Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-16
THE ABUSE OF TANNER.

10 bbSlly CAploihOus
Corporal Tanner is veteran OF the
war for the union, in which he did con-
spicuously gallant and honorable SER
vice. He is a sincere friend OF the old
soldiers, who believes it to be the duty
of the government TO make just and
generous provision for their care and for
the care of their widows and orphaned
children. He does not hesitate TO de-
clare his convictions in the matter,
and TO say that it is the duty
Of the pension officials to, in all
proper ways, assist the national de-
Tenders in securing what they are en-
titled to from the government rather
than to put distractions in their way
and by technical devices ard other
methods endeavor to dcfeut their efforts
to obtain what they are entitled to. In
the last presidential campaign Corporal
| Tanner appealed to his comrades to
support the republican party because it
had shown itself to be the friend OF the
| old soldiers, while the democratic party
had manifested a disposition, ,as shown in
| the multitude OF pension vetoes by the
president elected by that party, to de-
| prive them as far as possible of the
| promised care and benificence of the
| nation. He assured them that in the
event OF the republican party being re-
| stored to power their claims would not
treated justly and generously. When
he was appointed to Office he did not
hesitate to reiterate this assurance, and
he has repeated it on several occasions
since.
1t is because of this uncompromising
attitude of Commissioner Tanner in be-
half Of the old soldiers that he is being
assailed by the democratic newspapers,
and charged with conduct OF which he
Is not guilty, as we'll as with pur-
poses which he could not possi-
bly, carry out under the law if he en-
tertained them. There has been a
great outcry regarding the removals
made by the commissioner, and the
| country has been asked to believe that
no democratic head he could reach has
been spared. This misrepresentation
is disposed Of by Commissioner Tanner
| in the statement that he could almost
count on the fingers Of one hand the
discharges made on account of the
change of administration. There have
been numerous removals. but these
were made necessary in order to keep
within the appropriation, and, Of
course. the places remain vacant.
Changes are being made, as was to be
expected, and these will continue to be
| do until ha ,i..;o ;s, ;.Eo al
as he has an unquestionable right to
be, that no more are necessary in order
to insure efficiency and proper ad-
ministration of the bureau. Democrats
who are old soldiers have been retained
in service with change of position,
| while as to the clerical force, removals
| must be filled from the civn service
list, without reference to the political
views of those who have passed the re-
quired examination. Very much of
what has been said regarding removals
and appointments by the commissioner
of pensions is consequently seen to be
wholly without warrant.
OF the same character have been the
statements regarding what the commits
sioner proposed to do in changing pen
sion rates. Unquestionably he is in
favor of advancing pensions that are
below four dollars q month, and not
great many fair-minded men will
disagree with him. There are many
men receiving a pension of but one
dollar a month. They are either enti-
tied to larger sum than this or should
be dropped from the rolls. Such sum
paid monthly can be of little good to any
body, and to continue it is simply a trav-
estyon the pension system. But itisques-
tionable whether the commissioner
Of pensions can increase the amount or
discontinue its payment, since it doubt
less exists by authority of the law. And
this is the case with respect to the en-
tire business OF the pension bureau. 1t
must be administered as provided for
by law. The discretionary power of
the commissioner is limited, and for
this as for all other branches OF the
government service congress has pre-
scrbed a rule of procedure that must be
regarded. Commissioner Tanner, there
can be no doubt, has not the least desire
to depart from this, nor is it to be sup
posed he would be permitted to IL
he had the desire. He very
likely will recommend, when the
proper time comes, changes
which he deemS necessary to correct
existing faults, but in the meantime he
will doubtless faithfully observe the
laws as he finds them. This he can do
ut the same time that he renders every
propcr assistance to old soldiers and
their dependent relatives in proving
their claim to the beneficence OF tn o
government, a service that no right
thinking citizen will object to. Cor
poral Tanner has the confidence of the
veterans, and while they may count
upon his friendly offices to the full ex-
tent OF his power, there need be no ap-
prehension that he will overstep the
limits of his authority as prescribed by
law.