Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-02
The Presidents Probable Attitude
Toward the Commissioner.
BEFORE TEE G.. 4. R. ENCAMPMENT
Committee to Report on Pension
Methods.
FORECASTING IT'S CONTENTS

It has been announced that President Nc
Kinley will go to the Grand Army encamp-
ment at Philadelphia next week. Comnlis-
sioner Evans Is certainly going What will
interest the outside world most about the
national encampment this year will be it's
attitude toward the charges which have
been brought against Commissioner Evans,
rejecting, as they do indirectly, upon the
administration. A certain element of the
Grand Army processes to be as indignant
with the President for allowing Commis-
sioner Evans to remain in office as it Is with
the latter for the methods pursued in the
administration of his great bureau. 1t will
be recalled that a committee of five in
vestigated the management Of the pension
bureau not long ago. They will present
their report to the encampment and the
treatment which this report receives will
determine the attitude of the organization.
1t Is believed here that this committee of
five, consisting of r. B. Brown Of Zanes-
vile, Ohio; Col. H. 3. Case of Chattanooga,
Tenn; Charles Clark Adams of Boston,
Gen. John Palmer of Albany, and Col. Jno.
W. Burst of Sycamore, ILL.,, will report in
Commissioner Evans favor His opponents,
in that event, will appeal to the encamp-
ment and test the case on the floor.
The Investigating Committee.
The investigating committee. so far as is
known has never disclosed the tenor of its
report. Commissioner Evans is quoted as
saying that the members were entirely
satisfied with his administration of the bu-
reau, and his opponents, among whom are
pension attorneys, are already discounting
this report by saying that the Investigators
are federal Office holders. 1t is pointed out
that Colonel Burst holds a position in the
Chicago custom house, that Colonel Brown
of GAINESVILLE is the editor of a republican
newspaper there, and is has been the
republican postmaster. General Palmer is
we'll known as the former republican sec
retary Of state of New York. Colonel Case
comes from Commissioner Evans own
city, and is said to be his attorney. These
are the allegations which the anu-Evans
faction here make in explaining how it is
that they expect they will be beaten in this
committee. They, moreover, declare that
the administration is making a desperate
effort to prevent the encampment from
taking any action adverse to Mr.. Evans,
whose presence there, with that of the
President, may be expected to have a re-
Straining influence.
The Fight on the Commissioners.
The present contest over the pension bu-
reau is one of the most remarkable on
record. By the friends of Commissioner
Evans it is claimed that not a reputable
daily newspaper in the United States, re-
publican, democratic populist, can be
found which is against Evans. The strong
est administration organs, especially those
in Philadelphia, where the encampment is
to take place. are devoting much space to
the support of Evans, and are decrying the
efforts Of his detractors. Economy in the
pension office seems to have become a re-
publican issue. In these circumstances,
whether majority of the encampment
will follow the pension attorneys is said to
be rather doubtful. This is thought to be
too near a presidential election for good
party men to enjoy taking a position of
open antagonism to the President of their
choice Friends of Evans insist that the
talk about 5000 republican veterans in
Ohio who have signed a statement to the
effect that they will vote for John r. Nc
Lean unless Evans Is removed. will infiu-
ence two votes in the other direction for
one vote in the way intended
Action at the Last Encampment.
1t Is recalled that the last Grand Army
encampment, which was held al Cincinnati,
passed resolutions almost unanimously
criticising Commissioner Evans for his ac-
ton in certain details. The resolutions
blamed him for retaining in force order No.
90 of Commissioner Lochren and for his
failure to revive order No. 164 of Commits
sioner Raum. 1t is said to be quite possible
that the members of the encampment vot-
ing were quite as unfamiliar with the pur-
port of these orders as is the general pub
lie, and that this fact may account for the
unanimity with which the resolutions were
\
Elroy, the editor of the National Tribune.
He will lead the fight on Evans at Phila-
delphia next week. 1t seems that the de-
partment encampments have denounced
Evans in the states Of New York, Indiana,
Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, California, Ore
gon, Washington and the two Dakotas. In
Pennsylvania an attempt to do SO was de-
feated by a substitute motion to refer the
question to the national encampment.
The President's Attitude.
What the President is thinking about all
this controversy is not hard to discover.
He has wanted the disbursements OF the
pension bureau kept as low as Mr.. Evans
has kept them. 1t is believed he will stand
by Mr.. Evans, whatever threats may be
made concerning the effect Of his retention
upon the Ohio or any other campaigns. It
| is pointed out that If the President had
not been prepared to stand by Evans he
could very easily have indicated to him at
an earlier date course of action which
would have avoided the present complica-
tions.