The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-03
M'KINLEY's PENSION POLICY.
Dominic I. Murphy Rcitcrates His
Former Statement.

|
Dominic 1. Murphy. ex-Commissioner
of Pensions, reafirms his allegations
that President Mckinley, when urged to
remove II. Clay Evans, Commissioner of
Pensions. said to a delegation Of Grand
/ Army men, 1.-THE moneyed interests are
opposed to any enlargement of the PEN
sion roll"
| Mr.. Murphy, in speaking yesterday with
| a reporter for The Times, said:
"A local Republican paper on October 30
| published denial Of my statement re-
Gently issued through the Democratic Ma
tional Congressional Committee. concern
ing President McKinley's attitude toward
the civil war pensioners. This denial was
signed by r. b. Brown, of Ohio; ]. W.
Burst, of Illinois, and John Palmer. ex-
Secretary of State of New York and Past
Grand Commander of the Grand Army of
the Republic in 1882.
Within the past month there have been
two denials of my statement, both, l pre-
sumo, coming from the Republican Ma
tional Committee. In the last denial it
is stated that 1T is cruel and wicked
wrong to put into the mouth of the Presi
dent the words ascribed to him in this
interview. l desire to state that the
cruel and wicked wrong must be saddied
upon LOT IL Was nc VIII
came fresh from his interview with the
President and quoted the Presidents own
words. i was advised of this Interview on
the came day it took place.
"On the following day, General Palmer,
in the Continental Hotel. Philadelphia,
again quoted the President and to a num-
her of gentlemen. This was en- September
5. 1893. General Palmer. ex-Secretary of
the State of New York and Past Grand
Commander of the G.. A. r., 1892, an
nounced that Mr.. Evans would not be re-
moved By the President, stating that a
ub-cOmmittee of the Committee on Pen
sOns OF the G. A. r. Encampment. had
called on the President in the White
House the day before September A. and
had urged Commissioner Evans retire
ment; that Mr.. Mckinley said to them
that he would not remove Mr.. Evans:
that there was no reason for his removal;
that The moneyed interests were opposed
to any enlargement OF the pension roll,
and that he the President, hoped the en-
campment would not compel him to give
his reasons for Commissioner Evans re-
tention.'
After the first denial of my statement
printed In the press, | wrote to the gen.
tleman who had first told me the story. l
quote his reply:
In the Continental Hotel, Phi!adel-
phia, on September 10, 1899, Gen. John
Palmer, of New York. informed me that
Mr. Evans would not be removed by the
President, stating that subcommittee of
the Committee on Pensions of the G. A. X.
had called on the President in the White
House on the day before. and had urged
Evans retirement; that Mr. Mckinley said
"he would not remove Mr.. Evans; that
there was no reason for his removal; that
the rHcneyed interests were opposed to any
enlargement of the pension rolls
IF anyone was present at the time and
a witness OF the remarks of General Pal
mer, do not recall them. We were in the
hotel lobby. Hundreds of people were all
around us, and General Palmer was not
while talking TO me. He was,
in fact, as much disguised with the siiua-
ton as anyone else. | Immediately re-
peated this information TO John McElroy,
of Washington city; Colonel Burst, Coney,
and Wood, and Coulter, of the Kansas del |
ega;ion. to most Of whom it appeared TO
be old news. / have heard it spoken of
hundreds eff times since and have never
heard it denied
Yours very truly,
"'CHARLES HANBACK,.
" 'Pittsburg. Pa
"Mr Hanback, is an ex-soldier and Re- |
publican Of the strictest sect.
'It General Palmer or any other men, |
Der of the pension committee want the |
names Of ether gentlemen who know the |
facts in this matter, / shall BE- glad to fur |
nish them. In this last denial, the three /
gentlemen who sign 1t have great deaf |
to say about the Presidents liberal atti-
trie toward the pensioners of the civil |
war. This may do very well for stump
speech on the eve of election. but thcs. |
same members OF the T.. A. r. COMMITTEES.
on several visits to Washington after th>
interview above referred TO- told very |
different story. Some of the gentlemen G.
the committee were loud In denouncing
the attitude of this Administration To-
ward the civil war veterans