Sunday Washington globe., 1902-05-04

second as we stood in front of the Pension
Building and beheld the Superintendent
kowtowing TO Evans on his departure for
the last time from the scene Of his glory as
the incompatible libeller and infamous
slanderer Ut the men who carried muskets
in the civil war. Rushing to a nearby pay
station of the telephone monopoly we
began:
Hello Central: please give me the long
distance connection with the new Commits
sioner Of Pensions, Ware, of Topeka, Kan
sas.
Central. Very we'll.
Ware. Hello who is itp
WASHINGTON SUNDAY GLOBE.
Ware. Well what is it, GLOBE?
GLOBE. We know that you are about to
enter upon a trying position-that Of Com
missioner Of Pensions. We have much in
terest in your success, and for that reason
are anxious that you shall start out in the
best possible manner We have important
information that we are willing to place at
your command
Ware. Thank you Have you anything
to suggest now?
GLOBE. Yes. The beginning of all sue
cess depends upon several things First,
kNA AAA VI zig our ffette9 VI AAlN 0AANNs DGN-
ondly, administer the law Justly, giving the
soldier the benefit Of all doubts, if any exist.
Thirdly strike with heavy hand all known
frauds.
Ware. Your advice is sensible. What do
you mean by barnacles?
GLOBE. You know that vessels have TO be
dry-docked occasionally to scrape of the
5drHacleS that cling to them, and to make
necessary repairs.
Ware. You are right; but specify.
GLOBE. At present can't go into details.
I shall mention only one instance now and
furnish you a fuller list later on One of
the barnaeles is the present Superintendent
of the Pension Building. He gets S., 400 a
year for doing absolutely nothing The
watch force and the charwoman. formerly
under his control, have been taken from his
jurisdiction. He became so insolent and
uncomfortable that these people would not
recognize him. He tries to superintend the
laDorers but they have leader, so that he
does not have anything to do
Ware. How does this barnacle as you
call him spend his time?
GLOBE. A portion Of it in nosing about
the lunch tables to see if some poor woman
makes more than starving pittance from
her hard labor
Ware Is that all he does?
GLOBE. He makes toy boats and brca-
brac arrangements for the amusement of
strangers and visitors to the Pension Office
It is suggested that 81 400 is a little too
much money to be paid to this builder of
toy boats and cob-houses.
Ware. Was this 6dtHacle a soldier during
the wax Of the rebellion?
GLOBE. He claimed to have been one and
actually got into G. A. K. Post as a charter
member but when the matter was invests
gated by the Department of the Potomac,
G. A. r., in 1896, the decision was adverse
The following is the published report
An APPRENTICE in the Ship Carpenters
Department Of an United States Navp
Yayd is not eligible 10 membership iB the
G. 4. r.
The following case Of a comrade Of post
of this department was submitted for de-
cision as to the eligibility for membership:
Comrade A. B. was indentured to serve
the United States as an apprentice, during
his minority in the ship carpenters de-
partment of the United States navy yard at
Philadelphia, Penn. May 2I, 1868. The in
strument of agreement between the United
States and the apprentice was signed by
Commander c. X. Stribling, commandant
of the navy yard, by the father of said A.
B., and by A. B. himself. The places
where the services under the terms of this
agreement we're to be rendered
were restricted to any of the United
States navy yards where his SER
vices might be required. He served
the United States under said contract for
three years and ten months, when, reaching
his majority and the period limited by the
indenture, he was discharged from his ap.
premiership, at Philadelphia, Penn, April
8, 1867. His discharge was signed by
Thomas o. Selfridge commandant navy
yard, Philadelphia, Penn, and by Joseph
Smith, chief Of bureau yards and docks,
navy department. The discharge certificate
is printed aud written upon parchment,
with the word Navy" at the top. Upon
careful examination of the various ratings
in the naval service, ! failed TO discover
one Of the class in which Comrade A. B.
claimed to have enlisted and in fact there
is no such rating in the military service of
the navy.
Upon application to the Secretary of the
Navy by this department for the record of
the naval service Of this comrade, the fol-
lowing reply was received:
The name Of A. B. is not found among
enlistments for the navy from April I to
July /, 1865"
personal visit to the Navy Department,
and an interview with officers and clerks,
disclosed the fact that on all official and
bona fds discharges from the United States
Navy the date and place of enlistment must
be noted, and in case of a sailor the dis
charge certificate must be signed by the
officer Of the vessel on board
of which service was rendered.
Ialso ascertained while at the department
that discharges, such as was given Comrade
A. B. at the completion Of his service
as apprentice, are given to all employees Of
United States navy yards similarly con-
tracted with, at the expiration Of the period
limited therein and that all such persons
are in the civil employment Of the Govern
fueut