The herald., 1893-09-08
THE VETERANS GOING HOME
Conclusion Of the National En-
campment.
Some Kicking About the Election of
the New C0mmander-in in Chief.
Resolutions Adopted Denuncistory OF
the Present Administration of the
Pension Laws-The w. II. Q.
Denounces Hoke Smith.

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 7.-heRarolng the
reports sent out from this city last
night that there was a shortage in the
auartermaster- Office of the
Grand Army of the Republic, General
Weissert said this morning that they
were untrue. John Taylor of Philadel-
phia, who filed that Office, resigned last
July to give his attention to his private
business.
There was considerable talk in g. A.
r. circles today about the selection OF
Commander-in-C Chief Adams ct yester-
days session. 1t Is claimed that Gov
ernor Mckinley was on his way to this
city for the purpose of placing General
Hurst OF Ohio in nomination for that
high office, and that Adams's adher-
ents learned of this and rushed
through the election of Adams. Gov.
Mckinley, Hurts friends say, was taken
to free show at Armstrong park while
this was going on. 1t is the first time
national officers have been chosen on the
first day of the convention, and this, it
is claimed, tends to give plausibility to
bu0 bnnP CicCtiOh
Many veterans have already gone, and
all the outgoing trains today were load
ed. Many, however, remain to witness
the grand pageant of tonight, represent
ing the military history of the country,
consisting of tableaux snd fireworks.
The national body of the G. A. r. re-
sumed its sessions this morning and con-
tinued throughout the day.
Tho oop, m ittaa IN tba addranr of tho
commander-in-chief, presented report
endorsing it in every particular, and
adding: "The Grand Army OF the Re-
public has no objection to 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
the battle, or their widows or Orphans"
The committee to devise ways and
means to erect monument to the rank
and file OF the union army at Washing
ton, approved the organization which
came into existence at the last encamp-
ment, 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
was unanimously elected chaplain-in-
chief.
The committee on pensions presented
q lengthy report regarding the disability
act OF June, 1890, and the recent suspen-
sions. The report says:
"The act was accepted by the surviv-
ing soldiers and by the people in gen.
eral as a settlement of the question.
Under the administration of that law
the poor-house gave up its veterans; he
who had borne the brunt of the battle
was cared for and the most sacred trust
accepted and left as a legacy to the ma
tion was faithfully administered. Within
q few months we hear with pro-
found sorrow and regret that all
must be changed. To emphasize
the viciousness OF the situation
and accusation. we learn that it said. as
though by authority, that it ia expected
that any of the pensioners so summa-
rily suspended or dropped will be able
to prove they are entitled to the PEN
sions of which they have been deprived,
thus saying in no uncertain voice that
the burden is not upon the party alleg-
ing fraud, but the government which
they have preserved shall brand them
with infamy by the charge, then sem
tence, and after the stigma has been ef-
fected, then concede to them whose bar
riers and support of character have thus
been undermined, the pitiful privilege
of moving for new trial upon the
ground Of newly discovered evidence.
I'VE deny that the secretary OF
the interior and commissioner OF PEN
sions have any such power. We insist
that adjudicating divisions of the PEN
sions Office, acting under the direction
and supervision OF the commissioner OF
pensions and secretary of the interior,
are tribunals established by authority
of law for the settlement of pension
claims; their decisions are entitled to
full faith and credit, and cannot be
legally impeached when change of ad-
miniHtration occurs, except for fraud
upon charges preferred and evidence ad-
duced in support thereof. We insist
that when changes are made, they must
and should be limited in their opera
tions to the future work of the Office and
not to the past.
"We demand that there shall be no
backward step in pension legislation or
administration that no pensioner be
deprived of his property without due
process OF law; that the presumption be
in favor Of the honesty and fair dealing :;
that the poor and lowly be not put to
unnecessary, expensive or oppressive
processes to preserve their meager pit
tsnces; that the sacred trust in favor OF
those who have borne the brunt of the
battle be sacredly observed and admin
istered, and we do. now solemnly and
deliberately declare that every presump-
tion should be made in favor of the rec
ords so made, that no presumption OF
fraud shall be INDUCED in against them,
no change be made in pensions go &C.
corded until after the charges made and
evidence in support thereof are pro-
duced, of which charge each pensioner
has had full notice and opportunity to
be heard; be it further
Resolved, That as the commissioner
OF pensions, by the recent Withdrawals
OF the obnoxious rulings which have
been go generally condemned, has vir.
tually acknowledged the incorrectness
of such rulings. we deem it his fur
ther duty to at once restore to the rolls
the thousands of pensioners now stand
ing illegally suspended"
The report was unanimously adopted
and the encampment instructed the
commsnder-in-chief to carry the ones.
tion of the legality of the Suspension OF
pensions, up to the supreme court of the
United States.
The committee on resolutions made
many recommendations, several OF
which were adopted, including a resolu-
tion asking that veterans be given pref
Arauca in the mn uhlic rarvioa 80