Evening journal., 1889-10-21
In Ilaror ef IihernIltr.


"The legal contention leave 70 those en-
inent gentlemen, Secretary Noble and the
late Assistant Secretary jerks Mr. jerks
ruling was law through the department until
it was revoked, and | must say that in so far
as ii permits a man who has been disabled
IN the service of the country TO prove that
disability and receive the compensation
which the law provides, l am IN hearty ac-
cord with it. II Secretary Noble sees tit to
COnstrue statutes so as 70 make them less
liberal to the soldier than did his eminent
Democratic predecessor the responsibility
must rest with him; and l am not willing
that while so doing he shall, unchallenged,
nrraign me as operating without reason and
beyond the pale OF the law"
Mr. Tanner then relates the circumstances
preceding the appointment Of the committee
10 investigate tho rerated cases, and which
led up 20 it. Gen. Bussey told him that the
secretary's suspicious were aroused as TO tho
correctness of action in the cases Of ten en-
ployes and that he had been instructed to in
vestigate
Mr.. Tanner placed the papers in nine Of the
cases on Gen. Bussey's table within an hour
and those in the remaining case were sent
over the next morning. ~ then called his
attention. Mr. Tanner says, ito the fact
that several eases were disease cases. and il
did not seem TO me to be the thing 70 have
them reviewed by non-medical man. /
told him, as ! afterwards told Secretary No
BILE, that when first took Office there was a
mighty tide Of humanity surging into the
pension Office, and was thoroughly imbued
with the belief of what we expressed IN the
press and on the stump in the late campaign
as 70 she restrictive policy Of the pension
ffii ha u..lH ala 4 A.
thought that until / became familiar with
the workings Of the bureau, 50 long az l pur-
sued the practice laid down for me bv men
Of experience in the office, the last thing /
was in danger Of doing was OF doing too
much"
The Seoretary's Scathing Rebuke.
Mr. Tanner says he Ut once ordered the
rerated cases Of employees reviewed in the
pension Office by Office experts. OF the
thirty-three cases they reported that three
were simply increase cases, and not rerated
cases; that the action taken in two OF the
others was right in part, and that in one
case injustice had been done the pensioner.
and that he had not been granted enough
Six CASES were reported as having been
wrongly favored All the rest were certified
TO the commissioner as absolutely correct
II mentioned these things" Mr. Tanner
says, ito the secretary and made a detailed
report to him Of the action taken in connec-
tion with the twenty-four cases, stating that
proposed TO take the step the law pre-
scribed to put the impeachcd cases to the
test, and cause the refundment to the treas
ury of the money paid out, il the cases did
not stand the test prescribed by law, sup
posing thereby in my heart that was com
mending myself 20 my superior by the zeal
was exhibiting. To my surprise received
reply from him under date of Aug. in
which he stated; You have endeavored to
hasten for your own means to get board
to arrive at conclusions in anticipation OF
anything / might do. / consider this not
only disrespectful but insubordinate TO
the last degree, and l hereby direct you to
withdraw any cases / have under considera-
tion, and in regard to which have hereto
fore told you that / intended TO act, from
the consi liberation Of any persons whom you
have selected to antedate my action; and
you will report your immediate obedience Of
this order to me. And you will disband
any board that you have undertaken to
form for the purpose of investigating busi-
ness still in my hands, and upon which am
officially engaged. / replied at once signi-
flying, Of course, my obedience to his per-
emptory order, and totally repudiated all
thought of insubordination, disobedienee or
the slightest disposition TO proceed in any
insidicus manner. People who are not ex-