New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-13
MIR. TANNERS RETIREMENT.
HIS RESIGNATION OFFERED TO AND AC-
CEPTED BY THE PRESIDENT.

| IRRECoNCILABLE DISAGREEMENT WITH SEQ
RETARY NoBLE-No PERSONAL oUARREL1
MAJOR WARNER LIKELY TO BECOME
HEAD OF THE PENSION BUREAU.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUsRJ
Washington, Sept 12.-As might have been sx-
pected, the enemies OF the Administration are
completely confounded by the outcome of tho
Tanner case" They had been piling sensation
upon sensation for days. until 4tory too
Wild for them TO accept, and even TO magnify:
and now il is impossible for them to climb down
the ladder gracefully. The dispatch in to-days
Tribune, while it lacked the quality Of scnsa-
tionslism. stated the facts accurately. Commis-
sioner Tanners letter of resignation and the Presi-
dents reply read as follows:
Department Of the Interior
Bureau OF Pensions
Washington ID. c., Sept H. 1889.
The differences which exist between the Secretary Of
the Interior and myself the policy TO be pursued
in the administration OF the Bureau reached
stage which threatens embarrass you extent
which feel should call upon you suffer; and
the investigation into the affairs OF the Bureau has been
completed, and assured both by yourself aud by the
Secretary OF the INTERIOR contains reelection my
Integrity individual officer herewith place
my resignation in your hands. take effect your
pleasure, 70 the end that you may be relieved of any
further embarrassment in the Very respectfully
yours. JAMES TANNER. CommisYoner
Executive Mansion
Washington. d. c.. Sept. IL 1889
Hon. James Tanner, Commissioner OF Pensions
Dear Sir: Your letter rendering your resignation Of
the Office of Commissioner Pensions been received
and your resignation is accepted to take effect the
appointment and qualification Of your successor.
do not think it necessary in the correspondence TO
discuss the which have led the present attitude
OF affairs in the Pension once. You have been kindly
and fully advised OF views upon OF these maters
vsed your honesty has not any time been called into
question; and beg the expression OF my
sonaI good will. Very truly yours
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Certainly there is nothing in this correspondence
to show that the malignant attacks of the Demo
cratic and Mugwump newspapers have made any
impression upon the President On the contrary
he distinctly states that the honesty of Commis-
sioner Tanner has never been called into question.
This is a dlgnifed and fitting rebullc to tho
newspapers which are fond of calling Union vet
erans "paupers" and STYLING the members OF tho
Grand Army of the Republic conspirators against
the public Treasury" and which for months have
been accusing Commissioner Tanner of various
sorts and degrees of official villany. As was TO
he expected, the fanclful stories OF scnA1ng
match between Secretaries Noble and Tracy yester-
day officially denied, thus giving the scandal
mongerS more dirt to eat.
The story that a bribe was offered TO Mr.. Tam
ner in order to obtain his resi- sgnation is set AZ
rest by himself in these words: " The President
did not ask for my lgnatlon, nor did he advise
that l resign. He assured me- however, that the
investigation into the affairs OF the Pension Office
had developed nothing that reflected upon my hon.
esty or my good Intentions and said that If / re-
mained in office Secretary Noble would resign. The
dsmembeImont of Cabinet is very serious
thing, and decided that IL bitter / should
resign, since the unreasonable preiudices
of Mr.. Noble could not BE- overcome,
If the President should fit to Offer
TO Commissioner Tanner and he should see ut to
accept some other office, IL would be a matter
wholly apart from his retirement from the Office
of Commissioner Of Pensions.
The Commissi0nership is believed TO have been
offered to Major William Warner, of Missouri,
who was Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army
Of the Republic last year and many of his friends
here believe that he will accept it, IL is safe 10
say that if he does not accept the office man will
be appointed whose attitude toward the pension
question is the same his for there is to be
no reversal Of the Administrations policy in re-
spect 10 the pension laws. II anybody expects
It. he may prOitably study General Iarrison's
record on that subject when he was member OF
the United States Senate.