Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-27

authenticity Is fully Youcheu LOT
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
OrFTcE OF THE COMMISSIONER,
WASHINGTON, II. c., September ~, lSS9.J
[Confidential.l
To Hon. j. NJ DGizeu. Cdliloel, Ohio:
NV Dear Dalzell.-I have yours of the
18th. / think | have read all that has been
printed as coming from your lips or pen:
For your great warmth of good feeling
thank you from the bottom of my heart.
And now, once for all, about the, deputy
ship. ] want 20 say to you that the Presl-
dent never said one word TO me about
you. / cannot come out ana say that
publicly: you must not quote it; but IT
is Gods truth. The one appointed
first deputy was from Mobiles
State. and had lost two limbs. OF course
/ couldn't kick. imagine that your keen
eve has caused you 10 discern and that you
arc contemplating the effect in Ohio OF two
things recently done in the Pension once.
When say recently, | mean practically,
went out. for while | am commissioner ana
will be until my successor is appointed and
qualified. | am taking no part in the duties
OF the office. holding myself on leave.
While Commissioner / issued two or
ders which ] thought and still think
were mighty good ones: First, that
the $4,000 men on the pension-roll
at less than a month should all,
unless they had had q medical examlna-
ton within year, be ordered for examina-
ton before their home board, with view
to putting them up at least to. 81 per
month pension or drop them OH the roIs,
for it was. and is my opinion that TOR a
man who is worthy of any pension ut all,
dollar a week is small enough to consider
q pension. Ny second order was that
thereafter in the settlement OF pension
claim the word of a private. II he was a
man of good character and standing, should
amount t. as much in the settlement OF a
claim as the word of man who had perhaps
worn the shOulder-straps Ofasecond lleuten-
ant. The acting Commissioner revoked both
of these orders according TO the Washlng-
ton Posi- and other papers, but rs he is man
who dare not say his soul IS his own ne
did it under the instruction OF Noble or
Bussey. | am told this afternoon that the
order of revoking my decision IN small
pension cases has been rescinded, but
YOU can see in what spirit IT Is. HOW
under Heavens name are they going TO
make the bows believe that there Is TO be
no change in the policy? Smith also issued
an order stopping all reratlng. Tie dld not
object toit until after had rerated him ana
mt him up to S72 for a loss of his arm and
held and still hold that he was clearly en-
titled TO il; but is it not contemplate that
n man who had had that done for him, and
who had acquIescod cordially III his own
case, should now be so pronounced against
the rerating of the poor devils, VINO, per-
hans. from the effects of malarial poison
inc. chronic !diarrhna, or some disease OF
that kind, suffer twice as much az man
does from amputatiOn. | want to say oyou
that did not resign until the fresldenJ
and Secretary had both said TO me IN the
same moment that the completed report
of the investigating committee which lay
before them contained no word which
could impeach the honesty of my action IN
the slightest degree. Then | had to con-
slider whether / was man enough 10 decline
To continue in a position where | knew my
immediate official superlors did not desire
me, even conceding that ! could stay
against their wishes, which IS not all true:
have not the slightest doubt but that l
would have been removed II had not re-
signed: in fact. / know it. Noble had GER
tainly pronounced his ultimatum to toe my
head or his resignation; and, OF course,
break in his Cabinet would have embar-
raised Harrison greatly.
Now that have completed the report
and have gone through II carefully and
thoroughly, say TO you az one whose good
opinion / value that all under Heaven they
can charge me with is too much llberallty
and too much speed in the granting OF
pensions. think YOU will agree with me
that we have had impecuniosity and pro
crastination enough; so that 1t would take
more than six months Of my time to bring
il up TO q decent average.
OF the future / know nothing. II the
bovs-and particularly those in Ohlo-ac-
quiesce, why it is safe 10 say that Tanner
will be left where he is--in the soup.
Among the promotions announced IN the
Pension Office night before last Is that OF
Harrison Il. Bruce, of Colorado, to be a
member of the Board of Pension Appeals
in the Secretary's Office. at $4,000 year.
He had been detailed for duty in the Sccre-
Jarvis Office for some months, and was APP
pointed by the Secretary one of the COM
mission which investigated the Pension
Office. Don't You think it would have
looked little better if they had waited at
least until after had passed out OF otficlal
life before they promoted him? Some Will
be cynical enough to reflect upon cause
and effect service and reward.
With all my heart, very truly yours,
GSiqnedl JAMES TANNER.
i. 81 have written YOU with great free
dom. Don't give me any cause to regret II
by saying anything about this letter. It's
IN won gplGlV.