Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-09-12
EXIT TANNER,

Corporal Tanner has gone. Whether he has resigned, or whether he has been removed, each one must determine for himself from the contradictory news that is given out at Washington con- corning the affair; but the fact remains that Corporal James w. Tanner has severed his connection with the pension bureau. And the fact will be regarded us the most cheering news that has come from Washington in many moons. It will be especially cheering to demo- crats and the democratic press, since it is high republican endorsement of the criticisms they have passed on his ad- ministration of pension affairs.
 When Tanner was selected for an office which it was generally recognized was beyond his capacities it was regard ed as political recognition of his ser vices on the stump and concession to his exceptional influence with the mem bers of the Grand Army. It was ac- knowledged even by those republicans who were partial to Tanner that party service rather than fitness was the es- sential and discriminating test in his case. As if to confirm their views and to vindicate the criticisms of the demo- cratic press the corporal quickly launched out in course of illegal reratings and rulings that if allowed to go unchecked would quickly dissipate the national surplus and might start the country on the road to bankruptcy. He set him. self up as a power above President Har- rison, and with the most impudent as- surance began to snub Secretary Noble until it became intolerable. He was es' pecially enjoined by the president tc keep still tongue in his head, but he was too much of demagogue for that his penchant for stump speaking and dramatic posing impelled him as by a resistless force to open his mouth on every possible occasion, And. as ha: been remarked rather more forcibly shan elegantly, he never succeeded ir opening his mouth without putting his foot in it. It became question at last of whether the administration should squelch Tanner or Tanner should swamp the administration. There was no mid dle course and however painful it may have been to President Harrison to thus make public confession of his mistake in first appointing Tanner, however sui cidal it may have seemed to him to be compelled to slap the Grand Army in the face, he has done it. He has assert. ed himself, and Tanner must go.
 We are not disposed to give President Harrison any particular credit for finally driving Tanner out of the pension bureau. He never should have been chosen to take charge of it. The same reasons that have now caused his re- moval should have prevented his ap. pointment. President Harrison knew his utter unftness for the place: he knew that he had nothing to recommend him but his phlitical services to the re-
 publican party and his standing with "the boys." And if he did not know what was potent to every politician in the country he could have quickly learned it after T amer took charge; out of his own mouth he might have con- demned him. Tanners open boast was that he proposed to make short work of the surplus; every word of his on public occasions, every official act and every official ruling was in that direction, until three months after Int assumed control of the bureau the na tional debt began to mount upward anC is now about eight million dollars more than it should be. President Harrison knew that Tanner was a conspicuous in stance of utter unfitness for the duty o1 caring for the disbursement of pensions before his eyes every day have beer glaring instances and cumulative evi dence that he was the wrong man fol the place. That he has delayed so long in cutting Tanner off from his admins tration is not crsditable to him, unless indeed, political finesse and tact be re garded creditable in a president of thu United States. Fear of the Grane Army and the consequences Of Tanner removal has been higher consideration with President Harrison than regard for the taxpayers of the country, ant that Tanner strained this fear to thu point where it snapped will bring ne glory to the president as the doughty corporal steps down and out.
 Tanners remova1 ia a b1assino to th, country, but it is one which will heal coals of living fire on the head of Presi dent Harrison and the republican party. RHYMES RECENTLY WRfr7eN. The Desert Lie.
 Ro9 PitY the peart untouched bY teYss