Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1889 — TANNER RESIGNS. [ARTICLE]

TANNER RESIGNS.

Radical Differences with Secretary Noble Causes a Vacancy In the Pension Commissionship. President Harrison Wednesday received the resignation of James W. Tanner as Commissioner of Pensions; In his letter conveying the resignation ijt is said the commissioner writes that he recognizes that differences exist bet veen himself and the Secretary of the Interior respecting the administration of the Pension Bureau, and those differences being radical, in the interest of a thoioughly satisfactory administration of the office, he should resign. Serious differences arose between Secretary Noble and Commissioner Tanner over questions concerning the administration of the Pension Bureau, but not in any wise affecting the Commissioner’s personal character, in the sense of imputing any corruption in his acts. These matters related principally to reratings of the bureau and others, and to certain statements credited to the Commissioner in interviews and speeches. Secretary Noble is reported to have said that the President must decide which one of the two he would retain in his present position—the Commissioner or himself. The following is Commissioner Tanner’s letter of resignation and President Harrison’s reply thereto: Department of the Interior, j Bureau of Pensions, >■ Washington, D. C., September 12, ’B9. j To the President: The differences which exist between the Secretary of the Interior and myself as to the policy to be pursued in the adminis tration of the Pension Bureau have reached a stage which threatens to embarrass you to an extent which I' feel you should not. be called upon to suffer- and as the investigation into the affairs of the Bureau has been completed, and I am assured, both by yourself and by the Secretary of the Interior, contains no reflection on my integrity as an individual or as an officer. I herewith place my resignation in your hands to take effect at your pleasure, to the end that you may be relieved of any further embarassment in the matter. Very respectfully yours, James Tanner, Commissioner. Executive Mansion, Washington, September 12,1889. u_^ Hon. James Tanner, Commissioner of Pensions: Dear Sir— Your letter tendering your resignation of the offire of the Commissioner of Pensions has been received and your resignation is accepted, to take effect on the appointment and qualification of your successor. Ido not think it neccessary, in this correspondence, to discuss the causes which have led to the present attitude of affairs in the Pension Office. You have been kindly and fully advised, of my views upon most of these matters. It gives me pleasure to add that so far as I am advised your honesty has not at any time been called in question, and I beg to renew the expression of my personal good will. Very truly vours, Benjamin Harrison. The following statement of the beginning and end of the Tanner difficulty is official and. thoroughly verified in evefiy respect: Before his departure from Washington .. for his vacation trip Secretary Noble, on several occasions, spoke to the President about the course of Commissioner Tanner and his clerks in tfie matter of re-rating pensions, and also in relation to unguarded remarks which the Comm is sioner had made from time to time. The President was inclined to defend Mr. Tanner, and he did so several times. Re eently Mr. Tanner made speeches at Elmira, Chautauqua and Milwaukee which called forth strong protests from prominent Republicans. Directly after the Milwaukee incident Secretary Noble returned to this city, determined to bring the Tanner matter to a climax. He put his views before the President in a very positive manner, and intimated that he would retire from the Interior Department if Mr. Tanned was continued in office much longer. On Tuesday Senator Hiscock, of New York, who had been talking with the President about the matter, and who had learned from him that it was likely to come to a climax, went to Commissioner Tanner, without authority from the President, however, and said that the Commissioner had better resign his office, as, if he did not he wonld be removed. From this grew the report that he had been asked for his resignation. Wednesday evening Daniel Ransdell called on Tanner in a personal capacity, he said, and suggested that the Commissioner would better relieve the President of the difficulty in which he found himself placed by resigning. As a result of this interview Ransdell carried the resignation away in his pocket Thurday Mr. Tanner was given leave of absence until his successor was appointed and he retired from the position.