The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-09-26
TANNER ON HIS RESIGNATION.
Purports to Be a Private Letter From
the Ex-commissioner.

ST.. LOUIS, September % "A special to the
Republic from Caldwell. Ohio. gives letter
its authenticity being fully vouched for.
dated at Washington, September 10 and
marked confidential. It is to Hon. j.. M.
Dalziell, of Caldwell, from Corporal Tan
ner in which he says the President never
said one word to him (Tanner) about Dalziell
and adds:
cannot come out and say that publicly. You
must not quote it. but it is Gods truth. The one
appointed first deputy was from Mobiles State.
He had lost two limbs and Of course couldn't
effect in Ohio of two things recently done
in the pension office. When say recently meaa
since practically went out, for while am Com
missioner and will be till my successor is ap-
pointed ana qualified, am taking no part in the
duties of the office While Commissioner. issued
two orders which think were mighty good ones
First. that 81 600 men on the pension roll at less
than 81 month should all. unless they had medi-
cal examination within year, be ordered for ex
pug Rg them up to at least 81 per month pension
or drop them off the rolls 1t IS my opinion that
II 5I man Is worthy ny Of any pension dollar aweek
My second order was that in the settlement of a
pensi N claim the word of private, a man good
character and standing, should amount TO as much
as the word Of man who had worn the shoulder
straps of a second lieutenant. The acting COM
missioner revoked both these orders according to
the Washington Post and other papers, but as he
Is man who dare not say his soul is his own, he
did it under instruction from Noble or Bussey.
am told this afternoon that the order reyoking
my decision in the small pension case has been
rescnued, put you can see In what spirit. How
under heavens name are they going to make
the boys believe there will be no change
IN the policy. Smith also. issued an order
stopping all re<ating. He did not object TO 1t
until after re-rat.d him and put him UP TO 72,
thereby putting S6,035 in his pocket. l hold he
was clearly entitled to it. Is ii not contemplate
that man who had that done for him and who
mad acquiesced in the case should now be so pro-
era flOA dpvflc lln from
the effects of malarial poisoning chronic dar-
rhoea, or some disease OF that Kind suffer twice
as much as man does from amputation.
did not resign until the President and Secre-
tary both said in the same minute that the COM
pleted report of the investigating committee
which lay before them contained no word which
could impeach the honesty OF my action in the
slightest degree. Then / had to consider wheth-
or was man enough to decline serving in a po-
lors did not desire me-, even
supposing could stay against their
wishes which is not at all true. 1 have not the
slightest doubt would have been removed If l
promised his ultimatnm to be my head or his res
ignation. break in the cabinet would have en-
barrassed Harrison greatly. Now that have com.
pleted the report and gone through it carefully and
value that all under heaven they can charge,
me with Is too much liberality and too much speed
IN granting pensions. think you will agree with
me we have had impecuniosity and pr0crastina-
uon enough. IL would take more than six months
time bringing it up to a decent average. OF the
iuture know nothing. If the boys, particularly
those In Ohio. acQuiesce it is safe TO say Tanner
VIII be left where he is-in the soup.
In postscript Mr.. Tannur says: 81 have
written you with great freedom. Don't give
me any cause to regret it by saying anything
ABOUT this letter. 1t is to you solely