The National tribune., 1897-06-24
PUTTING THEM OUT.
Changes Being Made in Elk
aiming Boards

tain Class OF Surgeons-HOped for croef
Regarding the Other Class-Assistant sec
Rotary Davis Gives Two Decisions.
Commissioner of Pensions Evans is quietly
disposing OF q great many Objectionable ES-
amining Surgeons. These are OF the class as to
which the Commissioner has no doubts as to
their liability to removal As to the other
class. who hold the most lucrative positions, 1T
is believed nothing short of an order 10y the
President declaring they are not in the elass'-
fed list will lay them open to wholesale dis
charges Whether this will be made remains
to be seen. However, it is stated at the PEN
sion Office that in number OF cases where
charges of improper performance of duty have
been satisfactorily substantiated. Surgeons in
this latter class have been removed also In
such instances it is declared that the rule has
been TO give preference to old Examining Sur
geons who were veterans and had served be-
fore.
Some 500 of the first class mentioned have
been removed for the good of the service
within the last several weeks. Republicans
have taken their places. and it has been the
policy of the Commissioner to give preference
to Union veterans. Many of the old Examining
Surgeons have been restored. Complaints IN
large number of cases against Mr.. Cieve!and's
and in some instances whole Boards have been
changed. Boards in more than half the States
OF the Union have been affected. From June
Ia to 81 there were nearly $50 changes made,
an average OF 20 a day.
TWO DECISIONS FROM MR.. DAVIS.
Assistant Secretary Davis reversed the Com
missioner of Pensions in two important cases
last week. One was in the pension claim of
Catharine GeronZin, widow of Charles Geron-
yin. Co. X, 10Sth Ohio. The claim was made
under the act of June q, 1890, and rejected on
the ground that there was no proof legal
presumption of the soldiers death. The evil
dence showed that GeFonEin had been absent
or unheard of since July. 1866. There
nothing to account for his continued absence
without assuming his death, except report or
rumor that he was an embeZzler, which, SO far,
cannot De traced to any reliable source. Mr.
Davis held that further inquiry should be
made of his parents and other relations. and if
nothing Is thereby developed throwing addi-
tional light on the case, death may be pre-
sumed.' Says he:
This evidence is clearly insufficient TO show
that the soldier was defaulter or embezzier.
or that any formal charges of that character
was ever brought against him. If the soldier
was actually defaulter for $4,000, it is re-
markablc that no better evidence of the fact
can be obtained. And even if he was de-
faulter il does not follow that he would have
whom he was attached, aud have made no effort
to communicate with them for more than 30
years. In view of the evidence as to his family
relations. the length of time that has elapsed
since his dissppeazsnce the weuld pev be up
wards of 90 years of age il iiving), and the fact
chat be has never applied for pension ! think
II is reasonable to presume thst he is dead.
|" Ii is stated in the appeal that the claimant
is in correspondence with the soldiers parents
and family, and that no word has been re.
ceived from him by them. These persons
should be seen by Special Examiner. if posi-
ble If not, their letters to the claimant should
be filed, or they should be corresponded with.
If they have not heard from him since 1865.
and can throw no additional light upon the
cause of his disappearahce, the claim may be
readjudicated in accordance With the view
above expressed. The rejunction is set aside"
In theoeher case. the claim Of Mary Dawley,
Eow Robinson, widow Of Josdan Dawley Ter
Daily Co. @, SD U. S. c. J.. the evidence
Showed the marriage Of claimant to soldier
according to slave custom. and that they
lived together as husband and wife up TO his
enlistment. several children having been born
TO them. The marriage is considered estab-
lished under section 41o5 K. S.
Soldier died in service in 1864 Claimant
and Alexander Robinson began living together
in the relation of husband aud wife in 1866, in
Mississippi. without being formally married.
After the enactment of the provisions of law
fSiallng 10 sucn liiegai conaDitat10n rs con-
tanned in section 90, article ~ of the Con-
stifution of Mississippi, adopted Dec i. 1869
new reiation Of these parties is held to have
arisen, aud valid marriage between lhem
was created by their acceptance of the obliga-
tions of said law.
The rejection Of the claim on the ground
that claimant was not the legal widow of SOL
der was erroneous, and it should be reopened
and adjadicated in accordance with these con-
illusions. ] am well satisfied that the remar-
riage of claimant should be considered as
proved. and that her pension beginning with
the death of the soldier should terminate with
the date OF that rcmarriage Dec ], 1863 You
are. therefore, requested to sdiudicate this
claim in accordance with this view"
The actions reversed were those Of Commits
eloner Lochren.
WORK OF THE PENSION OFFICE
The report of certificates issued for the
week ending June 10 shows
Army invalid: Original. "a; increase and
additional. 29s; reissue, 81; restoration and
renewal, 90; duplicate, IL; accrued, lsi; total,
es7
Army invalid TACT June q, 1890: Original,
ass; increase and additional. 473: reissue, IL;
restoration and renewal. So; suppIementals, s;
duplicate, le; accrued, 1854; total, 1,i90.
Army widow. etc: Original. 81; increase
and additional, 2; reissue, i restoration aud
renewal. i 4; duplicate. 4; accrued, 8: total. Ios
Army widow, etc. TACT June "a. 1891: Orisi-
nal, 3fs; increase, 3; reissue, l.; renewal, 2;
snppieinen.als, 5; duplicate. 5; accrued, A.
total. 367.
Navy invalid: Original, 2; increase and adj
nIt'onai, 1; reissue, 4; restoration and re-
newa j accrued 2; total TO-
Navy invalid fect June q. 1s901. ORIGINAL
26; increase and additional. l6< reissue 9.
restoration and renewal, 2; accrued. 7: total
So
Navy widow: Original, q Navy widow TACT
jane 81, 1920: Original, IL
Mexican War Survivors: Increase and adj
aitional, s.: accrued, s; Mexican War Widows:
Original, 10.
Totals Original, 1,e47; increase and addi-
tonal 19S; reissue, 1lo; restoration and renew
81, 100; snppiementals, i3; duplicate, 80 ac-
erued. 32s Grand total, 2,472.
Nj. Gai!inger last week reported favorablv
TO tire Senate a bill amending the act granting
pensions TO the survivors OF the Indian wars
from ls32 TO 1912. known as the Black Hawk
snd other Disturbances. bill almost ideuii-
cal with this one passed the Senate during the
bath Congress, but failed in the House. The
new bill includes the Sac and Fox Indian war
81 1881, aud IL is estimated that il will add be-
sWeen 200 and 300 men to the pension. rolls.
WEEK IN WASHINGTON.
Events Of General Interest I'm tho Rational
Capital.
TUESDAY, JUNE 15-A cablegrsm received IT