People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-11-03

pended withOuu notice and thousands
of pensioners have been dropped from
the rolls. 1t is claimed that an adju-
dicatiOn Of pension settles nothing:
that the secretary Of the interior and
commissioner of pensions are invest
ed by law with absolute power over
the pension roll, and that it is within
their legal authority TO reopen and re-
wise pensions allowed by their prede-
ceSs0rS ulder regulations adopted ~
them. whenever they see tlt tOchange
the rUl:S Of evidence and the scale of
ratings under which the allowance
was made: and this, in a 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
property without due process OF law,
notice and an opportunity TO be
heard, and where in every other rela-
ton and condition in life fraud is
never presumed, but must be clearly
proved, and every person shall have
the right TO face his accuser. To en-
phaslze the yiciouSneSS Of the situa-
ton and accusation, we learn that il
is said, as though by authority that
lit is expected that many of the pen
sionerS so summarily suspended or
dropped will be able to prove that
they are still entitled to the pension
of which they have been deprived"
thus saying in no uncertain voice
that the burden is not upon he party
alleging the fraud, but that the gov
ernment'which they preserved shall
first brand with infamy by the charge,
then sentence, and after the stigma
has been effective. then cOncede to
them, whose barriers and support of
character have been thus undermined.
the pitiful privilege of moving for a
new trial upon the ground of newly
discovered evidence; and this not
upon strangers, aliens or foes, but
upon our own flesh and blood. our
comrades, the saviOurs of the nation
those who, in the language of LincolI,
the immortal, have "borne the
BATTLE
We deny that the secretary of the
interior and commissioner of pensions
have any such power. We insist that
the adjudicating divisions of the pen
sion office, acting under the direction
and supervision of the commissioner
of pensions and secetary Of the inter
iOr, are tribunals established by au.
thOrity of law for the settlement of
pension claims, and that their decis-
ions are entitled to full faith and
credit, and cannot be legally impeach-
ed when change of administration
occurs, except for fraud, upon charges
adduced in support thereof. We in
siSt that where changes are made in
the construction of the law, rules of
evidence and schedule of ratings. I'M
favorable to claimants, they must
and should be limited in their opera
ton to the future work of the office.
and not the past. An &c post facto
regulation is as repugnant to our
sense of justice as an &c post facto
law, and we protest against the adop-
tiOn and enforcement of any such
regulations in the matter of pension
claims.
THEREFORE, The Grand Army of
the Republic, in national encamp-
ment assembled, speaking for that
great army Of beloved comrades,
many of them too poor, too bruised.
too broken, TO withstand the strong
arm of the government when admin
istered with an unfriendly hand,
proud of the good name and fair fame
Of the American Volunteer Soldier
interested far beyond any other person
or organization that the pension roll
shall in truth and fact be-what it is
in theOry-a roll of honor" and ever
mindful of its cardinal principle, "To
preserve honor and purityin public af-
fairs, scouts and denies these indis-
criminate charges Of universal fraud
and reSentS the imputatiOn that be-
cause some unworthy survivors may
be found, that discredit shall be cast
upon the entire roll and this great
body of brave and patriotic citizens
shall stand disgraced before the
country. We demand, that there
shall be no backward step in pension
legislation or administration: that NO
pensioner shall be deprived of his
property without due process of law;
that the presumption shall be in ia.
yOr of honesty and fair dealing; that
the poor and lowly shall not be put Ia
unnecessary, expensive or oppressive
process to preserve their meagre pit.
tances; that the sacred trust in favor
of those who "have borne the battle
shall be sacredly observed and sacred.
ly administered; and we now solemn.
ly and deliberately
ReSoLCe, That the Grand Army OF
the Republic looks with solicitude
not to say alarm, upon the PROPOSE
tion, that after sufficient tribunal:
have been established by law before
which questions have been presented
and adjudicated, upon evidence
submitted and examined, and upon
which grateful nation has accorded
pensions in this their hour of neeC
to those who in its hour of need stood
between it and death, the officers Of
that nation, administering a public
trust, have arbitrarily deprived, with
out notice of an opportunity to b
heard, our needy and distressed com
rades Of the rights thus solemnly ad
judged and confined 20 them.
WE DECLARE, That every presump
tion should be made in favor of sucl
/ records so made; that no presumption
of fraud shall be INDUCED in against
them, and that no change be made in
the pensions so accorded until afte
charges have been made and evidenc,
in support thereof has been produced
n NIB nnlN oh. n.