The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-29

Sickles has recently assumed the leader
ship of the anti-Evans band of pension
bandits and has out-Tannered "Corpor-
al Tanner in his denunciation of Com
missioner Evans and the latter's admin
istration of the Pension office.
Had Commended Evans.
When these statements attributed
to Gen. Daniel f. Sickles arraigning
Commissioner Evans as the enemy of the
old soldier and the pension claimant gen.
orally, appeared, Commissioner Evans
supposed that Gen. Sielxles had been mis-
quoted, for at the present time Commits
sioner Evans has in his possession num-
erous letters from Gen Sicxies commend-
ing in the highest terms his just, liberal,
and thoroughly efficient administration
of the pension office. Fearing there
might be some mistake. Commissioner
Evans few days ago telegraphed Gen.
Sickles, asking him If the statements at
tributed to him in certain newspapers
were authentic. In reply Gen Sickles
assumed entire responsibility for the
statements, and in addition denounced
Commissioner Evans severely and ex-
pressed the hope that he would at once
be removed from office in justice to all
the old pensioners throughout the land.
Under ordinary circumstances Commits
sioner Evans would have ignored this as
dpOi INN Oy 1tIl. solChAtSt Dul art
er comforting with his personal and politi-
cal friends including the President, he
gave out an authorized statement. which,
to say the least, places Gen. Sickles at q
decided disadvantage in the pending con-
troversy. In substance Commissioner
Evans says:
Il know nothing of Gen. sickles' OBJ
Ject IN attacking me or the adminstra-
ton OF the pension bureau at the present
and have constantly refrain from re-
plying to any such attacks, but it seems
injustice to those associated with me in
the discharge of the burdens and resf5on-
sibilities incident to the administration
OF this great trust, that should not re-
main silent whatever may be his person
al aims aud ambitions"
Evans Shows sicixIes Up.
Commissioner Evans then goes on to
give the text of two letters he received
from Cen Sickles, which were entirely
voluntary and unsolicited, opening up the
correspondence himself. Those letters
are worth reproducing though they can
hardly prove interesting reading to Gen.
sickles and his supporters In this contro-
versy. The letters are as follows:
'23 Fifth avenue. New York city, May
q, 1S99.-My Dear Gov. Evans: / am sur
prised and pained TO see the attitude To-
ward you taken by some of the Grand
Army organizations. Your administration
OF your office seems to me worthy of the
highest communication. and, above all,
from the veteran soldiers. If you think
any expression from me to the President
would be useful to you. l VIII cheerfuliy
communicate with him. Sincerely yours,
ID. E. Sickles.
Hon. Henry Clay Evans, Commissioners
of Pensions, Etc"
Commissioner Evans promptly wrote
Gen. Sickles, thanking him for his kindly
expressions and in return the General
HIote the following encouraging letter:
'23 Fifth avenue, New York city. June
10. 1S99.-My Dear Gov. Evans: I have
carefully read the Enclosure in your re-
cent letter and am not surprised to see
IN At ample. clear and convincing state
ments showing the admirable admlnistra.
ton OF your office. have written an earn
est letter to the President In which ex- !
pressed the utmost confidence in you and
the same measure of contempt for your
critics. Sincerely yours,
ID. e. sickies.D
Commissioner Bvans received numerous
other letters from Gen. sickles equally as
strong In commendation Of his admins
tration Of the Pension Bureau. In one OF
his letters, he quotes the Presidents repy |
TO the letter above referred TO in which |
the President expresses much gratlnca-
ton at the tone and general approval Of
the administration OF the pension bureau
under Commissioner Evans:
Wants To BE Chief of G. Ar.
The general impression here Is that Con
Sickles must have forgotten the existence
OF these letters or else IN his zeal 70
become the next commandments Of
the Grand Army Of the Republic. he gud-
denly concluded that all he previously
said N commentator Of Commissioner
Evans WAS false ana simply made for
such effect ~ they might have at the
time they we're written. The veteran Cen
erai has certainly not helped his cause
BY forcing Commissioner Evans 10 pro-
duce the above correspondence.
Eotvthgtandipg the honest and upright
administration Of the Pension Bureau by
Commissioner Evans, the Indications ore