The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-08
HOT SHOT FOR HOKE.
Grand Army Expresses Itself
on Pension Suspensions
CLOSE or THE ENcAMPMENT.


IsprAsAroIss, Sept 7.-As the Grand
Army encampment today the COMMITTEES
on address Of the commandments
presented . report indorsing IL in every
particular. and added: The Grand
Army Of the Repabiic has no objection to
the searchIight Of investigation being
turned on the pension list. the nasions
roll of honor, but IL does demand that II
be searehiight Of love and not hatred To-
ward the brave men who bore the battle,
or their widows or orphans"
The committee to devise ways and
means 20 erect monument TO the rank
aad file of the Union army q. Washington
city approved the organization which
came into existence at the lass encamp-
ment having the same end in view. This
Is known as the National Reunion Monu-
mental Association OF Washington City.
Rev. A. b. Hendricks. of West Liberty.
o., was unanimously elected chapiain-in.
chief
The committee on pensions presented a
lengthy report regarding the disability act
OF June, $50. and the recent suspensions
The report saws:
"This act was accepted by the surviving
soldiers and by the people in general as
settlement of the question. Under the adj
ministrafion of that law the. poorhouse
gave up its veterans: he who had borne
the battle was cared for. and the most
sacred trust accepted and left rs q legacy
TO the nation was faithfully administered.
Within a few months we hear with pro-
found sorrow and regret that all this must
be changed. To emphasize the viciousness
OF the situation and accusation, We
learn that it is said. as though by
authority, that IL il not expected that any
of the pensioners so summarily suspended
or dropped will be able to prove they are
entitled TO the pensions of which they
have been deprived. thus saying in no IN
certain voice that the burden is not upon
the party alleging fraud, but that the gov
eminent which they have preserved
shall brand them with infamy by the
charge, then sentence. and after the
stigma has been effected then con-
cede to them whose barriers in
support OF character have been under
mined the pitiiui privilege of moving
for a new tri al upon the ground of newly
discovered evidence. We. deny that the
secretary of the interior and commissioner
of pensions have any such power. We in
sist that the adjudicating divisions of the
pension office, acting under the supervision
of the commissioner of pensions and secre-
tary of the interior. are the tribunals es-
ment Of pension claims. Their decisions are
entitled to full faith and credit, and can
not be legally impeached when a change
of administration occurs. except tor fraud
upon charges preferred and evidence i'd
duced In support thereof. We insist that
when changes are made they must and
should be limited in their operations to
the future work Of the Office and not the
past.
1--WE demand that there be no backward
step in pension legislation or administra-
tion; that no pensioner be deprived of his
property without due process Of law; that
the presumption shall be in favor of hon.
esty and fair dealing: that the poor and
iowly shall not be put to unnecessary, ex-
pensive or oppressive process to preserve
their meager pittanccs: that the sacred
trust In favor OF those who have borne the
battle be sacredly observed AMI admins
tered, and we do now solennly and de-
iiberately declare that every presumption
should be made in favor of records so
made; that no presumption of fraud
shall be INDUCED in against them
and no change be made in pensions so ac-
corded until after charges are ~ ade and
evidence in support thereof produced. of
which charge each pensioner has had full
notice and opportunity to be heard. Be
IL further
''Resoived. That the commissioner of PEN
sions, by his recent withdrawal of the OBJ
noxious rulings which have been so gem
orally condemned. has virtually acknowl-
edged the incorrectuess of such rulings we
deem 1t his further duty to at once restore
to the rolls the thousands of pensions now
standing Illegally suspended"
The report was unanimously adopted
and the encampment instructed the CON-
mander-in-chief to carry the question of
k.a If II
to the supreme court of the United States.
The committee on resolutions made
many recommendations, several of
which were adopted. including reso,u-
ton asking that veterans be given prefer
ence in the public service and a memorial
asking that the Grand Army hold services
on Washington's birthday.
The new natio nal officers were then in
stalled and each made short address.
The commander-in-chief selected DR..
George Il. Graham. of MARYLAND, as sur
geon general; ]. +. Leach, of Massa-
chusette, adju.ant general, and Lou
Wagner. Of Philadelphia, was continued
as quartermaster general. The conven-
ton then adjourned sine die. Among the
members of the national council of nd.
ministration is II. A. Bigelow, of Seattle.
for Washington aud Alaska.
Regarding reports sent out from this
city last night that there was a shortake
IN the quartermaster generals Office of the
Grand Army Of the Republic. ex-Com-
mander Weissert said this morning that
they were untrue. John TAYLOR. of Phila-
delphia. who filed that Office, resigned
last July TO give his attention to private
business.
There was considerable talk in q. A. r
circles today about the selection OF Com
mander-ln-Chief Adams at yesterdays ses-
sion. Ii is claimed Gov. Mckinley was
on his way TO this city for the pur-
pose of placing Gen. Hurst. of Ohio.
IN nomination for that high Office.
aud that Adams a5herents learned
OF this and rushed through the election Of
Adams. Gov. Mckinley. Hurst's friends
say. was taken to a free show" at Arm
strong park while this was going on. Ii
- the first time national officers have been
chosen on the first day Of the convention.
and this. it is claimed. tends to show the
FEASIBILITY of the ''saap election" theory.
The convention Of the Women's Relief
Corps was not altogether harmonious to-
day. The special committee on the presi.
dents address recommended that the de-
parinents, instead Of building homes for
widows and nurses Of the war, send them
~ the national home. This provoked an
excited discussion, and il VAS finally
tabled. a bitter controversy arose over
he report IN the case of Mrs. Ada +. Clark,
OF ohio, Sho was suspended from the
order year ago, and this action vas
sustained.