Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-11-27

ties nothing; that the Secretary OF
| the Interior and Commissioner OF
Pensions are invested by law with alb
solute power over the pension roll
and that it is within their legal au-
thority to reopen and revise pensions
allowed by their predecessors under
regulations adopted by them, when
ever they see fit to change the rules
of evidence and the scale of ratings
under which the allowance was made !:
and this in country Of law, where
from the very infancy of the govern
ment the United States, by its organic
law, is in terms denied the right to
deprive any person of property with
out due process of law, notice and an
opportunity to be heard, and where
in every other relation and condition
in life fraud is never presumed, but
mvst be clearly proved, and every
person shall have the right to face his
accuser. To emphasize the vicious
ness of the situation and accusation,
we learn that it is said, as though by
authority, that cit is expected that
many of the pensioners SO summary
suspended or dropped will be able to
prove that they are still entitled to
the pension Of which they have been
deprived"; thus saying in no uncer-
tain voice that the burden is not upon
the party alleging the fraud, but that
the government which they had pre-
served shall first brand with infan1y
by the change, then sentence, and af-
ter the stigma has been effective,
then concede to them, whose barriers
and support OF character have been
thus undermined, the pitiful privilege
of moving for new trial upon the
ground ofnewly discovered evidence:
and this not upon strangers, aliens or
foes, but upon our own flesh and
blood, our comrades, the saviours Of
the nation-those who, in the Ian
guage Of Lincoln, the Immortal, have
tborne the BATTLE"
We deny that the Secretary of the
Interior and Commissioner of Pen
sions have any such power. We in
sist that the adjudicating divisions of
the Pension Office, acting under the
direction and supervision OF the
Commissioner of Pensions and Sec
rotary Of the Interior, are tribunals
by authority of law for
that their decisions are entitled to full
faith and credit, and cannot be legal
y impeached when change Of ad-
occurs, except for fraud,
upon charges preferred and evidence
in support thereof. We in
,ist that where changes are made in
5he construction of the law, rules of
evidence and schedule of ratings, I'M
favorable to claimants, they must and
should be limited in their operation
% the future work of the Office, and
aot the past. An e1 post facto regula
ion is as repugnant to- our sense of
ustice as an ec post fdcto law, and we
protest against the adoption and en-
,orcement Of any such regulations in
he matter of pension claims.
THEREFORE,, The Grand Army of |
he Republic, in National Encamp
nent assembled, speaking for that |
great army of beloved comrades, |
many Of them too poor, too bruised, |
90 broken, to Withstand the strong |
lrna of the government, when admin
stored with an unfriendly hand,
proud Of the good name and fair fame
# the American Volunteer Soldier,
60.
on or organization that the pension
oil shall in truth and in fact be-what
t is in theory-a "roll of honor" and
yer mindful Of it's cardinal principle,
TO preserve honor and purity in
public affairs,n scouts and denies
hese indiscriminate charges of uni
-ersal fraud and resents the imputa
ion that because some unworthy
urvivors may be found, that discred-
/ shall be cast upon the entire roll,
nd this great body Of brave patriot
ore the country. We demand, that
here shall be no backward step in
'ension legislation or administration;
hat no pensioner shall be deprived
4 his property without due process
f law; that the presumption shall be
q favor of honesty and fair dealing;
hat the poor and lowly shall not be put
o unnecessary, expensive or oppres-
i've process to preserve their meagre
that the sacred trust in ia
or of those who "have borne the
attle'' shall be sacredly admins
cred; and we do now solemnly and
Resolve, That the Grand Army of
he Republic looks with solicitude, not
) say alarm, upon the proposition,
nat after sufficient tribunals have
cen established by law before which
uestions have been presented and
djudicated, upon evidence submitted
nd examined, and upon which a
rateful nation has accorded pen
ons in this their hour of need to