Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-21
The fact is there were but

cumbency. The fact is there were but
thirty-three of them all told.
There are nearly 700 soldier employees in
the pension Office, SO the public can judge,
as well as l, how much foundation there is
regarding the point of the number for the
criticism passed upon the Office in that re-
spect. Suffice it to say that four gentle
men, men of long experience in the Office
and of acknowledged character and capac-
ity, in their report to me on twenty-four
cases, broadly impeached the correctness of
the action in one case, whereupon imme-
diately called for the papers. In that case
and finding that the certificate had not yet
been issued, l cancelled all the proceedings
taken in the case.
OF the thirty-three cases they reported
that three were simply increase cases and
not rerated cases that the action taken in
two OF the others was right in part, and that
in one case an injustice had been done the
pensioner, and that he had not been
granted enough. Six cases were reported
as having been wrongly favored.
All the rest were certified to as absolutely
correct. On the Goth of June there came
notice to me of the fact that a Committee
of Investigation would be appointed, and
when they appeared day or two after
wards instructed the Chief Clerk to place
the office and all it contained at their dis
posal if they desired it.
That terminated my association with the
Committee OF Investigation right at the
commencement of its existence.
never heard the report of the Commit
tee on Investigation until the afternoon of
the day l resigned, when l found it on q
table in the White House, and it was there
told by the President and his Secretary
that the report contained nothing which
would in the slightest degree reflect upon
my integrity or that impeached the honesty
of my action as Commissioner.
In regard to the Secretary's assumption
of his INSTRUMENTATION, Tanner presents q
letter which he sent to the Secretary Aug
ust 9Th, and in which he expresses regret
that they had fallen apart, and attributes
the trouble to too little personal communi-
cation.
The letter goes on to say 81 recognize
that sit in position where | have the op-
portunity of my life to serve our comrades
and our country. desire to serve them,
and it to the fullest extent tine law per-
| mits and lot one iota beyond. desire to
help you make this branch of the admins.
tration so popular with the veterans and
the patriotic people over the country at
large, that in the future there can be no
question where the support of the men who
served and suffered will be given"
Tanner said this letter was never an
swered and it closed the communication
between him and Secretary Noble.
The investigation report proper, to which
| Commissioner Tanner in his interview
| refers, covers little more than eighteen
printed pages, and is dated September 5,
| 1889. The report says that there were no
records in the pension office showing
Ill .LNr nf ~, l. a
been rerated during the period suggested
by the Assistant Secretsry's order, and that
| until the period commencing September,
| 1888, the rerated cases were all included in
| the records among reissues for all pur-
poses.
Commencing, however, with September
| /, 1885, and continuing through each sue
| ceeding month, the certificate division has
| noted on its record of all the reissues of
certificates numbered below III, 600 those
which have been reissued for the purpose
of correction or changing the rate.
| On examination the Board ascertained
| that the issue of certificate No. III, 900
brought the work down to about July l,
| 1880 the date when the Arrears Act of
| March 8, 1879, took effect, and it also ap-
| peared that much larger proportion of
certificates were issued prior to that date
/
| subsequently to the report. 1t therefore
covers all the cases numbering below ILL.,
600 rerated during the months of Deem
| ber 1888, and January. February, March,
| April, May, June and July, 1889.
| Tanner produces statement showing
| the total number of cases rerated during
| the eight months specified, and also show.
| ing that in about SO per cent. of the total
number of cases rerated the rerating ex-
| tends back to the date of the discharge.
| Comment is made that the statement indi-
Gates that there has been a substantial in
crease in the number of cases rerated from
month tc month during this period, which
| the report says is indicative of what is APP
parently the established policy of the
bureau, the result of which, if continued,
will be to readjudicate and rerate very
'"Tfis report REPORT e c6Sh6Ff66dfesT The mode of
procedure in majority of cases is about
| as follows: The pensioners, prompted by
the present liberal policy of the bureau, in
making an application for an increase of
pension, also in the same application
| request reratiDg, giving no specific
ally that they had been rated too low.
| This question is considered on the appl ca
ton for an increase alone, and in very
| many cases it is considered and action
taken without, so far as the record
| shows, the request having been made for
such action on the part of the petitioner"
The cases which are analysed and cited
in the report are, in all important particu-
lars, substantially of the same general
character as those cited in Secretary Mobiles
letter to Commissioner Tanner. dated July
Oath last and published yesterday morning
Official judgment has been, as a matter
of fact, the controlling principle in q ma
jority of rerated cases, however much it
may be urged to the contrary.