The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-04-02
CASE
AND PENSIONS
Details Of the Retirement
Of Commissioner

derstanding has been reached be
tween the president and H. Clay
Evans whereby the latte, will soon
retire from the office Of commissioner
OF pensions
Nj Evans win be appointed to an.
othe position, probably a diplomatic
billet, and possibly one Of the fat
berths ia Cuba now being talked or
The president is said to nave decided
upon his successor. but his name could
not be learned
The Grand Army of the Republic
formally asked President Roosevelt
to retire Mr. Evans This request was
contained in a report Of the pension
committee OF the Grand Army Of the
republic appointed at the last national
encampment which was submitted to
the president several days ago. This
committee has conducted an inyesti-
cation OF the pension bureau. The
ground upon which Mr Evans retire
ment is asked is that he administers
his office to the detriment OF the in
terests OF the veterans OF the civil
war.
Eli Torrance. Of Minneapolis, com
mander in chief of the Grand Army Of
the Republic arrived in Washington
last night in response 20 a telegram
from the president requesting con
ference. He win call at the White
House today and President Roosevelt
will doubtless make to him an answer
- the report
President Roosevelt has declared
that the policy Of the pension bureau
shall remain the same. no matter who
is commissioner. This IS a settled fact
1t viii prove satisfactory to the Grand
Army Of the Republic They claim
that the pension laws are sufficiently
liberal. but that Evans administration
of the mis- biased by desire to defeat
the efforts Of old soldiers 10 get pen
sicns If he can possibly do so.
The submission of the pension com
mittee's report is the most important
the Grand Army of the Republic has
taken IN its war against Commissioner
Evans which begun soon after his ap
pointment five years ago. There have
been many resolutions passed in en-
campments disapproying his admin
istration Of the pension office But |
the report Of the pension committee !
is .he result o. long and thorough !
investigation
AZ the national encampment held IN /
Cleveland last year the pension com
mattee was directed to investigate the
pensions system and to report to
President Roosevelt The committee
was appointed by Gen Eli Torrance.
commander in chief of the G A. r.
who was elected to that position at
Cleveland
Gen Robert Heath Of Philadelphia
is the chairman John c. Black. Of
Illinois, ex Representative Burton and
John c. Linehau. commissioner of
insurance Of New Hampshire, are
other members. Some time ago they
came to Washington TO begin their
investigation Observation-Disclosures |
investigation Commissioner Evans
accorded them free access to all the |
records they desired to inspect, Their
work here appeared to be very thor
ough Later they held number Of
meetings Not long ase a preliminary |
report was drawn up Then the anal
report was drawn up
A week or so ago the report was |
sent to the various members of the |
committee FOR their signature. Each !
one signed fl, ana 1t was sent TO Pres
ident Roosevelt He received &c a day
OF two ago
The repor, is quite long lnforma /
tion regarding the details Of its con
stuction are meagre II is said in |
certain quarters however that refer
ence Is made 70 the pledge Of the prev /
ious administration that Mr. Evans
should be removed
This pledge st Is claimed. was civ
en- boy Senator Scott of the national
committee just before the opening OF (
the presidential campaign OF 1900 The 4
republican leaders were extremely /
anxious that Gen Daniel sicklcs .
slould 80 on me stump He refused I
to DO so unless he was given assur
ance that II Clay Evans would be re
tired from the position OF commission
er OF pensions This promise. it is
claimed was made, and en-. sickles at
once took the stump
Last spring a sry was raised be |
ca,tre Ar rxans had not he,r ,.,e,,o,. /