The Portland daily press., 1889-10-19
LIKE A SNOWBANK IN THE SUNSHINE,
The Nations Big Surplus Would
Have Dwindled and Disappeared,
n Corporal Tanner Had Kept On AS
He Had Begun.
Secretary Mobiles Letter Pointing
Out the Commissioner Error.

WASHINGTON, October IS. = Secretary
Mobiles reply to the communication from
Secretary Tanner, received on the 18th of
last July, in which the latter raised the
question of authority between the Commits
sioner and Secretary in deciding rerated
pension cases, was given to the press to-
night. Secretary Mobiles letter is dated
July "a. After quoting the law which makes
the Secretary responsible for the faithful ad-
minstration of his department, he says:
"The power claimed by the Commissioner
of Pensions in his letter of July II, does not
exist to the extent claimed By him. 1t is the
law that the Secretary has the power to take
action when to his knowledge abuses have
developed in cases in the nature of those that
have called for the inquiry / have institu-
ted, as regards the Commissioners action in
certain ''re-rating" cases, but which seem to
be largely mere increases of pensions al
lowed for long periods prior to the date of
the examining surgeons certificate estab-
for an increase. In your letter you acknowl-
edge them to be increase of pensions, for the
very statute you cite in your letter as con-
ferring on you alone the power to call halt.
speaks only of the increase or reduction of
pensions Section 1890 distinctly says that
such increase shall not extend prior to the
certificate of the surgeon under the pending
claim. These cases referred to are II in
number. In each one the claimant is in the
employ Of the pension bureau, receiving a
ance and at his work daily. Most
of them were in their places
under the former administration, and did
not then prefer claims, but made them soon
after the advent of the present administra-
tion. There is no reason under the existing
rules why their cases should be made special
or rushed through in advance of all others.
On the contrary there was then, and had
been for some years, printed rule in full
force that no cases should be made special,
plicant was at the point Of death. These
cases were all hurried through by your or
der. Hundreds of thousands of other PEN
si0ners were awaiting. throughout the land,
an allowance for the first time of the bounty
the government had promised them. These
other pension claimants were, many of them,
supported by no such salaries as these par
ticular men were receiving. The association
together Of these men whereby this
secured and tie subsequent allowances
obtained, is in itself fact that causes sus-
picion of undue means to obtain their object
and that:their purpose was to impose upon
the Commissioner. The further fact appears
in each case that the increase was allowed
prior to the surgeons certificate in the pend
ing claim. The sums so allowed aggregate
over $4,000.
After analyzing some of these and other
similar cases, upon which he says he pro-
poses to call a halt, long enough at least for
inspection, the Secretary adds: ''It may be
that the government is strong and great, and
has at its command surplus that no other
nation ever had, but if sums of money to
the amOunts:above mentioned may be grant
ed without further consideration of fact or
law than seems to have been given these
cases, 1t will depend solely upon
single officers disposition
whether the resources of the government
would be sufficient for its maintenance or
not. There are more than enough of these
applications already in the field, and they
are increasing daily, to exhaust the surplus
of which so much is said in connection with
this matter. l am informed that applica-
tions for re-ratings are greatly on the in
crease and now reach the amount of 1000 or
5000 week. l do not ask nor desire, as Tar
applicants. What 1 insist UPON is there
shall be reconsideration of these allow
ances on record, and any further allowances
the due course OF proceedings. unon -nes. aro II
plication, new evidence, an6 " ftmout the ad-
vancement Of cases before those of others
equally meritorious."