The Minneapolis journal., 1906-03-29
TAWNEY GETS BACK
At GAR. Man
CoMMANDER-IN-CH TANNER
STIRS CONGRESSMAN.
Chairman of Appropriations Committee
Explains Intent and Theoretic Action
of Measure Relating to Retirement of
Aged Department Clerks-Believes
Tanners S Attack Is Unwarranted.

OF the appropriations committee or the
lower house, has sent letter to Judge
Ell Torrance of this city, defending
himself from the implied charge that he
the government departments in Wash
ington. Mr.. Tawrey's letter was in
spired by Commander-in- Chief Tanners
letter to the Minnesota Grand Army
men assembled in annual encampment
here last week, and in which he took oc-
casion to give Mr.. Tawney few hard
raps g.. /
No set of men is. more patriotic or
more active in all good work for old
soldiers than the Grand Army OF Min
nesota, but at the same time the men as
sembled in encampnent did not take as
doleful view of the case as did their
commander-in chief. :. They. took action,
to be sure, but their language was dig
nifed and temperate, and the invitation
to ''jump onto Tawney with both feet"
was studiously. ignored. The Minneso-'
ia Grand Army; is not looking for politi-
cal trouble. IN. , !, T.. y-.. - >
Mr.. Tawney's letter to Judge Tor
rance follows! r.. l;<% ,+Ha:> ~. - !
surprise that /, % read the letter of the
comma mander-in-chief, of the Grand Army
of the Republic addressed to the en-
campment Of the G. A. r. of Mime.
sofa. My surprise rwas not. occasloned
so much by the unwarranted abuse OF
myself personally as it was by the fact
that Mr.. Tanner, gave as, an excuse Tor
certain provision il Il: the legislative, ex-
ecutive and judicial appropriation bill
intended and which will, if enacted, af
ter July 1, 1913, relieve the government
from the iniurious. consequences Of su-
perannuations which is now seriously
impairing the efficiency Of the public
service and DEMONSTRATING an annual ap-
preparation Of about $2,000,000 for serv-
ices it does not receive. :. -
"Inasmuch as Mr.: Tanner's alleged
enforced absence is attributed to the
necessity of his: being elsewhere to
fight this provision and the old SOL
diers of my state have been deprived
hearing their commander chief, which
is far greater material loss to hem,
than the enactment of this provision
will be to any old soldier now in. the
public service,aI almost regret that the
committee on :appropriati944, 4,, reRorted 20 I7t
actment~ will greatly, improve the. ef-,
fieiency Of the 4sarvice and save the
people several millions of dollars an
nually. -, -. .-
| eff it,,was not for Mr.. Tanners n mis-
impression shisss letter is intended to
create as to the purpose and effect OF
this provision and Ciny attitude toward
the old soldiers. | would not write tbs tbs
Letter Or Pay any aftea11on IT, ITO ;ndex TO Wr
all the olds6ldferfE IN TEE thss public service;
this provision does not. apply specifically
to any old soldier. Tt. applies only, to
governme ment clerks employed il the ex-
ecutive departments here. in washing
ton. 1t does not apply to any clerk
those who are employed under: the gov
ernment of the District Of Columbia,
for they are. not in the classified sery-
ice. It will not operate TO- terminate
the services of any clerk in the execu-
tive departments, whether an old sol:
der or not, before June 80, 1913, and
then only in the event he is, at that
time 10 years Of: age, and oyer. ,...,
ana other employees in the executive
departments at least 800 are today from
70 to. IS years Of: age. From the re-
port of the president to congress on
this subject, it appears that fully one;
third of them are female clerks, and
not to exceed 100 are old soldiers of
the late civil. war, all Of whom, under
the provision referred to, will, If they
|
month until June 30, 1913. 1t should
also be stated that under this provision
: after June 80 next, all clerks in. the
departments -65 years Of age may draw
salary of $1,400 a year; and clerks
6S years Of age s.. 200 year, while while be- e
= years of age will receive not less thar
( $S4O year.4><. -. ....>.. =
. CIT was out of consideration for the
\ | hor, \ Ivy ohor cn1Ii of tho 1atG
: civil war and to avoid making. an ex
$ ception of any class Of clerks, that the
time for complete separation. from The
1 4 public service on account Of age was
$ extended to July, 1913: sc<<>; : - -
|. q "From this you will see. shat Mr.
! Tanner is merely trying to createa tenn
; pest in teapot; that the effect of thi
! provision, if enacted into law, wi II no
j be such as to operate iniuriously tt
y anyone; and that there is absoin nj
ground for his claim that it. is an at
4 tempt on my part or on the part O.
those who favor It to discriminate il
the least against the old soldier. If i
\ can be shown that it will have that eff
II feet, there will be no objection to al
amendment to this provision excepting
the honorably. discharged soldier an,
sailor Of the late civil war from tn
e effect Of the provision, and if Mr.: Tan
e ner, instead Of exploiting himself thri
3 the press Of the country, had come t
+ me or to the committee with evidenc
n to prove that any old soldier would b
It injured and asked that we accept a
e amendment to prevent that result, hi
! request would have been granted an
y. he would not then have had an excus
t. for depriving the. old soldiers Of Mir
nesota of the opportunity of havin
a him Hshow up. at their encampmen
It without notifying anybody in advance
70 Of looking you in the face and givin
le at least a partial account of his (my
e stewardship as commander-in-ch chief.
~ may, mot have accomplished 8
3. &. much for the relief and benefit of th
g old soldiers during my fourteen years
& service in con gress as some may thin
e / should have: accomplished. but, neve
H. theless, am perfectly willing to allo
Ile, my record of accomplishment in the
sEbehalf to stand as against the lll-col
= = sidered and unjustifable assault of M
~ Tanner, }t
q; 1--WE are. told by cabinet officer
iu the heads Of the great executive d
az partments of the government, that b
] cause of superannuation, the efficient
of the public service is impaired to I'll
S. extent of 25 per cent; and that it I
quires at least 25 per cent more clerl
fll to do the work than would otherwi
be necessary. In view of these fact
Z it becomes necessary for those charg,
RI with the responsibility of appropris
ill ing the people Is money for the publ
he service, to makeassome provision f
15 raising the standard Tof efficiency &
a that service and saving to the. Peop
u- the millions now appropriated for 81