The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-16
PENSION OFFICE TALK.
w. C. Perry Returns and Casts
Some Light
On Recent Actions Concerning
Kansas Federal Offices.
Says That No Kansas Postmaster Has
Been Removed Because They
Were Silver Men.

United States District Attorney w. G.
Perry has returned to Topeka from
Washington. He stopped at his home
in Fort Scott several days before re-
turning to Topeka. Eugene Hagan is
still in Washington.
Mr.. Perry. positively denies the report
that he and Mr.. Hagan were response
BILE for the order removing the Topeka
pension office. Though was in Wash
ington at the time the order was made"
said he, Il was not consulted about it
and knew nothing whatever about the
order until it was made. I do not be-
lieve that there was any politics in the
matter. 1t was simply a business move
and it is my opinion that no one knew
anything about it except Secretary
Francis and President Cleveland. Sec
rotary Francis figured that there would
be a saving of $3.50, 900 per annum by the
change and so it was made. Since con-
gress passed the law making it neces-
Sary to pay all pensioners by mail the
Department. has been keeping close
watch on the work and all the agents
reported that the plan was a success.
BY abOlishing the offices at Topeka
and Des Moines and establishing one a
St. Louis the same territory is covered
at much less expense to the govern
ment.
THE Topeka office has really been
hanging by a thread for some time.
During Cleveland's first term we had a
great deal of difficulty in having the
pension office left in Kansas. There
was a good reason. politically, for talk
ing it to St. Louis then but We sue
ceeded in inducing the president to
leave it in Kansas
Mr.. Perry was asked if he had made
the same protests on this occasion and
replied:
mo, was not given an opportunity
to protest. The order was made before
any of US knew that it was in contem-
plation.''
DO you think President Mckinley
will revoke the Order?" asked the re
porter.
I do not believe he will.'' replied the
district attorney. Il think that a lot
of fellows will be fooled in Mckinley.
They will find that he is as much of a
civil service advocate as Cleveland is.
l do not believe he would change the
order unless there was some good rea-
son and the business reasons are the
other way"
Mr. Perry then turned the tide of con-
versatiOn to the reports that several
Kansas pOstmaSters have been removed
recently because they were silver men.
The truth of the matter is said he,
that not a single postmaster has been
removed for that reason. 1 do not be-
Heve there is one of the postma sters
who has been removed that will say so.
They are willing enough to let such a
report go without correction but they
know the true reason.
In nearly all the cases the accounts
were in bad shape and they now have
the reports at the department. In the
case at Hutchinson an employee of the
office was a defaulter but the govern
ment thought that the postmaster was
not giving the office enough attention
and he was not removed because he
was a silver man.
Mr.. Wilson who is in charge of the
department has been very careful and
he did not wish to turn the business
over to the succeeding administration
encountered with any questionable Off
ces. The postmaster at Clay Center
died and his successor, Mr.. Vannatta is
a silver man and was for Bryan. l re-
peat that not a single Kansas postmas-
ter has been removed because he was
for Bryan and that all the removals
were purely for business reasons