,
died Nov. 81. 1895, and the accrued pension
was paid to his widow. She fled declaration
March 2, 1896. for widows service pension
rejected May g. 1885, on the ground tina
the soldier was not in Mexico or on coas
or frontier thereof or en- route thereto so day
during the war with Mexico. On appeal il wa
contended that the soldier d id serve more thar
so days en- route TO Mexico, and that hfs It'll,
to pension having been admitted by grantin,
him pension as q Mexican War survivor, it wa
error TO refuse pension to the widow for reason
that, if valid, would have deharred the soldie
from such pension. The evidence as to Beseni
MSS service, reviewed, having proved TIN
soldiers title, the Assistant Secretary, in dis
posing Of the case, holds that as the soidie
had title TO the pension granted him unde
the act of Jan. %, 1887. the widow has title 3
service pension under the Act.
The report OF certificates Issued for the weel
ending July % shows
Army invalid: Original, 81; increase, ad
ditional, los; reissue, So; restoration an
renewal, 20; duplicate, 25; accrued, ia; tota
3el.
Army invalid TACT June 81. 1890: origina
1865; increase. ll9; additional. 5S; reissue, S
restoration, 90; renewal. 3; supblementals, 8
duplicate, %; accrued. ll9; total. 727.
Army. widow, ETC.: Original, AZ; restore
tion and renewal, 2; duplicate. 2; total, 81
Army widow, etc. TACT June q, 1880: Orig
nal, 22s; increase. i; reissue. 3; renewal
supplemenials, 5; duplicate total, 2il.
Navy invalid Original, j; increase and az
ditional, /; reissue, 2; duplicate / total 5.
Navy invalid Tact june q. $780,: oricina
10. duplicate. j; accrued. a; total, l5
Navy widow TACT june q, $780,: Original,
restoration. ]. Indian Wars-survivors a
ciucd, 2. Indian Wars-Widows: Original, 3
Mexican War survivors: Increase, /: a
crued, TO- Mexican War widows: Original, i
Totals: Original, 1888; increase aud add
tional, 2o5; reissue CO; restoration and rene'
81, 67; suppementals, 10: duplicate So; a