Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-11-01


ia i sxpecssd thai nasy q TIE Pee
slcnsrs - s1uzfnariis suspeG0ea o.
dfepPed al h abe - Prove lhzt sess
are sfia snsifioi % the peasaoB II ahich
they ,ass besa deprissd,f thus ssying
N 20 uaeertsin voice fhst tie burden
- aot sps1 TIE party sllegtng the fEau1,
but that tie gotsrnasnt Witch trey
bad preserved shall first brand wIth IN
f3ney hy the charge. then ssntsnee. and
after the stigma has besn effective. thea
eoncetie % then. whose barriers ard
sspport II character have thus under
Esaeed the pstlfui privilege u uosiag
Tor = new trial upon the grounds IL
hesl3 discovered evidence, and THIS Tot
upon strangers. alleae or fose. bat upon
our oan Eesh and o.ood. our comrades.
the sasioaEs q the natlOn. those sho. IN
The language Of Lincoln. the immortal.
have borne The battle.
We dery that the secretary d the in
tegior and commissioner "a pensions
have any such power. We insist that
TIE sdlaalesting dislAioas q the pen
sion oltl;s acting under the direction
and supervision u the comnissiCner u
pensions and secretary az the interior
are tribunals established by authority
II ias for the settlement II pension
Claims. and that their decisions are en-
titled 20 full faith and credit and cannot
be esatiy iInpsaehsd when a change Of
administration occurs except for fraud.
upon charges preferred and evidence
atiaeec 10 support Thereof We insist
that when charges are made IN the coz
structboa q the Law. rules Of evidence
aud schedule of ratings unfsyor-
- l. I.nrr h. -
aud should be limited in their
operation % the future work OF the
ofhca. and not the past An ex post
facto regulation Is az repugnant 10 our
sense oi justice as an or post faeto law,
sad ne protest against the adoption
aad enforcement of any such regulations
in The matter Of pension claims
Resents the Imputstion.
Therefore. the Grand Army OF the
Republic. in national encampment as
srrnbled. speaking for that great army
OF beloved comrades. many Of them too
poor. too bruised. too broken. to with
stand the strong arm OF the government
when administered with an unfriendly
hand. proud OF the good name ana fair
fame or the American volunteer soldier.
interested far beyond any other person
or organization that the pension roll
shall in truth aud in fact be what II IL
In theory-a roll Of honor" aud ever
mindful OF It's cardinal principle. TO
preserve honor and purity in pubic
affairs. scouts and denies these incis-
eriminate charges o. universal fraud
and resents the inputation that
because some unworthy survivors
may be found. that discredit
kut - q
this great body Of brave and patriotic
citizens shall stand dlsgraced before the
country. We demand that there shall
be no backward step in pension legisla-
ton or administration: that no pen
sioner shall be deprived OF his property
without due process OF law, that the
presumption shall be in favor OF honesty
and fair dealing; that the poor and
lowly shall not be put 10 unnecessary,
expensive or oppressive process 10 pre-
serve their nieagre pittances; that the
sacred trust IN favor OF those who have
borne the battle" shall be sacredly oh
served and sacredly administered; aud
We do now soie nnly and deliberately
Demand Restoration
Resolve. That the Grand Army OF the
Republic looks with soicitu1e. not to
say alarm. upon the proposition. that
after sufficient tribunals have been es-
tablished by law before which questions
have been presented and adiudicated
upon evidence submitted and examined.
and upon which grateful nation has
accorded pensions IN this their hour of
need 10 those Who in its hour OF need
stood between il and death. the officers
of that nation. administering a public
trust. have arbitrarily deprived. without
notice or an opportunity 10 lie heard.
our needy and distressed comrades Of
the rights thus solemnly adiudged and
consned 10 them
We declare that every presump-
ton should be made in favor OF such
records 50 made; that no presumption Of
fraud shall be INDUCED in against them,
and that no change be made IN the pen
sions 50 accorded uuiil after charges
have been made and evidence in support
thereof has been produced. of which
charge each pensioner has had full no
ticc add full and complete opportunity
% be heard n support OF the pension so
accorded HIM: and be il further
Resolved, That "a the commissioner
Of pensions. By his recent withdrawals
% the 0bnoNious rulings which had been
- generally condemned has virtually
Acknowledged the Incorrectness 81 such
rulings. ne deem IL his further duty 20
40 once restore 10 the rolls the thou.
sands 81 pensioners now stanling ille-
gaily suspended