The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-18
The Tannar Scandal.


Corporal Tanner continues to keep the
administration in not water. A few days
ago it was stated that at a recent cabinet
meeting the question Of the advisabilty Of
getting rid Of him was considered. 1t
seems to have been decided to warn him
that his management of the pension bureau
was not satisfactory, and that il he did not
mend his y avs his resignation would be de-
handed 1t looks, however, as if the Presi-
dent would have to dispense with his
services to save the administration from
scandal
1t Is probable that the President is con-
WINGED that he made a mistake when be
appointed Tanner. The man has not suffi-
Gent ability to manage the pension bureau
successfully. He is not only wanting in
judgment, but he has so much self conceit
that be refuses to accept advice from any
one. Before he was appointed to his present
Office he was noted for his extravagant,
reckless and ill-consldered speeches on the
stump. 1t is rather remarkable that the
President should have been persuaded into
appointing him to a responsible position.
The truth seems to be that Tanners APP
pointment was secured for him by some
pension sharks, who knew him to be Just
the sort Of man they needed at the head
OF the pension bureau. They do not appear
to have been mistaken in him. If reports
do not do him injustice they have found
him willing to aid them in their
schemes
Our dispatches yesterday stated that Tan
ner and Assistant Secretary of the Int
rior Bussey had had a falling out Bussey
is Tanners immediate superior. While
Tanner was somewhere in the west the
other day telling the people what a great
man he was, aud what good work he was
doing for the veterans, Bassey removed
| three members of the board of medical ex-
amners. 1t is said that Bussey
discovered that this board was
distributing the public money at
lively rate, by recommending the
rerating of pensions in order to give large
arrears to employees of the pension bureau
and others. OF course Tanner was ma /
when he found that some of the members Of
his board of medical examiners had been
removed, but, as he is not in very high favor
at present, he was forced to bottle up his
wrath and accept, with the best grace posi-
| bic, the rebuke that had been administered
to him.
Some idea of the way money is taken out
of the treasury by rerating pensio s may
be obtained from the case of Senator Man
! derson. Recently the senator concl ded to
to see If he could not have his pension ln-
| creased. Although a rich man, a United
| States senator. and fully able to discharge
all the dnties which his public and private
affairs impose upon him, he improved his
chance TO get from the fund appropriated for
| poor and disabled veterans all he coull. He
applied for rerating, and was gratifed to
| find that not only was his application
promptly granted, but that he was given
arrears-that is, his increase of pension was
made to take effect at the date of the grant
ing of his original pension. He returned
home richer man by $4,000.
This case is only one of many The ques-
ton, why did not Senator Henderson apply
for rerating Of his pension years agol has
probably been asked by thousands who have
heard of his good fortune in getting $4,000
in pension money in a lump The answer
| is that no other commissioner of pensions
would have granted him a rerating, much
| less arrears
With such abuses in the pension bureau
is II strange that there is general dissatis-
faction with Commissioner Tan or If
there is not a change soon in that office will
not this dissatisfaction extend to the ad
ninistrasion4 The people are willing that
the veterans shall be fairly and justly
treated in the matter of pensions, but they
do not like to see their money recklessly
wasted