The National tribune., 1889-08-01
CORPORAL TANNER.
II. Was No. Responsible for tn. Pension Del

He Was Not Responsible for the Pension Deacik.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The outcry
that is made in certain quarters against Com
missioner Tanner, who is charged with being
responsible for the deficit in the pension fund,
cannot be justified by the facts. These show
that the responsibility for the inadequAcy Of
the funds is upon the predecessor Of the pre-
sent Commissioner Of Pensions. 1t viii be re-
membered that when Gen. Black took charge
of the Pension Office, his disposition was to
ask ample appropriations for meeting the grow
ing pension demands, and his first estimate TO
Congress was for SIS, 600 900, which amount
was expended during the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1857. But meantime Gen. Black ap-
pareEtly conceived the idea that the generosity
of the Nation toward the old soldiers had been
extended as far as it should be, and although
there was q steady increase in the pension LIST
he did not ask Congress for any increase of the
fund which consequently left me, and perhaps
hundreds more, of old and worn veterans,
wanting. Black could not call for a less apprO-
priation than S75. 0OO, COO but he would not in
crease it. The consequence was that the aP-
preparation fell short of the demands for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1855, and the amount
Of the shortage went into the deficiency bill
passed ut the first session Of the 5Oth Congress.
But, even with this experience, Gen. Black
would not advance the figures he had fixed
upon IS the maximum amount which he
thought the Government ought to pay cut for
pensions, and he asked for only $750O0,O 900 for
the current fiscal year, although il was most
clearly shown that 500 0O0, 600 would be needed,
Congress, however, showed a more liberal
spirit than Commissioner Black, and voted
fraction over $50 100000 for the current fiscal
year. which was still nearly Sl00OOOOO below
the estimate of the Pension Office The mo-
tive of Gen. Black is sufficiently obvious. He
was anxious, for political reasons, to make q
| record for economy in pensions, and it is not
| disputed that in this he had the full approval
of the Administration of which be was part.
| Had his party been successful in retaining con-
| troll of the Executive branch Of the Govern
ment for another four years, it might have
succeeded in limiting the disbursements for
| pensions to the amount last appropriated By
/ Congress; but it could have done only BY
| gross injustice to thousands Of soldiers hsv-
| ing just claim for reward from the Govern
/ ment, some Of whom have been properly pro-
vided for under the present Administration
Commissioner Tanner is 4 man after Gods
| heart-at least as far as sympathy. justice and
| mercy are concerned-and will be aSsailed only
| by towards The present provision for PEN
sions is not sufficient except for the soldier
hating press. So rigid has been the eonstruc-
! tion and application Of the existing law, that
cases strictly within its provisions. OF meritO-
/ rious service aud AFFECT poverty, nave been
| excluded from its benefits. Yet the soldier
hating press tell US that this law, as admins
tered, is too liberal; that it goes too far, and
| they will work to repeal il. They would take
back even the little which they have given.
| The time Is short; a few years and these rem
nants Of former age will no longer be seen.
/ Then we will indulge in unavailing regrets for
| our present apdthy. For how can enc ingenious
mind leok upon the graves Of injured bene-
| factors. How poignant the reflection that ths
/ time for reparation and atOnement has gOne
| forever. How often do we see in the newsga-
pers pOmpous display Of h0nors to the men,
cry Of some veteran patriot, who was suffered
to linger out his latter days in poverty and
distress. Honor TO whom honor is duo, and
that honor viii rest with Commissioner TAn-
ner.-JoHN II. MCLAUGHLIN, Fort Randall,
] South Oak.