The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-10-16
A GIVE AWAY.
Public Dalzen Has Corporal Tanners Pri-
vate Letter Printed.

Public Dalzen Has Corporal Tanners Prl.
vate Letter Printed.
A special to the Republic from Cald-
we'll, Ohio gives the following letter
which explains itself. Its authenticity
is fully vouched for:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER,
WASHINGTON, September 9, 1889. :.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Hon. J. M. Dalzell, CALDWELL:
MY DEAR DALZELL-I have yours of
the 10th. I think I have read all that
has been printed as coming from your
lips or pen. For your great warmth of
good feeling thank you from the bot
tom of my heart.
And now, once for all, about the
Deputyship. 1 want to say to you that
the President never said one word to me
about you. can not come out and say
that publicly; you must not quote 1t;
but it is Gods truth. The one appointed
First Deputy was from Mobiles State and
had lost two limbs. Of course couldn't
kick.
1 imagine that your keen eye has
caused you to discern and that you are
contemplating the effect in Ohio Of two
things recently done in the Pension Of
fee. When say recently, mean since
| 1 practically went out, for while am
| Commissioner, and will be until my sue
eessor is appointed and qualified, am
| taking no part in the duties of the office,
holding myself on leave.
While Commissioner I issued two Or
ders, which 1 thought and still think,
were mighty good ones; first, that the
SO, 900 men on the pension roll at less
than four dollars a month should all,
unless they had medical examination
within a year, be ordered for examina-
/ ton before their home board, with a
view of putting them Up at least four
dollars per month pension or drop them
off the rolls; for it was and it is my
opinion that for a man who is worthy
of any pension at all dollar a week is
small enough to consider pension. My
second order was that thereafter, in the
settlement of a pension claim, the word
of a private, if he was man of good
character and standing, should amount
to as much in the settlement of claim
as the word of man who had perhaps
worn the shoulder-straps of Second
Lieutenant. The acting Commissioner
revoked both these orders, according to
the Washington Post and other papers,
but. as he is man who dare not say his
soul is his own, he did it under the in
struction of Noble or Busy. l am told
this afternoon that the order revoking
nv decision in small pension cases has
been rescinded, but YOU can see what
the spirit is: and how under heaven s
name are they going to make the boys
believe that there is D be no change in
the policy?
''Smith also issued an order stopping
all re-ratings. He did not object to it un
til after lad re-rae eed him, and put hin
j up to $72 for the loss of his arm and leg
$ thereby putting S6,O35 in his pocket.
: held, and still hold, that he was clearl.
entitled to it; but is it not contemptibl
/ that man who had had so much don
4 for him, and who had acquiesced in
: cordially in his own case, should now b
o so pronounced against the re-rating o
: poor devils who, perhaps, from the ei
: fects of malarial poisoning, chronic dial
Q rhna or some disease of that kind, sui
/ fer twice as much as man does froI
o amputation?
l. Il want to say to you that l didn
n resign until the President and Secretar
n had both said to me In the same minut
9 that the completed report of the con
), mittee which lay before them eontaine
= no word which could impeach the hol
r esty of my action in the slightest degre
r. Then 1 had to consider whether 1 W;
8 man enough TO decline 70 continue IN