Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-08-30
The Vetsand Tanner.
Animated Debate on the Pen.
sion Commissioner.
THE CORPORAL IS "ALL RIGHT

Trapsacted-The' Naval Fight.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, Aug. 80. Corporal
Tanner pre-empted goodly portion of the
two SESSIONS OF the Grand Army encamp-
ment yesterday. The morning session had
hardly been called to order when Congress-
man Perkins of Kansas, claimed the recog-
milton Of the chair for "A resolution by which
the encampment heartily thanked the adj
ministration of President Harrison for the
honor IL had conferred upon the Grand
Army In appointing Corporal Tanner COM
missioner of pensions, endorsing his manage
ment OF the bureau that had been created
Tor the benefit Of the soldiers and sailors of
tho war, and denouncing the "bitter and
malignant criticisms Of portion of the press
upon his official conduct Applause greeted
the resolution, but Gen Barnum, Of New
York, was quickly upon his feet with a sub
stitute, declaring that notwithstanding the
assaults OF an uufriendly press the encamp-
iIent declared its belief in the integrity OF
the commissioner, and expressed its approval
Of his efforts to do all for the soldiers and
sailors of the country that the laws allow
Ii suggested, however, that COMMITTEES
should be appointed to investigate the work.
ings of the pension office.
Campbell Stands Up for Tanner.
An animated discussion of three hours
duration ensued. Congressman Campbell,
OF Kansas, voiced the general sentiment as
expressed by a score of delegates in the fol-
the following language;
For fifteen years we have been declaring,
laRr nj anYff n..uF
that the country can never pay the debt due
to the old soldiers, but Corporal Tanner Is the
first officer that has made that sentiment
practical reality. | believe that il IL the high
duty of this encampment TO sustain him in
working out that sentiment. II the Grand
Army OF the Republic ever had duty to per-
form, looking neither to the right nor 10 the
left, 10 the committee that is investigating
the working of the pension bureau or To the
commissioner himself, IL is now and we ought
to pass this resolution. The substitute iii ffers
with II In only one particular. IL expresses
belief In the integrity of Comrade Tanner and
would not influence the action of the commit
tee charged with the investigation. IL may lie
better than an Endorsement like that offered
In the original resolution, but we should make
our Endorsement strong enough. The original
resolution expresses our sentiments exactly
IL Tanner Is dishonest or has done any GRIM
inal act we Will lind IL out when the commit
tee makes its rep Irt. The presumption of law
is that every man is innocent until he is
proved guilty, and as far as l am concerned
will make that presumption go to the fullest
extent in this case.
In the debate that followed one delegate
declared that he would not dare to go back
to the soldiers of Minnesota after harming
hair of Tanners head, any more than to ride
through band OF Sioux Indians with their
war-paint ON. The encampment, he urged,
should stand by Tanner until something
wrong had been proven against him.
The Opposition Heard.
Gen Wagner, of Philadelphia, took the
ground that both resolution and substitute
was a club in the hands of Tanners enemies
The encampment ought not to force the ad-
ministraton to suspend necessary investi-
CATION.
Another delegate, in the course of a lengthy
speech, said:
was In Washington last week and heard
II charged upon the streets and everywhere
else that men emp Dyed in the bureau were all
getting their cases mad- special and taken up
Immediately and re-rated much higher, while
the poor devils of the rank and file have to
stand back and wait. ! told them that IL was
a lie, but II he has done that and we pass the
original reso ution, we indorse such action on
his part. The substitute j. broad enough This
encampment knows nothing of the details OF
upon it, We may believe il j. all right. but
we do not know IL. II we pass the original
resolution, and the committee OF Investigation
should exonerate him. the opposition press
would say that the administration dare not
oppose the q. A. r., and they would have good
reason To say IL.
The Corporal Talks.
Corporal Tanner himself took the floor at
this point and in an impassioned speech de-
clared that he not only courted but de-
manded an investigation OF his administrn-
ton OF the pension department
The RESOLUTION That Was Adopted.
Ultimately the substitute OF Gen. Barnum
was amended to read as follows:
That we thank the president of the United
States for the appointment Of our comrade
James Tanner as commissioner of pensions
and that notwithstanding the assault upon
him we declare our complete confidence in his
Integrity and our approval of his avowed pur-
pose to do all that Is possible to be- done under
the laws OF the land for the veterans of the
war, and with him we ask for the fullest in
| vestigation of the management OF his office
In this shape u was unanimously adopted
Completing the OniciaI Roll
DE-. Horace Z. Porter, of Kansas, was
chosen surgeon general and W H. Childers,
Of Kentucky, chaplain.
| The One Cent Rate Again.
Hearty approval OF the action Of the com
mandsr-in-chef aud the department com
rades, who had endeavored to secure a one.
cont rate to the present encampment, was
| expressed, and the COMMITTEES having charge
/ Of the encampment to be held at Boston
was instructed TO early secure a pledge from
the hotel keepers that no higher rate than
that given to the travelling public he charged
to the delegates la the event of no such
pledge being obta the adjutant general,
| in connection with the council of admins
| tration, was authorized to change the loca-
| ton OF the encampment at least three months
before the regular date of meeting to any
| locality where reasonable rates could be Sc
| cured.
lengthy report, reviewing the differences
between the Sons of Veterans and post sys-
| tenn, recommended that the former be recog-
nized and that all sons OF Union soldiers be
urged to become identified with IT, This was
| adopted
The Woman's Relief Corps.
A proposition To indorse tho order known
as the ladies of the G. A. r." created a
| conImotion. Violent opposition was ex-
pressed by delegates favorable to the Wom-
ans Relief corps, a resolution for the in
dorsement Of which was also before the en-
| campment, and meeting with much opposi-
ton, on the ground that it was not in line
with the principles of the order.
An Appeal from the Ladies'.
The privilege of the floor was granted to
Mrs. Sarah Plummer, OF Michigan; Mrs
Cora Day Young, OF Ohio, aud Mrs. Emma
b. Lowd, of Massachusetts,. All three pleaded
eloquently for the relief corps Mrs Plum
mer eulogizad Gen. Alger, and this caused a
- IN in nm m snalr and ohs..e e..
II see Con. Alger over there, and we want to
know whether he reciprocates or not" Amid
shouts from everybody Gen. AIger arose and
said II was none of the committees business.
Compromise Adopted.
Several delegates declared thai the Grand
Army wanted no more auxiliary associations
mud ihr..ntn a.