Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-07-24
,tent with Helplessness.

missioner Lochren and the secretary of
the interior
Sot Consistent with Helplessness.
The following statement of the case has
been furnished by Second Deputy Commits
sio2or Bell: Reports being made to the
bureau that in spite of the fact of his be-
ing pcnsioned for total helplessness re-
QG;ring the regular aid and attendance of
another person, he was performing his
duties rs a justice of the supreme court of
Michigan 1t a salary of $1,000 per annum,
The bureau naturally came to the conclu-
sion that an investigation Of the case was
demanded and suspension followed ac
cord.ngly on the ground that the perform
ance of duty as justice of the supreme
court of Michigan at a salary of $1,000 per
anuum was hardly consistent with total
bclpIessness occurring the regular aid and
attendance OF another person
The Judges E..;ing Nine Years Ago
4Ibe papers en- fle in this case show a
peculiar ard extraordinary state of af-
fairs. The pensioner has not been exam
ined since March q, 1884, at which time
the official board at Washington rated him.
In August, 1884, the pensioii was increased
to $50 per month from March, 1864, the
rate of the last medical examination, TT
which time the rate contemplated helpless
ness, or degree of inability so nearly ap-
preaching helplessness that the regular
aid and attendance of another person was
required.
Re-rated by Commissioner Tanner.
''In May tsS9, Mr.. Longs pension was
re-rated and increased by Commissioner
Tanner, and an allowance made of $50 Der
4 ba -
law establishing the $50 rate; and S72 per
month from June II, 1875, the date of the
law establishing that rate of pension The
re-rating and increase of pension were
made on the personal order of Compis-
sioner Tanner. In August, 1889, Comfnis-
sioner Tanner granted a second re-ratin
at the rate Of S25 per month from June g.
1865, and S3l % from June 4, 1872 to June 1,
1874
The Judge Never Legally Applied.
"No application for the increase or re-
rating was ever made by Mr.. Long subsc-
quent to August, 1884, when his pension
was increased to $50 per month, except "A
letter written,to Commissioner Tanner on
June IL, 1889, lin which he requested re-
rating of his pension from June 4, 1866. to
June 4, 1879, at s25 per month, and from
June 4, 1e72Sto June 4, 1874, to S31 25 per
month, which request was duly complied
with by Commissioner Tanner, despite the
fact that no legal application had ever been
made for re-rating
Declared to BE Unwarranted.
at is needless to say" adds Deputy
Commissio2er Bell, "that the acts of Com
missioner Tanner, in re-rating and increas-
ing this pension without application on
the part of the pensionOr being made, and
without further medical examination,
were wholly unwarranted at that time or
since. In other words, Commissioner
Tanner 'jack-screwed this pension up
from $50 pen month to S72 per month, and
between May, 1889, and August, 1889,
granted two re-ratings, each carrying large
nrrearages, without any legal application
on the pa. { of the pensioner. or any medi-
cal examination, so far as the record
shows, the generous act of the then com
missioner of pensions resulting in the pay
ment to Mr.. Long of the total sum of