Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-12-07


/ phasize the yiciousness of the situation
and accusation, we learn that it is said
as though by authority, that sit is ex
pectcd that many of the pensioners Sc
summarily suspended or dropped vii
be able to prove that they are still en-
titled to the pension of which the,
have been dcprived;r thus saving il
no uncertain voiee that the burden i,
not upon the party alleging the fraud
but that the government which they
mad preserved shall first brand with
infamy by the charge, then sentence
and after the stigma has been efIec-
tive, then concede to them. whose bar
riers and support of character have
been thus undermined, the pitiful priv
ilege of moving fora new trial upon
the ground of newly discovered evil
dence: and this not upon strangers,
aliens or foes, but upon our own flesh
and blood, our comrades, the saviors
of the nation-those who, in the Ian
guage Of Lincoln, the Immortal, have
''borne the BATTLE
We deny that the Secretary of the
Interior and Commissioners of PEN
sions have eny such power. We in
sist that the adjudicating divisions of
the Pension Office, acting under the
direction and supervision of the Com
missioner of Pensions and Secretary
of the Interior, are tribunals establish
ed by the authority of law FOR the set
Element of pension claims, and that
their decisions are entitled TO full faith
and credit and cannot be legally inn
peached when a change Of administra-
ton occurs, except for fraud, upon
charges preferred and evidence adj
duced in support thereof. We insist
that where changes are made in the
construction OF the law, rules of evil
dence and schedule OF ratings, unfa-
vorable TO claimants, they must and
should be limited in their operation to
the future work of the Office and not
the past. An eX post facto regulation
is a repugnant to our sense of justice
as an ex post facto law, and we pro-
test against the adoption and enforce
ment of any such regulations in the
matter OF pension claims.
THEREFORE. The Grand Army of
the Republic, in National Encamp-
ment assembled, speaking for that
great army of beloved comrades, many
Of them too poor, too bruised, too
broken TO Withstand the strong arm
Of the government when administered
with an unfriendly hand, proud of
the good name and fair tame of the
American Volunteer Soldier. inter-
ested far beyond any other person or
that the pension roll |
shall in truth and in fact be-what it
Is in theory-a ''roll of HONOR and |
ever mindful of its cardinal principle,
'To preserve honor and purity in |
public affairs, scouts and denies these |
ndiscriininatc charges of universal |
fraud and resents the imputation that
because some unworthy survivors may |
be found. that discredit shall be east |
upon the entire roll, and this great |
body of brave and patriotic citizens
shall stand disgraced before the coun-
ry. We demand that there shall be
no backward step in pension legisla-
ion or administration; that no PEN
'ioncr shall be deprived of his prop |
,rty without due process of law; that
he presumption shall be in favor of
honesty and fair dealing; that the
Door and lowly shall not be put to UNI
necessary, expensive or oppressive |
process TO preserve their meagre pit
ances: that the sacred trust in favor
II those who .'have borne the battle"
hall be sacredly observed and sacred
V administered; and we do now sol
mnly and deliberately
RESOLVE, That the Grand Army
# the Republic looks with solicitude,
lot to say alarm, upon the PROPOSE
ion that, after sufficient tribunals
ave been established by law, before
Which questions have been presented
nd adjudicated, upon evidence sub
nitted and examined, and upon which
grateful nation has accorded pen
ions in this. their hour of need, to
hose who, in its hour of need. stood |
etween il and death, the officers of
hat nation, administering public
rust, have arbitrarily deprived, with
Mt notice or an opportunity TO be
card. our needy and distressed COM
AIDES of the rights thus solemnly adj
llged and confined to them.
WE DECLARE, That every pre- /
lmption should be made in favor of |
lch records so made; that no pre-
lmption of fraud shall be INDUCED
/ against them, and that no change
lall be made in the pensions so ac-
Drded until after charges have been :
lade and evidence in support thereof ,
as been produced, of which charge
lch pcnsioner has had full notice and :
full and complete opportunity to be
card in support of the pension so ac-
,rded to him; and il is further
RESOLVED. That rs the Commits
oner of Pensions, by his recent with
-awals of the obnoxious rulings which
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