Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-16
CORPORAL JAMES L. TANNER.
Some Facts About the Popular Commis-
sioner Of Pensions-Trouble Over Rates
to the National Encampment - News

Some Facts About the Popular Commits.
sioner Of Pensions-Trouble Over Rates
to the National Encampment - News
from the Posts.
The portrait above will be at once recog-
nized by many veterans of the war
as that of Commissioner of Pensions, Cor
poral james L. Tanner. There are soldiers
who came out of the war with higher titles,
but none with one more worthily won. or with
a greater measure of personal popularity. Cor
poral Tanner, as the Commissioner is still IA
miliarly called, Is one of the most interesting
figures of the present administration. OF
singularly frank, engaging manners the i'm
preston which he makes upon the vast num-
Der of visitors to the Pension Office is such as
daily increases the following of his friends. He
is a large-brained, sympathetic man who COM
prehends the peculiar circumstances of case
almost at a glance, and decides according
to their merits with a heartiness and
promptness that are very refreshing
to such as may have thought that red tape and
circumlocution were necessary incidents OF Of
feial business. To the new Commissioner the
office is no sinecure, as any one who sees him
daily hearing and disposing Of hundreds Of
callers would quickly perceive. Commissioner
Tanner is born worker, full OF nervous energy.
and the history of his personal career shows it
positions on public questions occasionally
arouse strong oppositioni but he does not worry
about that.
A native of Scoharie county, New York, he
entered the .Eightieth New York Regiment
when a mere boy, and fought through all the
principal engagements of the Peninsular cam
paign, until at second Bulls Run dreadful
shell wound made necessary the amputation OF
both his feet. He was then placed on the
clerical force of the War Department, and in
1859 had studied law and was admitted to the
bar. Before engaging actively in law practice
he took position in the New York Custom
House, and by sheer force of ability rose
to the highest position under that of Collector.
Next, his administrative capacity was shown
as Collector of Taxes for the city of Brooklyn,
where, for eight years, he succeeded SO admir-
friends fG and SG %p 6oroai
Tanner was indefatigable as g. A. X. man,
his services winning recognition in his appoint
ment twice as Commander of the Department
of New York and his appointment upon the
National Pension Committee
OF the Commissioners talents as an orator
there is probably no occasion to speak, as he
has been heard both in campaign times and
from the lecture platforms in most of the
States, and with great delight in Pittsburg.
When he speaks he seldom fails TO give his
hearers and the public something to think and
talk about. That he is an important and
SO very evident that his friends, who
are legion, take great pride and satisfaction in
his appointment to the important position he
now holds. He is personally great favorte at
Washington, even among those who may not
be always able to agree with his views on this
or that question, and is much sought after for
his frank and clear estimates of men and
things by those who wish to gauge public
opinion. It is a common observation that the
veterans of war always feel at home where
Tanner is; and he is not the less an efficient
and able Commissioner for being still comrade
when he meets them in the Pension Office.