Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-11

NO ONE IN AUTHORITY WILL TALK-eEcRIrARY
NOBLE AND MR.. TANNER BOTH MuTH-rHK
SECRETARY SAID TO HAvs ANNOUNCED um DE-
TERMINATION THAT EITHER Hx on TANNER
''Musr CO."
No officials will say today in 80 many words
that Commissioner Tanner is to 60 at once, but
the implication from all sources is that he has
gone or as good as gone. It is doubtful even
II today he is commissioner Of pensions. He
was not at the pension Office today, but re-
mained at his suburban home, and it is asserted
that on leaving the Office yesterday he shook
hands with his friend and appointee, Harry
Phillips, telling him that he would
NEVER AGAIN PUT FOOT IN THE OFFICE.
1t is difficult to get at the exact state Of
affairs, as every one is reluctant to speak. A
cabinet officer is quoted as authority for the
statement that Tanner ceases to be commits
sioner Of pensions after today.
The statement OF the case that is generally
accepted is that Tanner was suspended on
Monday pending investigation" but refused
to regard the suspension, and that yesterday
he got notice from the Secretary stating that
his resignation would not be recognized At
the same time the deputy commissioner was
designated to sign the mail Of the Office. It is
understood further that the President has
ASKED FOB MR. TANNERS RESIGNATION,
but that the request has not yet been complied
with. Mr.. Tanner himself declines to say q
word about the matter. The only thing to be
got from the Interior department was an init
nation that he had been suspended and was
expected to be permanently out very soon.
Secretary Noble had conference with the
President this morning, and later Senator
Hiscock and Secretary Noble were in consulta-
ton at the Interior department Hiscock is
understood to want the appointment of ex-
Pension Agent Poole OF Syracuse to succeed
Tanner.
Secretary Tracy saw the President this after
noon, and it is asserted that he made an appeal
to the President in Tanners behalf. But it is
not believed that anything can keep Tanner in
the pension Office now.
ACTING COMMISSIONER.
Deputy Commissioner Smith is assigned as
acting commissioner.
SECRETARY NOBLE INSISTS THAT TANNER MUST GO.
1t is commonly understood that Secretary
Noble has said to the President that in view of
the facts developed in the investigation Of
the pension Office by the commission appointed
by him for that purpose, he cannot
countenance the continuance of Commissioner
Tanner In office, and that II some summary
action is not taken his (the Secretary's) resig-
nation will be at the Presidents disposal. 1t
1s assumed that this discussion has detained
the President in the city for the last two days,
which he had expected to spend at Deer Park.
Wednesday of last week, when Secretary No
BILE returned from Richfeld Springs, it
was stated that he had determined
to take decisive action in the Tanner mat
ter. Later it was stated that the friends Of
MIR. Tanner generally conceded the strong
probability OF his removal Secretary Noble
disposed of the extra session question
and some other matters Of importance which
were before him, before taking the papers in
the Tanner case to the executive mansion
1t is understood the matter was dis
cussed Saturday afternoon and again
Baltimore
THE SUSPENSION OF TANNER.
1t was Monday, it is said, that the determine
tion to suspend Commissioner Tanner was
reached. Both Secretary Noble and the
publication, but the statement is made
with some show Of authority that Secretary
Noble notified Mr.. Tanner Of his suspension
from office pending investigation, and
that the commissioner refused to accept
the order Of the Secretary; that
Deputy Commissioner Smith was then called
In by the Secretary of the Interior and formally
instructed to take charge Of the pension
bureau; that this order was taken
to the pension bureau and shown
70 COMMISSIONER Ianner, VINO then left the
office and went to his home in Georgetown. He
was much agitated, and his nerves
have been much unstrung since the
occurrence, as was evident to O reporter
who called upon him and to whom he refused
to make statement. The commissioner has
sent some Of his friends to the President and to
Secretary Noble and is awaiting q final decision
Of the question Of his removal.
III COMMISSIONER TANNER Is REMOVED
from the head of the Pension Office, it is said
it will be on charges of ineficiency and indis-
cretion, based on his action in making spe-
cial large number of pension cases,
on the action Of some of his subordinates in
making reratings for each other, and on the
speeches and interviews credited to
the commissioner in the newspapers and
whose authenticity he has not denied.
The commission investigating the rerating in
the Office has reported from time to
time to the Secretary OF the In
terror the discovery Of wholesale re-
rating among the employees of the Office,
to the partial exclusion of other pensioners.
It is thought that this report will be ready in a
few days and will be given to the public in JUS
OF the Presidents action if he should
reInQye the Com oiasiopar