The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-08-03
THE TANNER INVESTIGATION.

The investigation which Secretary Noble
of the Interior Department at Washington
recently ordered into the conduct OF the
Pension Bureau under Commissioner Cor.
poral Tanner, has been in progress now
about a week, and although the committee
of three who have 1t In charge-all warm
friends of the Corporal-sit with closed
doors and only occasional fregmentary
facts are allowed to leak out In regard to
their doings, all the specials to the Repub'
lican press from Washington reiterate
from day to day the cheerful assurance
tina. Tanner is sure TO Triumph
or course he is. The investigation was
Instituted for that purpose. The object In
view in placing Tanner at the head OF
the Pension Bureau was too important To
admit of failure. He was the Idol OF the
soldiers, and, as his Intimate personal
friend, had promised in all his CAM aigr
speeches that If Harrison was. elected moi
only the infirm and disabled, but all the
soldiers should have pensions. And when
the triumph of the Republicans was
secured the appointment of Tanner as Pen,
sion Commissioner was fOreg0ne conclu
sion, He went into office, he assures us
with the single injunction from the Presi
dent to IDEAL literally with the soldiers,
falling short of this whole duty so long as 8
single soldier failed to stand In line as
supporter Of the administration and the 6
o.p.
Tanner entered upon his mission with
enthusiasm. Next to the quarters OF the
Second Assistant Postmaster General, who
dealt out offices at the rate of three hun
dred day, the Office of the Pension Com
missioner was the chief point of attraction
The daily list of Pensions Granted as
sumed surprising proportions. mo use
worrying about the surplus said the Cor
poral an take care of the surplus
And itreally began to look as II he would
Soon 'tartling rumors began to get lntc
the newspapers about the doings in the
Pension Office. The pension attorneys
headed by Geo Il. Lemon, Washington
boss pension shark, were having picnic
Instead of taking up applications In theil
order, the Washington sharks were accord
ed hearing of their cases by the hundred
as specials" Not only that, but the bulk
of the business ran into that of "re-rating.'
That is, pensioners who five, ten or more
years apo were allowed SO, IS to Sl2 &
month. had their cases re opened, and
their rates raised to $50, $9i and $50
month, the increase In each case dating
from the beginning of the original pension
so that II amounted In few cases to less
than 81 900, and in many ran up to $4,000
THIS business went ON at such rate, and
was so fruitful of scandals, as finally tt
compel Secretary Noble to call halt. The
| Pension Commissioner must not only be
checked, but the scandals of which hi!
action had been so prolific dealt with II
such way as not TO rebound to the Injury
/ Oh tut SaiiiV 'iihV
the fidelity of the soldiers was not to be
endangered by the ignominious dismissal
of their great pet, Corporal Tanner,
The way to accomplish the business was
simple enough. Firstly, Corporal Tanner
was given to understand that he must dc
so no more" and, secondly, commission
was appointed to cover over his acts thus
far with comfortable coat of whitewash.
The commissioners, of course, were all
good loyal Republicans and stanch friends
Of Corporal Tanner, consisting of DR.. Ew.
Ing and Mr.. Bruce, of the Board of Appeals
OF the Pension office, and Capt. Campbell,
of the Attorney Generals office.
These gentlemen, as we said above, have
been In secret conclave about week. They
give out only such shreds of their work,
piecemeal, as favor the purpose In View
an effective coat of whitewash. First, 1t is