The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-08-07
THE PENSION BUREAU.
ybe Disrepu:able Way in Which Its Al
fairs Are Conducted.

The Disrepusable Way in Which Its Az
fairs Are Conducted.
Of all tho discreditable appoint
ments made by President Harrison
and their name is legion-that of Cor
poral Tanner to the head of the PEN
sion Bureau was perhaps the worst.
Tanner is a man of no character or
capacity. His installation as head of
the Pension Bureau was the signal for
the beginning of Il carnival Of profit
gacy and extravaganza and corruption
in that department.. Tanner at once
began reversing decisions made, not
only by his Dcmocr predecessor,
Black, but by Republican commission
ers. These reveraals operated to
break down safeguards against fraud
upon the Government, and opened the
doors to thousands ofimproper claims.
1t soon developed that Lemon. head OF
the pension agents r.ng at Washing
ton. and proprietor of the National
Tribune, which did so much dirty
work last year in the interest of Har-
rison had the INSIDE track" at the
Pension Bureau All of his cases
were preferred. and went through
without let or hindrance. AS Lemon
and his clique = ono OF whom was w ILL
lam Wade Dudlcy-had dictated Tan
ner's appointment. the thing was a
scandal, and when the pension agents
made a row over it, Squires, the pri-
vate secretary of Tanner, was made
the scapegoat for the latter Squires,
SO Tanner claimed. had betrayed his
confidence by prefe"ring Lemons
cases, and he was dismissed. 1t was
also asserted that Squires had made in
suting propositions TO one OF the
ladies in the Pension Bureau. Squires,
however, threatened to expose Tan
ner's completely in the Lemon frauds,
and he was silenccd by an appoint
ment Us special timber agent in the
Interior Department. This is the de-
partment to which the Pension Bureau
is attached. Squircs still holds this
position, and will doubtless retain it
unless he gets better one-until the
end of the administration.
After Squires' removal Tanner ap-
pointed his own daughtcr-a young
miss just out of school-to the private
secretaryship at salary of $1,000.
The position is one that calls for bust
ness capacity and experience, and it
was grossly improper to bestow it
upon this young schoolgirl.
These, however, are not the only
scandals that have come to light in the
Pension Bureau under Tanners man
agement. The institution seems to
have become perfect nest of rotten
ness One OF the employees was a fell
low named Van Brunt. He abandoned
his wife in Brooklyn. and went to
Washington with another woman
whom he introduced as his wife, and
who afterward became insane and was
sent to an asylum. These things were
exposed, and Van Brunt was dismissed
from the Pension Office. He at once
became an employee. in q confidential
capacity, of Lemon, the very same
pension shark who had between 5000
and 10000 special cases expedited
during the first three months of the
Tanner regime. AS Lemons assistant,
Van Brunt still has the run of the PEN
sion Bureau.
Tanner has run the Pension Bureau
In debt to the people OF the United
States, since he assumed charge Of it,
about 10000, 900. II he is allowed to
keep on in his mad career he will
bankrupt the National Treasury with
in the next four years.
But Tanner will doubtless be re-
tained His appointment, it is under
stood, was the result of arrangements
made In this city before the last cleo
ton with certain representative pom
sion agents. in consideration of such
material aid as they could bring to
the Dudley conspiracy. He was put in
Office for their benefit. President Har-
rison know why the ring wanted him
appointed. The ring is SO wealthy
and powerful that the President will
not dare offend it now by removing
him. Tanner will, we presume, stay
70 the end. Indianapolis Sentinel.