Fergus County argus., 1889-10-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular corrc~pondepi.l
WASHINGTON, Sept. %, 1889.


WASHINGTON, Sept. %, 1889.
Corporal Tanners just published letter
to Private palzell of ohio, rejecting
upon hi- removal from the commissioner
ship of pensions. kills what little chance he
had Of retaining even the pretended friend
ship of the administration. The letter r
marked confidential. and there is "a post
script asking the private not to say any
thing about il. but that will hardly save
Mr.. Tanner. who "ught to know nalzell
Thoroughly. II was while Mr.. Tanner was
ia office that Dalzcll published his letter in
forming all old soldiers that they were en-
titled to certain additional bounty. to
which the law gives no title whatever. That
letter created an enormous amount of
trouble ia the treasury department and
the pension office alike, and WAS deemed at
the time tn be little less than "a deliberate
sensational lie. or else Dalzell must have
been crazy when he wrote il. Dalzcil is u
blatherskite. and Mr.. Tanner should have
known it, Vet he wrote n confidential let
ter to him reflertng upon the administra-
ti"n.
II the letter, as published. is correct. il
show. how little MIR. Tanner understands
the actual workings of the pension bureau.
lie writes to Dalzell this, among other
things: My second order was thereafter in
the settlement Of a pension claim the word
Of n private. il he was "a man III good char
acter and standing. should amount tn as
Of. xvb. ba "a nrp
shoulderstraps." Though the testimony
Of u commissioned officer was for years de-
iuansled, where it could he supplied, the
testimony of IL reputable private has not
for the last ten years been regarded as OF
less weight than that of n reputable com
Inissisued officer, and there never WAS q
time when the uncorreborated testimony
of one commissioned officer would establish
the origin of disability in service. Owing
to the detective and bungling English in one
al the pension bureaus official circulars, il
would seem as if the testimony Of an officer
was of more value than that Of a private,
hut Corporal Tanner should know hetter.
In fact, Mr.. Tanner misunderstands the
nature of his own order. His order was to
taken in connection with the testimony eI
the claimant himself, il reputable, should
lie sufficient in any case. thus throwing the
granting Of IA pension practically upon the
unsupported testimony Of one man. for il
would lee bad law as well as bad equity to
hold that the claimant. statement could
lie regarded as evidence. The rule tina I two
disinterested witnesses are required to es
tablish fact as to any claim against the
government permeates the depart menta
practice, and Mr.. Tanners childish effort
to make the claimant himself such AS q
witness was well met by Secretary Noble !,
reversal. In supposing that the uncorrob
Grated testimony Of one commissioned oil
Ger was enough to establish origin in pen
sion claims. Mr.. Tanner betrays only a
small portion of his delightful and exten
sive ignorance.
The official announcement from Deel
Park Of ex- Congressman Warmers unquali
lied refusal Of the cOmmissioNership of pen
sions leaves that vexed question as fa
from settlement as ever. and there is NJ
prospect that the president will settle th'
matter until his return to Washingt on
which he does well, by the way. to make a'
early as possible, II he is not callous to th
criticism OF his unreasonably long absence
from the seat Of government. In the mean
time the commissionershiPis is an unsolve'
problem.
The Republican congressman who happe'
to be in the city are reyaining hope with tn
presidents announcement that he will re
turn to Washington tomorrow probably
For several weeks there has been bite
complaint on the part Of the visiting con
gressmen at the alleged unnecessary della.
of departmental officials in the settlemen
Of local affairs. At the postoflice depart
ment every one seems afraid to move u
the absence Of Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Clarks and in other department
the officials will not put forward hand .
foot save at the order Of the president
The Republican politicians OF all classes ar
clamorcus for the immediate turning owe
of all Offices held by the Democrats, and i
states like Ohio the danger threatens in n
uncertain tones. for the people will hol
their representatives in congress person
ally responsible. These representatives, j
their turn, rush on to Washington and d
their best and meet defeat.
Tho improvements in the magnificent rel
ilence purcha sed by Vice President Morto
. are approaching completion, and it is sal
that the MOrtons will make WashinKto
their permanent winter home, abandoniu
their city house in New York.