The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1893-07-27
GENEROUS TANNNR.
HOW HE GAVE AWAY $6,912 OF
THE GOVERNMENTS MONEY
Mlchigan's Supreme Judge PensiOned
for Total Disability.

Touching the suspension of the
pension of Charles Dean Long, one of
the Justices of the Supreme Court of
Michigan, reported in Detroit dis
patches, it was ascertained on inquiry
at the Pension Bureau the Judge
Long was in receipt of a pension at
the rate Of $72 month tor loss of left
arm above the elbow and gunshot
wound in left hip, resulting in total
helplessness requiring the regular aid
and attendance of another person.
The following statement of the
case was to-day furnished by Second
Deputy Commissioner Bell:
"Report being made to the bureau
that, in spite of the fact of his being
pensioned for total helplessness requir-
ing the regular aid and attendance of
another person he was performing his
duties as Justice of the Supreme
Court of Michigan at salary of ST.
600 per annum, the bureau naturally
came to the conclusion that and in
vestigation of the case was demanded
and suspension followed accordingly
on the ground that the performance
Of duty as Justice of the Supreme
Court Of Michigan at salary of$7 900
per anuum, wins hardly consistent
with total helplessness requiring aid
and attendance OF another person."
"The papers on file in this case
show peculiar and extraordinary
state of affairs. The pensioner has not
been examined since March 81, 1884,
at which the Office board at Washing
ton City rated him at $50 per month.
In August, 1884, the pension was in
creased to $50 per month from March
q, 1884, the date OF the last medical
examination, at which time this rate
contemplated helplessness or degree
ofdisablity SO nearly approaching help
lessness that the regular aid and at
tendance of another person was re.
quired.
"In May. 1889, Mr.. Longs pension
was rerated and Increased by Com
missioner Tanner, and allowance made
of $50 per month from June 4, 1874
the date of the law establishing the
$50 rate and $72 per month from June
II, 1873, the date of the law establish,
ing that rate of pension. The rerating
and increase Of pension was made on
the personal order OF Commissioner
Tanner.
In August, 1889, Commissioner Tan
ner granted a second rerating at the
rate of $25 per month from June 6, Is
SO; and $91.25 from June 4.1S72. Thil
constituted an increase of $40 PEI
month from June 6, 1S66,and $685.
from June 4. 1872, to June 4, 1874.
"No application for increase of rera
ting was ever made by Mr.. Long sub
sequent to August, 1884, when his pen
sion was increased to $50 per month
except letter written to Commissions
Tanner on June IL, 1889, in which h,
requested rerating Of his pension
from June 4, 1864, to June, 1872 at $2i
per month, and from June 4, 1872, t.
June 4, 1874, at $31.25 per month
which request was duly complied will
by Commissioner Tanner despite tn,
fact that no legal application had eve
been made for rerating. 1t is needles
to say" adds Deputy Commisione
Bell, chat the acts of COMMISSIONS
Tanner in rerating and increasing thi
pension without application on tn
part Of the pensioner being made, ant
without further medical examination
were wholly unwarranted by any Law
or rule or order in existence in thi
bureau at that time orsince.
Gin other words, COMMISSIONS
Tanner raised this pension up froa
$50 per month to $72 per month, AM
between May. 1880, and August 1885
granted two reratings, each carrying
large arrearages without any legal ap
plicatio1 on the part Of the pensionel
or any medical examination SO far q
the records show, the generous act Q
the then Commissioner of Pension re-
sulting in the payment to Mr.. Long Q
total sum of $6,912,94."