Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-10-21
A STATEMENT FROM TANNER.

He Replies to Secretary Mobiles Letter
ON the subject OF Re-raging Pensions
OF Pension Ohace Employes-The Sec
retary,s Letter Charging the Ex.Com-
sioner with DisrePect and InsuboY-
dInati0n.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20.-Ex-C ommissione
of Pensions Tanner is out tonight in long
statement in reply to Secretary Mobiles letter
Of July oath on the subject Of re-rating PEN
sions of pension Office employees. Mr.. Tan
ner denies that he deaed Secretary Noble on
the subject Of re-rating or in the question of
dominant authority in the administration of
the Pension bureau. st'I did SUBMIT Mr..
Tanner says, ito him, in an unofficial letter,
question which arose in my mind as to the
power to put to the test q pension which
might be under suspicion of having been
granted in excess rested In the hands of the
secretary or Of the commissioner; and
quoted to him the section of. the revised
statutes which had raised the question in my
mind, but in submitting that question to the
secretary for his decision did It in the most
courteous and respectful manner of which
was capable.
Mr.. Tanner commenting on the great
stress laid by Secretary Noble upon section
1898 1-2 of the law, relating to re-rating
says:
SIT is proper that I should state that
when took Office as commissioner I found
that on the question of re-rating the Office
was, and had been since March 23d, 1886,
operating in accordance with decision rem
dered on that date by the Hon. George A.
Jencks, then assistant secretary of the in
terror, who, in the case of Charles A. Wat
son, in broad terms declared that
If In any case adjudicated under the act of
March 3. 1879, the arrears of pensions were
not graded according to the pensioners disa-
ability neither section 4.6981< nor any other
provision ofthe law prohibits. re-adjudica-
ton of the ease.' The claimants COM
tention was in part for pension on account
of sunstroke, but he made no claim for
that disability until fifteen years af-
ter his discharge. Mr.. Jenckes states that
while the presumption from the fact that
he made no claim for pension on account of
disability from sunstroke until fifteen years
after his discharge is not in favor of the
view that the disability was great. He holds
the extent of his disability during that per-
iod since his discharge; and he adds, if the
evidence should show that for any portion of
the time since his discharge he has been dis
abled in degree greater than for which he
was pensioned, the pension for that period
should be increased SO as to correspond with
the degree of disability.
MIR. Tanner says he ordered the re-rated
cases of emloyes reviewed in the pension of
fee by Office experts. Of the thirty-three
cases, they reported that there were simply
increase cases and not re-rated cases; that
the action taken in two of the entries was
right in part and that in one case,
injustice had been done the pension
er, and that he had not been grant
ed enough. Six cases were reported
as having been wrongly favored. All
the rest were certified 20 the COM
missionar as absolutely correct. I mem
toned these things to the secretary and made
a report to him Of the action taken in con-
nection with the twenty-four cases, stating
that proposed to take the step the law pre-
scribed to put the impeached cases to the
test and cause the refundment to the treas
ury of the money paid out, if the cases did
not stand the test prescribed by law.
To my surprise I received reply from
him under date of August l., in which he
stated "you have endeavored to hasten for
your own means, to get board to arrive at
conclusions in anticipation of anything I
might do. consider this not only as disre-
spectful but insubordinate to the last degree,
and I hereby direct you to withdraw
any cases I have under consideration and
in regard to which have told you that in
tended to act from the consideration of any
person whom you have selected to ante date
my action, and you will report your imme.
diate obedience of this order to me. And
you will disband any board that you have
undertaken to form for the purpose of inves-
tigating business still in my hands, and upon
which am officially engaged"
I replied at once, signifying, of course,
my obedience to his peremptory order, and
totally repudiated all thought of insubordi-
nation, disobedience or the slightest DISPOSE
ton to proceed in any insidious manner.
People who are not extremely nervous will be
able to Judge whether, If had desired to &C
proceed, would have voluntarily reported
| in full to the secretary what WAS doing.