The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-09-16

practically without opposition: John
j. B. Adams, of Massachusetts, COM
mander-in-chief; Col I. N. Walker, of
Indiana, senior vice commander, and
J. C. Bigger, of Texas, junior vice COM
mander.
THE NEW OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
j. g. p. Adams, the new commander
in-chief, was born in 1S41, and in 1851
enlisted in Maj Ben Perley Poore's
rifle battalion, which was the nucleus
of the Nineteenth Massachusetts, regi-
ment. He was promoted to captain for
his valor. He participated in every
which his regiment was engaged. At
Fredericksburg he saved the colors
from capture after eight color-bearers
had been killed. He was captured in
1864 and held prisoner for nine months.
He has held several offices OF trust
since the close of the war and is now
sergeant-at-arms of the Common
wealth. He has always been active in
the work of the G. A. r. and has been
at the last twelve national encamp-
ments us u delegate.
THE woMEN's RELIEF CORPS.
The seventh annual convention of
the leaders of the w. r. G. met to-day.
Mrs. Carrie v. Sheriff, Of Allegheny,
Pa, presided. She made an address.
The report shows that there is gain
of two departments, fifty-two circles
and an increase of g. 800 in membership.
The total membership is over $4,000,
with 1,5o0 honorary members. The
total relief granted during the year is
$s,7s7, with surplus Of over SIS, 900 in
the treasures of the various depart
ments. Twenty-eight states and thir-
teen departments are represented,
every one of which is in excellent con-
dition. The treasurer reported as fol-
lows: Total receipts, s4,1O3.24; total
expenses, 2,476.3s; balance on hand,
s1,628.s7.
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. Sat yesterday
mornings session of the encampment
the report of the committee on pen
sions, 1. N. Walker, of indianapolis,
chairman; II. E. Taintor, Hartford,
Conn; j. w. Burst, Sycamore, ILL.,; A.
r. Greene, Lecompton, Kan, and A. M.
Warner, Cincinnati, was presented and
laid over temporarily for distribution
among the delegates.
1t was 1880 before Chairman Walker,
of the committee on pensions, put in
an appearance with his revised report,
his associates having been waterlogged
in the effort to embody the substance
of the thirty odd resolutions submitted
to them. The report said that Lincoln
declared it the duty of the nation to
care for those that had borne the bat
tie and for their wives and orphans. 1t
rehearsed the laws relating to pensions
and continued to say that with pro-
found sorrow and regret it had to re-
port that all this provision for the vet
of pensions had been stopped without
notice and thousands OF pensioners
dropped from the rolls. 1t had been
claimed that an adjudication of pen
sion settled nothing; that the secre.
tary of the interior and commissioner
Of pensions were invested by law with
absolute power over the pension roll,
and that it was within their legal au.
thority to reopen and revise pensions
allowed by their predecessors under
regulations adopted by them, whenever
they see fit to change the rules of evi.
dence and the scale of ratings, and
! this in country of law, where, from
the very infancy of the government
the United States by it's organic law is
. in terms denied the right to deprive
any person Of property without due
, process of law.
; The report concluded with series o,
resolutions declaring that the Grand
Army looked with solicitude and alarm
upon the action of the administration
in arbitrarily depriving the veterans o,
an opportunity to be heard in defense
; of the rights solemnly adjudged an6
confirmed to them; that it declared
against the presumption Of fraud until
charges had been proven, and unit
each pensioner had full notice and &
; full and complete opportunity to bs
heard. An additional resolution de-
J clared that as the commissioner of pen
sions by his recent withdrawal of the
i. obnoxious rulings which had been gen
: orally condemned, had virtually &C
} knowledged the incorrectness of suct
; rulings, it was deemed his further duty
J to at once restore to the rolls the thou
J sands of pensioners now standing lille
gaily suspended.
More than one of the resolutions sub
Initted to the encampment and which
: under the rule adopted, when it wa.
! seen that perfect avalanche Of these
J documents was inevitable, condemned
the president as responsible and the
pension department as particeps crimi
mis- for the alleged wholesale decapi
! tation of pensioners; but the majority
: of the committee was in favor of con
servative pronunciament. and its rul
: ing was accepted by the encampment
rs the best method of securing the de
! sired end.
! Vociferous and prolonged applause
! marked the salient features of the pen
} sion report, and when the reading haG
Z concluded the delegates cheered fol
several moments. just as soon Al
Chairman Walker had concluded
!: Lientenant-C accommodating JohI
P. Rea, of Minnesota, was ON his feet
with re olution declaring that al
: pensioners suspended by the presen
administration should be rejnstatet
! without delay. Several speeches wer,
J made in support Of the resolution ant
: 1t was adopted by u unanimous vote
: Then another lieutenant commander IL
/ chief, John Palmer, of New York, cam,
! to the front with motion instructinf
} the incoming commander-in-chiefa ani
fha aseocfa "a m tioual s,tfioara 20 ir.<i