The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-06-03


Incumbent
Hon. Webster Davis. ex- Mayor of Kansas City.
the new Assistant Secretary OF the INFERIOR
took Office this week. He came to town short
time ago and put in the days interviewing Com
missioner Evans and Others and looking over
the ground 1t is understood that the Secre-
,arv of the Interior tho Assistant Secretary,
the Commissioner of Pensions, and other
officials will hold q conference soon for o dis
cusson of matters of policy IN regard to PEN
sons. Perhaps there will be made an announce-
ment oil some things to be expected. There is
"A large bulk of work to be laid before the new
Assistant Secretary, including large number
of appeals in pension cases, aud the decisions
will be important. They will be given IN these
columns. 1t may be that Mr.. Davis will issue
such new rulings as to obviate the necessity of
taking some of these appeals. There are 500 or
more ready to be fled, however. What de-
csions are made sure TO be important, in
view of the attitude of the previous Admins
tration.
There has never been such a young Assistant
Secretary of the Interior. Mr. DAVIS is only 30
years old, but his experience in business and
public life generally has been extensive III
has been stated that more wholesome reforms
were introduced in Kansas City during his oc-
capancy of the Mayoralty than under any pre-
rious administration. During the late cam
paipn he was prominent on the stump In ONO.
Missouri and Kansas and made strong i'm
preston on the President by his effective
oratory. When a delegation OF Missourians
called at the White House. soon after the In
auguratien, the President singled him out and
unsolicited offered him q frst-class appoint
ment
AHEAD OF THE APPROPRIATION.
1t is understood that few more pension al
lowances can be announced this month. be-
cause the appropriation has been practically
exhausted. The delay is only technical, how
ever, and while the Issue will he deferred to
the end of the month, the work of adjudication
will nroceed as before The great bulk of the
allowances of June will be pumped into the
announcement for the first week in July when
the new appropriation becomes available 1t
is considered to be the better policy, rather
than to put in more allowances this fiscal year
than there is money to cover, and thus create
deficit.
The Government is running behind in all
its branches and will continue to do SO till the
new tariff law should be enacted ard become
operative to effect an increase of revenues.
The anwonted activity in settling cases since
Commissioner Evans took charge OF the Bureau
has resulted in reaching the bottom of the cash
draw . few weeks earlier than Congress
anticipated. That 10 the situation in nut
shell.
Relative 10 this matter Commissioner Evans
said: 1T IL hoped that We will get through
the year without deficiency. Ny force is
doing splendid work. aud il may be necessary
70 held ever portion of this months work for
she agencies to pay after July.
expect to keep the Adjudication Divisions
on the work of examining and adjndicatiug
AZ, tl,A frsyu I'd
as rapdly rs is consistent with thoroughly
careful and reliable work"
Following is Q comparative statement of Ger
tifcates issued:
1896. Month. 1897.
7.466. April. 1852.
500. May. 0,40O
AS TO PENSION AGENCIES.
President Mckinley has under consideration
and will shortly act upon q report submitted
BY Commissioner of Pensions Evans on the con-
solicitation Of Pension Agencies ordered by
President Cleveland shortly before the change
of Administration. The report recommends a
complete revocation of the order. allowing the
agencies to stand in the same position as if the
order had not been made. Sept. was fixed as
the date for President Clevelands order 10 take
effect. but while President Mckinley has not
definitely stated his intention. there is little
doubt entertained that the order of revocation
will he promulgated within few weeks.
Commissioner Evans takes the ground that
fhc change would involve cost of s200,000 at
the outset, for which there is no appropriation,
on account Of establishing the new records, etc.;
that at the least there would he no saving &C.
omplished except of salaries Of the agents drop.
PED that time wenid be sacrificed in some cases
and expenses of clerical force increased; tina,
some Of the agencies are in Government build.
ings now aud that the item of rent would figure
largely in a change, aud that while some
changes might be made in other ways later on
the present scheme which abolishes nine oa
OF the agencies and removes both the Topeks
and Des Moines Agencies TO St. Louis. should
be entirely rescinded
Commissioner Evans says that probably al
the Pension Agencies will be consolidated int
one ia this city some time in tile tutare bu
there is no necessity for such action ct thi
tisne.