The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-08


sion roll, and that 1t is within their legal
authority to reopen and revise pensions allowed
by their predecessors nnder regulations
TO change the rules of evidence and the
scale OF ratings under which the allowance was
made, and this in country of law, where,
from the very infancy OF the government, the
United States by its organic law. Is in terms
denied the right to deprive any person OF prop
erty without due process OF law, notice and
an opportunity TO be heard and where in every
other relation and condition OF life fraud Is
never presumed, but must be clearly proved,
and every person shall have the right to face
his accuser- To emphasize the viciousness of
the situation and accusation, we learn tnat II Is
said. as though by authority, that lit is expected
that many OF the pensioners summarily eus-
pended or dropped will he able to prove that
hey 20 G in
certain voice that the burden is not
npon the party alleging fraud. but
shall fret bra d with infamy by the charge, then
sentence, and after the stigma had been effect
support OF character have been thus under
mined, the pitiful privilege of moving for 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 COM
rades the saviors of the Nation. those who in
the language OF Lincoln, the immortal, have
borne the battle.
We deny that the Secretary of the Interior and
Commissioners of Pensions have any such power.
We insist that the ad1udlcating divisions or the
Pension Office. acting under the direction and
supervision OF the Commissioner OF Pen
tribunals established by authority of law FOR
the settlement of pension claims, and that their
decisions are entitled to full faith and credit
and cannot he legally impeached when change
of administration occurs. except for fraud upon
charges preferred and evidence adduced IN sup
port thereof. We insist that when changes are
made in the construction of the law. rules of
evidence and schedules OF rating unfavorable
TO claimants. they must ana should be limited
in their operation 10 the future work OF the office
and not the past. An ex post facto regulation
Is as repugnant 10 our sense of justice rs an ex
post facto law, and we protest against the adop-
stion and enforcement OF any such regulations
In the matter OF pension claims.
Therefore. the Grand Army of the Esppblic, in
National Encampment assembled speaking for
that great army OF beloved comrades, may OF
them too poor, too bruised. too broken 10 with
stand the strong arm OF the government when
the good name and fair fame of the American
VOLUNTEER soldier-interested far beyond any other
person organization that the pension roll shall
in truth and IN fact be what 1t is in theory roll
OF honor. and ever mindful OF its cardinal prin-
ciple. ITO preserve honor and purity
these indiscriminate charges of universal
fraud and resents the imputation that because
some unworthy survivors may be found, that
this great body OF brave and patriotic citizens
shall stand disgraced before the country We
demand that there shall he no backward step In
pension legislation or administration; that no
pensiOner shall be deprived or his property with
out due process OF law; that the presumption
shall be in favor or honesty aud fair dealing; that
the poor and lOwly shall not be put to unneces
sary. expensive or oppressive process To preserve
their meager pIttalces; that the sacred trust in
favor of those who have borne the battle shall
be sacredly observed and sacrcdly administered.
and we do now, solemnly and deliberately, re-
solve:
The Grand Army OF the Republic looks with
solicitude, not 10 say alarm upon the PROPOSE
tion that after sufficient tribunals have been es-
tablshed by law before which questions have
been presented and adjudioated, upon evidence
submitted and examined. and upon which
grateful Nation has accorded pensions in this.
their hour OF need, to those who. in its hour OF
need. stood between il and DEATH the officers or
that Nation. administering public trust. have
arbitrarily deprived. without notice oppor-
tunity 10 be heard. our needy and distressed
comrades OF the rights thus solemnly adiudged
We declare that every presumption should be
made in favor of records so made: that 10 pre-
sumption of fraud shall be INDUCED against
them. and that no change be made in the pen
sions accorded until after charges have been
made ana evidence in support thereof has been
produced, of which charge each pensiOrer has
had full notice and full and complete oppor,
tunity to be hoard In support of the pension so
accorded him.
! sions, by his recent Withdrawals of the ohnox-
ious rulings which have been so generally con-
demned, has virtually acknowledged the inoor-
rectness OF such rulings, we deem IL his further
duty 10 at once restore TO the rolls the thousands
OF pensioners now standing illegally suspended.
The report was drawn by Colonel Walk
er. after full consultation regarding every
point. It is understood that the resolution
was added at the suggestion Of Past Com
msnder-in-chief Beath. There was q good
deal of spirited discussion ABOUT the use of
the word property" In connection with
pensions, but every representative was
heartily In favor of the sentiments ex-
pressed by the report. Delegate Stahi. OF
New Jersey, shouted: 'Some of you know
what am. but indorse all of that report"
Stahi is an active Democrat.
At this point q dIspatch was read from
Major Lincoln. of Washington. to the effect
that he had seen the Secretary
of the Interior and the Commits
sioner of Pensions. and urged that.
inasmuch as they had revok ed
the order suspending pensions. they should
order the payment of those suspended.
This they would not do. but finally agreed
to consider the evidence In these cases in
the course of two weeks, In order that
those entitled TO pensions should have
them. The reading of the dispatch was
followed by general expressions of in
credulity. The report of the pension CON-
mittee was adopted by rising vote. which
showed every delegate in favor of it.
Past Commander in chief Palmer, of
New York. then presented resolution in
structinR the commaDder-in-chief to take
a suspended case to the Supreme Court. in
order TO test the validity of such action.
There was some opposition to this, but it
was carried by large majority.
The committee on resolutions. through
Past Commander-in-chief Burdette. pre-
septed Its report on the list OF reso lutions
snd memorials referred TO Ir after pr ese o ta-
tion To the encnmpment Many of these
memorials are OF no general interest. Tho
following are the most Important:
On she memorial asking the encampment
90 petition Congress to make uD the differ
ence between the currency in which troops