The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-15
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Wa hin etnn NAY d 1909

Washington, May %, 1893.
Mr.. John Burton, Oklahoma City, o. T.
Dear Sir-Referring to your letter of
May 18th, addressed to the president, witt
reference to pension matters. while no
doubt you have intended to be honest in
the question, you show wonderful
amount of ignorance as to the organiza-
ton OF this bureau.
You say that five years ago Commits
sioner Lochren appointed about thirty adj
ditional members of the board of review
This Certainly would hasten instead of
delay business With reference to the
suspen son.. it is true that there were
| a considerable number suspended, or
dropped and the approval was made by
the then honorable secretary OF the in
terror. Whether right or wrong, I am not
able to question.
Now with reference TO the heads of
divisions, you say that III. Clay Evans
the present commissioner, has kept at
the head Of the divisions the same per-
sons thar the former commissioner ap-
pointed This is not true in any sense
At the head of the board of review is
Colonel Stephenson "a soldier from Hi
nois, himself of good record as a soldier
at the head Of the medical division Is Dr.
]. F. Raub. formerly soldier from Penn
sylvania; at the mead of the eastern divis-
ion is Mr.. White, formerly a soldier; at
the head of the western division is Mr.
Garrison, formerly a soldier; at the head
Of the southern division is Judge Allen,
formrly a soldier, and at the head Of the
old war and navy division is Mr.. Dalton.
who lost one leg in the war. Now all
these men were in the Union army and
had good records, and every one of them
is a Republican. All OF the chiefs have
been changed and the whole bureau re-
organized with Union soldiers as chiefs
Now, my dear sir. what have you got
to say in reply TO this with reference to
the statements you make?
You say the surgeons are the same that
were appointed the last administration.
You know this is not true. 1t is true
there are some board that are within
the classified service. They have not been
removed. In some cases where II was
possible TO do so, soldiers who had been
surgeons ant who had been members OF
boards. and were eligible for reinstate-
ment under Rule TX Of the civil service,
were reinstated in the civil service
boards.
You say there nave been very few
pensions allowed in the last five years.
There have been something over 10000
original claims allowed IN Ave years. How
many do you think should be allowed
each year? The pension appropriation
this year was $40 000.0 900 and have had
TO ask for an additional 100000. would
Like to ask you now much you think
should be paid out annually?
You say the people correctly construe
the civil service law 70 mean that the
commissioner Of pensions can appoint new
men or women 10 the Offices" I hardly
think you are informed a. least well in
formed on this subject. The commissioner
Of pensions mas reinstated about rs SOL
diers in the different divisions and has
promoted about -.
The only Democrat at the head Of any
division is Mr.. Hancock (of the station
cry division who IS an ex-Uniou soldier
ard half-brother Of the late General
Hancock You see you have been sadly
m.sintormed as 20 the organization OF the
bureau. myself was a private solder.
enclose you some literature. After
reading. Z you have not been heretofore
n silformed. please advise ne.
Your letter shows such lack % intor-
nation about .he workings Of the bureau
thai It hardly needs answer.
Very respectfully.
CLAY EVANS. Commissioner
Burton saws that IS letter 70 ths con-
missioner N reply - the above letter.
was similar 20 me resolutions condemn
ing the commissioner % pensions. adopted
by the Cd soldiers al Cincinnati last