Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-14
INVALID AND VOID.
Tanners Re-Rating OF Mander-
sons Pension.
SECRETARY NOBLE CALLS 1T BACK.

On the Ground That 1t Wa, Granted Re-
gardisss of the Ruies-The Senator Re-
turns His Certificate with Some Inter-
esting Comments, and Then Gives
Newspaper His Views of Pensions In
General--Capt. Thomas Musical Wife
Capital Notes.
WASHINGTON CITY, Oct 14-Secretiry
Noble has decided that the re-rating Of Sen
ator Man1erson's pension by Commissioner
Tanner was illegal, and so informed the Sem
ator on the 30th of last month. The re-
rating, he decides, having been without APP
plication, and without medical examination,
was not in pursuance of the usual practice,
nor in compliance with rule, and was there
fore unwarranted.
Senator Manderson's Reply.
Since receiving this notice, Senator Man.
derson has returned the re rated certificate
for cancellation with a letter to the secre-
tary, in which he said:
at is due myself to say, however, that at
no time since / was advised Of the issue Of
this certificate have l entertained purpose
to retain what might be due under it to my
own use but did certainly desire to sho W
my right to it if the steps leading to 1t had
been regular, and had the warrant of strict
law as well as of substantial right You
say in your opinion the pensioner, who was
a chivalrous officer, whose merits are not to
be indicated by psnsionable rating, was
not a voluntary party to the action in this
matter, and, it appear hs neither sought
nor expected it This is, perhaps full vim
dication OF the course have pursued, and
for these and other kindly words in your
courteous letter, l thunk you"
Pensions Not a Matter of Charity.
The Post publishes an interview with the
senator about his letter TO the secretary and
re-rating pensions in general, in which he
says:
In making my original draft of the let
ter to the secretary i went into the matter
of the re-rating of pensions at some length,
but cut out that part of it when l mailed it,
as somewhat irrelevant | went into the
matter to show that the granting of PEN
sion is not matter of charity, but merely
the contamination of a contract the United
States government male VITA the men who
went into the civil war to defend the Union
Reparation for Actual Injury.
"The government practically said to these
men by the acts of congress that were
passed: You risk your lives for the stabil-
ity of the government II you come out
well aud safe there is no liability on
our part, but if you receive injuries,
then, as far as possible, we will make you a
reparation.' Now that reparation can be
practically made but in one way, and that is
by giving a money reparatIon, which from
the magnitude OF the aggregate number of
contracts must he limited. Ii it were said
that only the INDECENT should receive this
PREPARATION, then a slur would be cast upon
every pensioner of the government, and as
matter OF justice. the reward should be suf-
fcient for his support But this is not the
case. The pensioners of the government are
not paupers, aud indulgence is not and
should not be a necessary qua 'ification oil
the pensoner; and the idea that seems to bt
current to that effect is far from correct
Brought Out by Newspaper Abuse.
Il said In my former letter to the commits.
sioner of pensions that did not seek this re-
rat ing Of my pension, and knew nothing Of
it unit. the ne wspapers had opened up on me
with a mass of abuse for that with which
had nothing TO do. l did not think it posi-
BILE that such abuse could be heaped upon tn
men who went to the front during the wa
under such circumstances as attended my
own case. i now drop the matter, and $,
far as any present intention / have will no
further call this case up"