Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 February 1886 — The Pension Commiśioner. [ARTICLE]

The Pension Commiśioner.

Special to Ndw York Tribune. The administration of the Pension Office since last'Maroh lias been so no- ! tbriously for the beneiit of the Democratic politicians and so little in the interest of the soldier that the cmuiuittee 'of investigation will have no difficulty in .finding material "for just criticism and rightful condemnation. Look at Commissioner Black himself! What a satire upon the sense of ‘justice of the administration. Here is a man drawing a pensioutot SIOO a month - a pension, mind you, higher than that paid to any other soldier of the latej war, -be he ever so majtneil or crippled. A man blind in both eyes, a man who has lost his arms, a man whose legs have been carried away, a mail whom want, suffering and disease have rendered insane, gets only $72. The Commissioner of Peusions receives S2B a month more than wuat his government nedords to the uuforiunrte poopm i have mentioned. Aud he is the only person that draws so largo an amount. On tne entire pension list there is not a single man that gets more ttiun SIUO a month. According to General Black's own report only 930 men draw $72, and 834 men draw soo a montu. Tne remaining 242,637 pensioners all draw less; luueed, on Che average, it is doubtful whether they draw more than $8 a mouili each. And how uid t e pre ent head of the Pension Department obtain nis pension?. it was upon tne representation thai, lie was a wieok,” that ne was ••incapauie oi any etfort."’ that his ability to pursue his life , avocation is penuauou-ly impaired, 11 and that it was • ‘only a quesuou ol how long - he will live.’’ "'Tiids.o were the statements made npoa honor by a. Soldier and gcnUeman i which induced a Republican administration to give Gucerat Brack, a pension niguer tnau-was ever paid to any other man beloro. NS ere these statements true at tue time tuoy were made, or are tucy true even now? Tne evidence seuns to permit of only one answer. For years alter the war tieuerat Black was a candidate for aimosl every office within tne gdt ot the people ut Illinois. He was a candidate tor L'ongress a number oi Lillies; he was an' aspuant iorgubernatorial honors twice, aud he hoped to secure a scat lu the United Stan s .Senate at least as olitm. Does luis sho w that he is ‘•nitkipame of any eftbit,” and is it possible for a “piiysicai wreck,” a man that •'is simply destroyed,” to peiioriu the duties ol the office 01 Commissioner of Pensions? NVueu General Black, became Cbuiihissioner it might have been supposed iluu Ue would display some regard at mast ior tuosb Veterans who had fought side by side wiliTinm an T to'Wuom the Pension Offidh farm bed the moans ol a precanyus livelihood, ilo did nothing of the kiud; On the contrary, the tact that’a man was a soldier and a_Kepubliean seemed to be warrant enough, in many instau,ves, to hasten the new Commissioner’s zeal in the cause of j‘rej form. 11 For months the official ax was keel busy Tue vigorous protest ou the part of a woman, Miss Sweet, of Chicago, compelled the pcesideuttocal p releciuut halt. General Black obeyed the order in sulleu silence. A few Weeks after the Lvvcet episode lie was ht bis work again. He turned out polonel Stephenson, as brave a soldier as "ever lived, whose wounds aro testimony enough, if they were wanting, to his Woriii and claims to recognition, and

biubuerwl crocodile tears wuen he iuTot med him ol his decision lie discharged Major Hawes, anotiier gallant eoldier. He requested ttie’ resignation ol VV. T. Ford. He, inais.ed upon the retirement of Dr. Hood. Ho said that Capiam Fischer must leave the oiliee. lie ielt it his duty to dismiss J. Y. Balioti, a man desperately wounded at Shiloh, wno had relused to make an appiieatidn for a jAmsiou Ueuau>e lie was still hide to koboie about on cratches and perform bis work to the satis** iaciion of the office. It is sufficient to show what regard Cotkmissioner Black really has for ttie .soldiers. But if any additional evidence should bo wanted, an examination of a few < f tee appointments made by General Black, or upon his recommendation aud with his knowledge, would furnish it.