The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-25
TO FORCE
EVANS FROM OFFICE
Pressure Being Used Against
Pension Commissioner.
PRESIDENT MAY YIELD
GRAND ARMY MEN AND AGENTS
WANT MORE LIBERALITY.
Especial Correspondence .

Washington, March 2O.-Whether or
not Henry Clay Evans resigns as COM
missioner of pensions is a mooted ques-
ton. The political gossips declare that
he will. and many newspapers make
like announcements. Recently the
Washington correspondent of the
Philadelphia Ledger autographed his
paper that the pension attorneys may
succeed in compelling the retirement
of Commissioner Evans. The latter
has placed his resignation at the dis
posal of the president, who while os-
tensibly approving Mr.. Evans strict
construction Of the pension laws, is, it
is reported. not inclined to keep him
in office against the protests of the pen
sion agents.
AS proof of the confidence which he
feels in the commissioner it is init
mated that Mr.. Mckinley will reward
him with an appointment to higher
position. Then a new commissioner VIII
be appointed who Will be more liberal
in spending the peoples money and
who will consequently be acceptable to
the pension agents The latter exert
great political influence. and Mr.. Nc
Kinley, it is said, hesitates to offend
them.
In yielding too much to the pension
agents, however. the president places
himself in a position in which he may
give grave offense to those who do
not believe the country ought 10 bank
rupt itself for the benefit of the odd
soldier vote" Veterans who fought the
battles of the government are entitled
TO pensions, and not one of them who
has been able to prove his claim has
ever been refused the bounty which he
earned by his service.
The fact that the annual expenditure
for pensions is now $145,O00. 900 proves
that liberality has already been
stretched to the breaking point. Still
the pension agents are not satisfied.
They want more fat fees, and a COM
missioner of pensions who enforces the
law strictly cuts them out of many "a
dollar. Hence their opposition to Mr..
Evans, who is declared to be too con-
scientious in administering the laws.
Government For All People.
If Major Mckinley does not desire a
loose administration of the pension Sys-
tenn he will not yield to the pressure
of the pension agents, but will keep Mr..
Evans in office. This is not yet a gov
eminent of the Grand Army of the Re
public, by the Grand Army of the Re-
public and for the Grand Army of the
Republic There are 76.000. 900 of peo-
pie in the United States, only 100000
of whom are pensioners. The other
$4,000 600 are certainly entitled TO some
consideration by the government.
At the last session of congress a
committee of the Grand Army strenu-
Ously urged the enactment of new pen
sion legislation which, according to
Senator, Gallinger of New Hampshire,
would have made the annual pension
expenditures of the government 1,OO0,-
600. 900. or $500 600, 600 more than the
present annual expenses of the govern
ment for all purposes. This scheme will
doubtless be revived at the Dext ses-
sion of congress, and the same inau-
ences which are striving to secure
Commissioner Evans retirement will
be enlisted in behalf of the passage of
the proposed legislation.
There is no probability that the peo-
pie OF the United States viii consent
to an increase of the present expendi-
lures for pensions, but unless they
make their opposition to further ex-
travagance so plain that it cannot be
misunderstood. congress will not hest
tate to yield something at least to the
demands of the pension agents and the
Grand Army.
If President Mckinley permits Com
missioner Evans to be forced out of
office by the pension grabbers his zeal
for economy in government and his
professions of interest in the public
welfare VIII be open to grave suspi-
cion- As between the people and the
pension agents the president should
have no difficulty in making his choice
Claim Against Peru Settled.
The settlement of a claim of an
American citizen against the govern
ment of Peru may be accepted as a
precedent by the Spanish claims COM
mission in dealing with cases which il
VIII have TO adjudicate.
1t has always been maintained bv
the state depar tment that a citizen
suffering peCuniary damages or per-
sonal injury through the acts of in
surgents, is entitled to damages. if If
Is shown the government was able to
protect him and failed. There has been
much trouble with the South Ameri-
can republics for some years over
claims arising through injuries sus-
tanned during insurrectionary periods
Dy Americans doing business in those
countries, and it has been a most dim
cult task to secure their adjustment.
me one settled recently has been
Pendlng Tor several years. In 1894
William Fowks of Pennsylvania was
arrested and imprisoned for refusing IN
pay 400 soles about 1922 on demand
or insurgents. and after being in iail
twenty-fOur hours relented and maid
the sum demanded He later made
claim to collect the amount on the plea
tnat the government forces were com,
petent 10 nave prevented his arrest and
detention. 80
proceedings with Peru have been
conducted by Minister Dudley. who no.
tihed secretary Hay that the govern
n,eht would compromise by paying
ABOUT Sl44 of the amount demanded
He has been notified to accent fbe eS-
Ter and close the case.
II a ~ A