St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-17
TANNER TALKS.
The Corporal Hauis Gen. Bussey
Over the Goals.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16.-PensiOn Com
missioner Tanner was asked this after
noon whether he had anything to say
respecting the recent decision Of As
sistant Secretary Bussey, Overruling
the commissioners order of April 25,
last. He said:
1t seems to be necessary in the interest OF
truth that I should pay little attention to
the honorable assistant secretary Of the in
terror, Gen. Cyrus Bussey, in relation to his
oveTruling of my order of April % in regard
to those pensions rated at less tnan 81 per
month. As Gen. Bussey refers to me as 1.-The
late commissioner" ! may he pardoned for
not being unduly bound by official etiquette.
feel less bound py ii in the present instance
by reason of the fact that it is an open secret
in departmental circles here that the judicial
reasons of Judge" Bussey, are the evolu-
tons of the mind of gentle
man from Kentucky, who was ap-
tration on the labor force Of the patent office,
tried before the civil service commission for
appointment as principal examiner in the
pension office, failed TO pass and was after
wards appointed member OF the pension
board of appeals tin the seeretary's Office,
salary 81, 900 per annum, to sit in Judgment
on the acts Of the commissioner of pensions.
Having myself seen in his own handwriting
his statement that he is a lifelong resident of
Kentucky, aud for twenty years editor OF a
Democratic paper, and his further statement,
in answer to the question if he had served III
either army or navy, that ne served III neither
army nor navy. and, therefore, was part1cu-
larly qualified to do justice in place in the
pension office, am not surprised that such
a man should pronouncs favorably on the
presumed sufficiency of
SEVEN CENTS DAY PENSION
for g veteran who, as result of the contact
with the miasma and foul water of the
swamps is now sufferer from chronic
diarrhea. but what fail to comprehend is
how Gen. Bussey comes to permit himself TO
put his name to such a decision. He has
little regard for Gen. Harrison's declaration
last fall, which thrilled every veterans heart
when he said: 1T is no time to use the
apotheearys scales when you come to weigh
the services of the men who saved the ma
ton" If it be the gait 70 weigh out seven
had much rather Gen. Bussey
should be the weighmaster and have no
assistance from me; ! do not believe
this decision will be permitted to
stand When they post themselves on the
power the commissioner has they will see
that it too broadly gives the lie to all our
promises for years past ] yesterday sent to
the pension office fora copy of Gen. Bussey,s
decision overruling my order OF April 70,
and found it had been withdrawn. / look for
a revised edition. ! arraign Gen. Bussey for
undertaking to put me in a false position be-
fore the public. Such at least is the result OF
the wording of his decision, whether he in
Lelueu 10 90 IL OF uOG ne cOHftyS Tie lHl-
preston that the effect of my order of April
25 was to arbitrarily raise all pensioners on
the rolls at less than 81 per month between
(33. 900 to $4,000 to 81 per month. On the
contrary, the order clearly shows any one who
reads it that the arbitrary part of IL and the
whole of it in fact. referred TO cases allowed
OH aid after the 10Th of March-the day l
took office. determined that / would not
issue certificate for less than 81 per month
if had the power 70 prevent 1t. l looked
IN m ha To- n.
disputably had the power. II is broadly
stated that the ratings fixed by the medical
boards are subject to revision by the COM
missioner No one Will intelligently dispute
that had the power to take up every case
lated at less than 81 per month and order
the certificate issued at 81. had
BROADLY DECLARED MY PURPOSE:
I had nothing to conceal. l saved vast
amount Of time and trouble by issuing that
order. Then gave orders that those Of the
33, 900 pensioned at less than 81 per month
who had an application on file for increase,
accompanied by medical examination held
within year, should have their claim ad
Indicated on that examination ana go up to
at least 81 per month or go off the roll. /
ordered verbally that all the others should be
sent an order for a medical examination and
abide the result on like basis. | think most
of them would have gone up to 81. There is
plenty of law for it, Gen. Bussey to the con-
trary Notwithstanding. He says there is no
precedent; say that every commissioner
who has preceded me has left records OF pre-
cedent and when he makes that brash state
ment he simply succeeds in Illuminating his
Ignorance.