Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-19
SECRETARY NxBLEs REPLY
Made to Tanner Last July Becomes
Pubic

secretary NODle . Iepty-tO Tue cOWulunlch-
ton from Commissioner Tanner received the
llth of last July, in which the latter raised
the question of authority between the Com
missioner and Secretary in deciding rerated
pension cases. vas given to the press tonight.
Secretary Mobiles letter dated January "a,
after quoting the law whici makes the Sec
retary responsible for the faith uI admins
trstion of his department, says; THE power
claimed by the Commissioner Of Pensions
in his letter of July llth. does not
exist to the extent claimed by him.
Ii is the law that the Secretary has the
power to to take action when to his knowl
edge abuses have developed in cases of the
nature of those that called for the inquiry I
have instituted as regards the Commission
err action in certain "rerAting" cases, but
which seem to be largely mere increases of
pensions allowed for long periods prior to
the date Of the examining surgeoasa sceFtif-
cate establishing the same uuder pending
claim for increase.
In your letter you acknowledged them to
be cases to increase pensions, for the very
statute you cite in your letter as confering
on you alone the power TO call halt, SPEAKS
only Of the increase or reductions Of pensions
under section 1893, and distinctly says such
al lnCItdBt Su4tl DOt tIttUu prior 10 tut
certificate Of the surgeon under the pending
claim. These cases referred to are ten in
number. In each one the claimant vas en-
ployed in the pension bureau, receiving
a salary sufficient for comfortable
substance and at his work daily. Most
of them have been in their places
under the former administration. They did
not then prefer claims, but made them soon
al aAv tr.f tho uIu ;.i ats
ton. There was no reason under the existing
rules that their cases should be made special
or rushed through In advance of all others.
On the contrary there vas then and had
been for some years, q printed rule in full
force that no cases be made special, except
cases of de stitution or when the applicant
was at the point Of death, and while these
cases are all hurried through BY your order.
hundreds Of thousands of other pensioners
are awaiting. throughout the land, an allow
ance for the first time Of the bounty the
government promised them These .-otheI
pension claimants were, many of them, sup
ported by no such salaries as these partic-
ular men are receiving, and the association
together Of these men. whereby this prefer.
ence in time seems to have been secured
and subsequent allowances obtained, is in
means to obtain their object, and their pur-
pose vas to impose upon the commissioner.
Further the fact appears in each case, that
the increase allowed prior to the surgeons
certificate in the pending claims makes the
sums allowed aggro gate over SIC, 600"
After analy zing come of these and other
similar cases upon which he proposes to call
halt long enough at least for inspection,
the Secretary adds; May be the govern
meDt is strong and great and has at it, com
mand surplus that no other nation ever
had, but if sums of money to the amounts
above mentioned may be granted without
further consideration of fact or law than
what seems to have been given these cases
it ~ill depend solely upon single officers
disposition whether the resources of the gov
ernment will be sufficient for its maintenance
or not. More than enough of these applica-
tons are already in the field and increasing
daily to exhaust the surplus of which so
much 10 said in injection with this matter
am informed that applications for re-rating.
are greatly on the increase and they now
reach the amount of 1000 to 5000 q week
do 'ot ask or desire 10 far ~ | Am con.
cerned a re examination of these applicants.
reconsideration Of these allowances on record
and that any further allowances that may be
made shall be made in due course of the
proceedings. upon new application, new evi
dence. and without the advancement of the
cases before those Of others equally merito
riOus