The Minneapolis journal., 1904-12-31
GENE WARE HAS
y HAD "'EN0UGH''
TIE PENSION TROUBLES OF THE
- COMMISSIONER ARE ENDED.
How He Offended Certain Washington
Statesmen. by the Explanation Of
His Promotion Of ''Wiggins of
Georgia - Story of Some Of the
Poets Later Troubles.
Kansas CITY Star.

Eugene F: Ware, pension commission
er, left Washington this morning for
Kansas. Altho he is nominally at the
head of the pension bureau, and will so
remain until Jan. l, James L. 'Daven-
port, first deputy commissioner, has
actual charge Of the office. If sue
to Jan. l., Mr.. Davenport will fill the
office until the president makes the ap-
pointment. -
Mr.. Ware has made no attempt to con-
ceal from. the public his unhappy lot
as commissioner of pensions He has
talked to all his friends about it and has
NOT been reticent even when his enemies
were in earshot. Even at this hour
there is a controversy on between Mr..
Ware and Secretary Hitchcock, the
head Of the department.. There were
some forty clerks carried on the payrolls
of the pension office who We're doing
no work for the bureau, but had been
detailed for other assignments in the
department. of the INTERIOR. Mr., Ware
told: the house committee on appropria-
tions that these clerks were of no ac-
count to him and the appropriation bill
was framed to eliminate them. There
is one clerk at $1,000 affected, ten at
81 400, eight clerks at $780, eight at
81 900, FIVE at 5000, six messengers at
$840 and one laborer at $500. These
forty clerks, with all their friends and
the secretary of the interior back Of
them, are raising row Of sufficient. pro-
is on in government circles. But not a
fig does the head of the pension bureau
seem to care. If the clerks and the
secretary of the interior win out, all
right. If the clerks lose their Jobs and
the secretary of the interior goes out
with them, it will suit Mr.. Ware just as
well. =. ~:* rs ~.,r' ~,
While he was commissioner Mr.. Ware
adopted cast:iEon rules regarding in;
circles one day by promoting an un-
known by the name Of Wiggins and issu.
ing in explanation a department bulle-
tin which read:
Oct. 1s, 1902-Record of G. 8. wiggins
(Georgia) is as follows: d." 49,.
!. Annual leave in four years, fourteen
days.
2. Not a day sick leave in eight years.
| 8. On merit. excellent.
4. His chief recommends him.
| B. He has steered no statesmen ur
against the commissioner.
6. He has not told the commissioned
about his pedigree and distinguished rela-
| tives. -.
Z. He has not told the commissions,
! lloW CdpdUAo no (WIeSlnSJ lb Hnu now dc"
serving Of promotion. >>' '
! Mr.. W1ggins will be promoted I; today
I from. $1,000 to $1,000. and: chiefs are re.
quested to furnish the commissioners witt
the names of all others In the bureau with
a similar record.
My deputies, Mr.. Davenport and Mr.
Kelly, heartily concur.
| E. Ware, Cor11rr1i issioner.
The fifth reason assigned for Mr.. Wig
gins promotion, "He has steered NO
statesmen up against the commission
err made numerous members Of con
gress SO mad they never visited the pen
sion Office afterWard. One of the Kan
sas congressman sent word to Mr.
Ware that he wouldn't bother him
with any more visits. "Now, ism u
that fnelv observed Mr.. Ware to the
man who brought the message.
Mr.. Ware stopped writing poetry
shortly after he came here. - A friend
asked why he did not indulge his love
for. the muse. m
IT can cuss with less effort in prose-
he replied. ~ - .'>>
/ It Is all over now. r.. .'..