Evening journal., 1889-09-27

TANNER TO DALzeLL.
The Ex-ComInissioner OF Pensions Writes
an Interesting Letter.

The EN-Jomtnlssiuner OF PENSIONS writes
an Interesting Letter.
CALDWELL, o., Sept o. The following
letter from ex-Commissioner Tanner has
been received by Hon. J, NJ. Dalzell;
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Sept 70, 1852
lConfdentisll
Hon. J NJ. Dalzeu, Caldwell:
My DEAR pALzEII.-I have yours o. the 10th.
think I have read al that has bsen printed ns
coming freIn your lips or pen For your great
warmth Of good feeling ! thank you from the
bottom Of my heart. And now, once for all,
about the depntyship, want 70 say y you that
the president never said one word TO me about
You. ] cannot come out and say that publicly;
you must not quote it; but it is Gods truth. The
one appointed first deputy was from Mobiles state,
and had lost two limbs. OF course, couldn't
kick. / 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 office, When say recently mean
since practically went out, for while l am
commissioner, and win be until my successor is
appointed and qualities, / am taking no part IN
the duties Of the Office, holding myself on leave.
While commissioner I issued two orders which
thought and sti think, were mighty good
ones. First that the $1,000 men on the pension
roll at less than 81 a month should all unless
they had had a medical examination within
year be ordered for examination before their
home board, with view 70 putting them up a.
least 81 a month pension or drop thG9n on the
rolls, for il was and Is my opinion that F1r a man
who is worthy Of any pension at all, dollar a
week Is small enough 70 consider pension. Ny
second order was that thereafter, in the settle
ment OF pension claim, the order OF private
II ho was man Of good character and standing,
should amount to as much in the settlement of
claim as the word OF a man who had perhaps
worn the shoulder straps OF second lieutenant
The acting commissioner revoked both Of these
orders, according to The Washington Post and
other papers, but as he Is q man who dare not say
his soul IS his own he did It under the instruction
Of Noble or Bllssey. am told this afternoon that
the order reyol1ing my decision IN small pension
cases has been rescinded, but you can sec what
the spirit is, and how under heavens name are
they going 70 make the boys believe that there IL
70 be no change in the poicyf
Smith also issued an order stopping all rerat-
ngs. He did not object 70 1t until after had re-
rated him and put him up 70 si2 for the loss Of
his arm and leg, thereby putting sdo35 ip his
pocket. held and still hold that be was clearly
entitled 70 II, but is il not contemplate that a
man who had had that done for him, ana who ac-
quesced cordially IN lis own case should now be
so pronounced against the rerating OF poor devils
who, perhaps from the effects Of malarial poison
ing, chronic diarrhoea, or some disease Of that
kind, suffer twice as much as man does from
anputationi Iwant to say 10 you that did not
resign until the president and the secretary had
both said to me in the same minute that the com
piete report Of the investigating committee which
/ lay before them contained no word which could
impeaeh the honesty Of my action in the slightest
degree. Then l had 70 consider whether was
man enough to decline to continue IN position
/ where knew my immediate official superiors did
not desire me, even conceding that could stay
/ against their wishes, which not at all true.
| have not the slightest doubt but shat would
have been removed il had not resigned-in fact
i / know il. Noble had certainly pronounced hi:
/ ultinAtum to be my head or his resignation, ant
/ Of course a break in his cabinet would have EN-
barrasssd Harrison greatly. Now that have tn,
completed report and have gone through It care
fully and thoroughly, say 70 you, as one who's.
| good opinion I value. that all under heaven the,
charge me with is too much liberality and to1
much speed IN the granting Of pensions l thinl
| you will agree with me that We have had lmpe
curiosity and procrastination enough, 80 that
would take more than six months Of my time 4
bring il up 10 decent average. OF the future
know nothing. II the boys, and particularly thos
in Ohio acquiesce, why it is safe 70 say that Tan
ner will be left where he is-in the soup. .---
Among the promotions announced In the pen
sion office is that OF Harrison 7. Bruce, of Color
ado 10 DO a member OF the board OF pension az
peals IN the secre,ary's office at $40 a year
He had been detailed for duty in the secretary
Office for some months. and was appointed by tn
secretary one Of the commission which inyesli
gated the pension Office Don't you think
would have looked little better if they hal
waited at least until had passed oul Of ofncia