Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-12


entrance to the White House. He was called
upon to choose between cabinet officer and
the commissioner Of pensions, and he was con-
fronted with serious embarrassment any way
he might turn. This Tanner affair has, from
first to last, been a source of serious perplexity
to the President. 1t has been pushed back from
time to time in hopes Of a quiet adjustment of
the differences between Secretary Noble and
Commissioner Tanner. It was hoped that the
newspaper criticism would soon blow itself out
and that the whole matter could he settled
without a public scandal or sensation. But it
became evident to the President on his return
from Deer Park few days ago that the matter
could no longer be postponed. The public
criticism, instead OF subsiding, had been taken
up by republican papers, and Secretary Noble
had grown impatient.
SECRETARY OR COMMISSIONER MUST GO.
As soon as the extra session question was
settled Mr.. Noble had talk with the President
stating the case very clearly and that either Mr.,
Tanner or he would have to go. The matter
was thus forced upon the President and he was
obliged to take action. The result has been
foreseen for several days. 1t became evident
to Mr.. Tanner and his friends that he could
not remain in his present position unless some
thing extraordinary could be done in his be-
half, but they determined to make the last
effort yesterday, even with the practical GER
tainty that it would fail. Numerous conferences
were held during the day, as recorded in The
STAR.
Vice President Morton arrived in the city
during the day. Senator Hiscock was here
already and both of them conferred with the
President on the question. 1t was proposed to
offer Tanner another position. Secretary
Tracy worked hard for Tanner, seeing the
President several times during the day. The
question was finally
DISCUSSED AT FORMAL CABINET MEETING,
which assembled at o'clock in the afternoon
and lasted for two hours. Secretary Noble
was with the President before that hour, hav-
ing with him the report of the special commits
sion Investigating the pension office. They
were Joined by Secretary Tracy and the report
was gone over. 1t was gone over again at the
cabinet meeting. The Vice President attended
this meeting and joined in the discussion Ef-
forts were made to induce Mr.. Tanner to re-
tire gracefully into some other posi-
ton-perhaps the marshalship for the
southern district of New York-but
he was not disposed to come to such an ar
rangement and Mrs. Tanner most violently
opposed It, Marshal Ransdell was kept busy
going between the White House and Commits
sloner Tanners house in Georgetown during
the afternoon and night. 1t was not until his
last trip after midnight that he was able to
place Mr.. Tanners resignation in the hands of
the President General Alger, the newly
elected commaneer-in-chief of the G. "A. R., and
Gov. Foraker are said to have telegraphed Mr..
Tanner to stand firm.
COMMISSIONER TANNER ON DUTY TO-DAY,
Commissioner Tanner was at the pension
office as usual today. He denied himself to all
visitors and newspaper men were told that the
had nothing to say. He was en-
gagged in his private Office with his stenographer
aud saw during the day some of the chiefs of
divisions. Up to noon today Mr. Tanner had
not been formally notified by the President
that bis resignation had been accepted He
therefore continued to act az commissioner Of
pensions. The Office work went on as
usual, although Of course the clerks discuss
the situation. The discussion of the resigna-
ton OF Mr.. Tanner was very general through
out the city, and yet it appeared that there was
great uncertainty as to the causes which
was assured that there was nothing rejecting
upon his honesty in his administration of the
pension office before he consented to hand his
resignation to the President.
THE CAUSE OF HIS RESIGNATION
was tersely stated today by one OF his friends
to be Secretary Noble" The President, he
said, was informed that either Mr.. Tanner
must go or Mr.. Noble, and it is said that Mr..
Tanner not wishing to embarrass the President,
and knowing that there was nothing against
him except the enmity of Mr.. Noble, con-
GRAND ARMY MEN BACKING THE COMMISSIONER.
A number OF kilograms we're received last
night and today from Grand Army men and
others throughout the country assuring MIR.
Tanner of their confidence in him and their
hearty support
COMMANDER oDELL THINKS @. A. r. MEN WILL
BECOME REcoNCILED.
Mr.. W. 8. Odell, the commander of the de-
partment Of the Potomac, had conference
yesterday and also today with the President
relative to the Tanner case. In talking with a
STAR reporter today Mr.. Odell said that, In COM
mon with all comrades OF the Grand Army. he
felt deep interest in Mr.. Tanner as a COM
rade. He could not of course speak Of what
had been said in the interview with the Presi-
dent, but he felt confident that the President
desired to do what was right toward Mr. Tan
ner as well as toward all veterans of the late
war. Mr.. Odell said that he did not care to
speak now. but perhaps he would give express
SION to his views later on. He said that he
country would ultimately be satisfied with the
action Of the President
VIEWS OF ANOTHER GRAND ARMY MAN.
prominent Grand Army man, in talking
about the matter today, said that if there were
no other charges against Mr.. Tanner than those
which had been printed in the papers he
thought that Mr.. Tanner had been treated with
great injustice. He, however, intended to sus-
pend judgment until he knew what were the
causes which prompted this action. he
thought that would be the position OF the
Grand Army men throughout the country and
that they would support Mr.. Tanner a. long a.
he did what was right
SAYING GEN. BUssxY MUST 90.
1t Is said that now that Tanner is out of the
way determined effort viii be made TO bring
about the resignation of Assistant Secretary
Bussey Of the Interior department. He il
credited, whether justly or not, with having
stirred up the feeling in Secretary MOBILES
mlnd which has just eliminated, and now it is
asserted that clean sweep must be made and
that Gen. Bussey must follow Mr.. Tanner.
SECRETARY NOBLE cRrrlcrsED.
1t is further claimed that unless Secretary
Noble makes q better case against Mr.. Tan
ner than mere indiscretion in talking Il ID
likely the situation win become unplessent for
nim- Those who profess to be acquainted with
the inside facts claim that the Secretary has
been too positive in this affair, and that be has
made up his mind and has refused to recognize
facn which warranted different view Of the
l0Oatiassd on NfsA pags.l