Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-12
The Presidents Letter Accepting the
Resignation.


Resignation.
"ExEcurIvR MANSION,
WASHINGTON, DC, Sept I2 1881
HON. JAMES TANNER, Commissioner Of Pensions.
Dear Sir: Your letter rendering your resigna.
ton Of the ONCE Of commissioner Of pensions has
been received, and your resignation IL accepted,
ton of your successor do not think it NECESSARY
in the correspondence to discuss the causes which
1ed the says nsea II
advised of my views upon most of these matters.
1t gives me pleasure to add that 80 far as am
called into question, and 1 beg to renew the ex-
Very truly yours, BENJAMIN HARRISON
A MESSENGER FROM THE WHITE HOUSE,.
At / O'Clock a messenger from the White
House reached the pension building and went
at once to the commissioners room.
He was admitted aud delivered his
message. The commissioner refused to
see any one, and beyond admitting that
House his stenographer refused to say any
thing. 1t was supposed that the messenger
brought the letter from the President accept
ing the resignation of Mr.. Tanner.
THE CoMMIssIoNKR's plans PoR THE FUTURE.
The commissioner.has made no plans for the
future. He will continue to live in the District
for some time. He has Q lease for year Of
the residence on Road street, Georgetown,
which he now occupies, and ii Is furnishedwith
furniture which Mr.. Tanner brought from
his home in Brooklyn.
pointed at once to the position Of recorder Of
deeds in the District of Columbia. '''f
What Commissioner Tanner Says.
Mr.. Tanner was reluctant this morning TO
talk about his resignation. His disposition,
however, appears to be not to show any resent
ment, but to maintain cordial relations with
the administration.
He said: "The President did not ask for nv
resignation, nor did he advise that I resign.
He assured me, however. that the investiga-
ton into the affairs Of the pension office had
developed nothing that reflected upon my
honesty Or my good intentions and
said that II I remained in office Secretary
Noble would resign. The dismemberment Of
a cabinet il a very serious thing, and decided
that it was better should resign, since the un-
reasonable pr,eiudices of Mr.. Noble could not
be overcome"
1t is understood that number Of places we're
suggested to MIR. Tanner as likely to be offered
to him if he would accept after leaving the
pension Office. Among them were the marshal
Of tho eastern district of New York, place
abroad, and the register Of the Treasury.
The latter was immediately withdrawn, on
account Of the fact that Mr.. Depew had made
that Gen. Rosecrans be permitted to retain that
position. The other places he declined. But
1t is still regarded as likely that he will be
appointed to good position.
What Secretary Noble says.
When Secretary Noble returned from the
White House this afternoon he told STAR re-
porter, in answer to question, that the Presi-
dent had accepted Commissioner Tanners res
ignation. HE has written Mr.. Tanner" added
the Secretary, "a very cordial letter, and am
very glad that he has done So"
Reference was made to the published state
ments of an unfriendly feeling between
the Secretary and the commissioner.
Gen. Noble said that there had
been no break in his personal relation ns
with Mr.. Tanner, and that there was nothing
personal in the causes which led to the sever.
ance of their official relations. The Secretary
said that it was entirely due TO Q difference Of
opinion in regard to matters Of official ad-
ministration.
NO wRANaLH BETWEEN THE sxcRRrARrxs.
The Secretary called the attention of THr
STAR reporter to letter received that morning
from Secretary Tracy, in which he stated that
he desired Secretary Noble 70 contra.
dict the report Of the interview which
is said to have taken place at the White House.
Secretary Noble said that the story of q wran-
gle between himself and Secretary Tracy ives
made out Of whole cloth and was true neither
In word nor thought He added that
the same cordial relations existed between him
self and Secretary Tracy as between the other
members of the cabinet
What Assistant Secretary Bussey Says.
Assistant Secretary Bussey today, in talking
to STAR reporter about the recent published
statements alleging that he (Gen. Busssy)
had worked up the case against
Mr.. Tanner and had shown hostile disposition
toward the commissioner, said that there was
no truth in such statements. He had been
called upon TO pass ~ . lawyer upon the com.
missioner's decision and had In all cases
simply expressed his opinion - TO their
legality, and had gone no further. He denied
that there was any unfriendly feeling between
himself and the commissioner.