The record-union., 1893-09-08
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
Proceedings of the Encampment Being
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L VI J1lS I1HGdItlDIuSu bClnE
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INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. Many veterans
have already gone, and all the outgoing
trains are loaded. Many, however. re-
main to witness the grand pageant of to-
night, representing the military history
of the United States, in tableaux and fire.
works. The national bodies of the G. A.
r. resumed their sessions this morning.
and will continue through the day. There
viii be public installation of the officers
tonight.
The Committee on Address Of the
Commander-in-C Chief presented a report
indorsing it in every particular, and
added that the Grand Army OF the Re
public has no objection 10 a search light
OF investigation being turned on the PEN
sion list of the Nations roll of honor,
but it does demand that it be a search
light of love for and not hatred toward
the brave men who bore the brunt of
battle, or their widows or orphans.
TIE committee to devise ways and
means to erect monument to the rank
and file OF the Union army at Washing
ton was approved, the organization of
which came into existence at the last en-
campment, having the same end in view,
This is known as the National Reunion
Monumental Association of Washington
City"
Rev. A. B. Hendricks of West Liberty.
Ohio. was unanimously elected Chaplain
in-Chief
The Committee on Pensions presented
lengthy report regarding the Disability
Act of 1890, and the recent suspensions.
The report says the Act was accepted by
surviving soldiers and by the people in
general as settlement of the question.
Under the administration 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 as
a legacy to the nation was faithfully adj
ministered. Within a few months we
hear with profound sorrow and regret
that all this must be changed. To en-
phasize the vlciOusness of the situation,
and the accusation, we learn that it is
said as though by authority that it is ex-
pected that any OF the pensioners so sum-
marlly suspended or dropped will be
able TO prove that they are entitled 10
pensions of which they have been de-
prived, thus saying in no uncertain
voice that the burden is not upon the
party alleging traud-the Govern
ment which they have preserved.
After the stigma has been affected
then to concede to them whose
barriers and support of character have
thus been undermined the pitifuI privi-
lege of moving for new trial on the
ground of newly discovered evidence.
We deny that the Secretary OF the In
terror and the Commissioner of Pensions
have any such power. We insist that the
adjudicating divisions of the pensions Of
tice, acting under direction and suuer-
vision of the Commissioner of Pensions
and the Secretary of the Interior, are
tribunals established by authority of law
for the settlement of pension claims; that
their decisions are entitled to full faith
and credit, and cannot be legally i'm
peached when a change of administration
occurs, except for fraud upon charges
preferred and evidence adduced in sup
port thereof. We insist that when a
change is made they must and should be
limited in their operations to the future
work of the office, and not the past. We