The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-09-08
STRONG AND BITTER WORDS
ThG Grand Army Veterans Take Sides
with The Pensioners,
LEGAL GOVERNMENT ACTION
A Charge Is Made that Adnmswas Elected
Command er-in- Chief Of the G. AR.
on a Snap Ballot.
Associated Press.

Associated Press.
Indianapolis, Sept. 7.-At today's ses-
sion of the Grand Army encampment,
the committee on pensions presented q
lengthy report regarding the disability
act of June 1890, and its recent suspen-
sion. The report says: "This act was
accepted by the surviving soldiers and
by the people in general as settle
ment of the question. Within few
months we hear with profound sorrow
and regret that all this must be
changed. To emphasize the viciousness
Of the situation and the accusation we
learn that it is said as though by au-
thority that it is expected that any of
the pensioners so summarily suspend
ed or dropped will be able to prove
they are entitled to pensions of which
they have been deprived, thus saying
in no uncertain voice that the burden
is not upon the party alleging fraud,
but the government which they have
represented shall brand them with in
fanny by the charge, then sentence
them, and after the stigma has been
effected it will then concede to them,
whose barriers and support of charac-
ter has thus been undermined, the pit
iful privilege of moving for new tri-
al upon the ground of new evidence.
We deny that the secretary of the in
terror and the commissioner of pen
sions have any such power We insist
that the adjudicating divisions of the
pensions office acting under the super
vision of the commissioner of pensions
and the secretary of the interior are
tribunals established by the authority
of law for the settlement of pension
claims. Their decisions are entitled to
full faith and credit and cannot be le-
gally impeached when change OF
administration occurs, except for fraud.
We insist when this change is made
they musg and should be limited in
their opinions to the future work of
the office and not the past. Be it fur
ther resolved that, as the commission
er of pensions by his recent withdraw
al of his obnoxious rulings which have
been SO generally condemned, has vir-
tually acknowledged the incorrectness
of such rulings, that we deem it fur
ther his duty to at once restore to the
rolls the thousands of pensions now
standing illegally suspended"
The report was unanimously adopted
and the encampment was Instructed
by the commander-in-chief to carry
the question Of the legality of the sus-
pension of pensions up to the supreme
court of the United States. The COM
mittee on resolutions made many rec
concentrations, several of which were
adopted, including a resolution asking
that veterans be given preference In
public service, and a memorial asking
the Grand Army to hold service on
Washington's birthday. The new ma
tional officers were then installed and
each made a short address. The new
commander in chief selected DR.. Geo.
r. Graham, of Maryland, as surgeon
general; j. f. Leach, of Massachusetts,
as adjutant general. Louis Wagner,
of Philadelphia, was continued as quar-
termaster general. The convention
then adjourned sine die.
Among the members Of the council
Of administration are: Oregon, S. f.
Reeves; washington and Alaska, A. ii.
A. Bigelow: Idaho, w. A. Dodge.
Regarding the reports sent out from
this city last night that there was
shortage in the quartermaster gener-
ais Office of the Grand Army Of the
Republic, General Weissert said this
morning that they were untrue. John
TAYLOR. Of Philadelphia, who filled that
office, resigned last July to give his
attention to private business. There
was considerable talk in G. A. r. cir
cIes about the selection of Commander
in-Ciief Adams at yesterdays session.
It is claimed that Governor 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 adherants heard Of
this and rushed through the election
Of Adams. Governor Mckinley,
Hurst's friends say, wes taken to
free show" at Armstrong Park while
this was going on. 1t is the first time
that the national officers have been
chosen on the first day Of the conven-
ton, and this. it is claimed, tends to
show the plausibiIity Of the snap cleo
ton theory.