Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-09-14
THE VETERANS.
The National Encampment Of the
G. A. r. at Work.
7 he COMMUNICATIVE Chief's Report as to
the Condition of the Order-New Of
fcers Chosen-ResoIutions
on Pensions.
Annual Report.

O'Clock, as did also the hrSt session OF
the Woman's Relief Corps convention
and the Daughters of the Regiment.
One of the most important reports
made to the national encampment was
that of the special committee on legis-
lation, by Chairman Keay. The pur-
pose of the appointment of the commit
tee was to do something to secure the
enforcement of the two federal laws,
almost totally disregarded for many
years, the first providing that those
discharged from military or naval SER
vices by reason of wounds or privations
incurred in the line of duty should have
preference in the appointment to
public offices and the other recommend
ing that honorably discharged men
should be preferred by the business
men and firms of the country for lucra-
tive employment.
The report and address of Command
er-in-Chief Weissert was delivered yes
terday afternoon. He reviewed the
progress of the order during the past
year and made allusion to the death
during that time of two illustrious
comrades, ex-President Rutherford b.
Hayes and Gen. Benjamin E. Butler.
Continuing he said:
While our leaders are fast passing away
there has been an unusually large death loss
among the rank and file, among those who car
ried the gun and knapsack during the late war,
and post charters throughout the order have
been repeatedly draped with the insignia of
mourning. The loss by death in the ranks OF
! the G.. A. r. during the past year is 1902 This
is excess of any previous mortuary return
| Add to the figures the estimated loss OF Veter-
ans not members of the order, amounting by a
conservative estimate to 7.50J, we have total
loss by death among the union veterans of a.
| 500.
In the returns fer December 1892, there was
| an increase of membership of 1900 over the
June previous in good standing and large in
| crease was constantly looked for in June, but
| the desired result not obtained After
| most earnest efforts made by headquarters to
| increase the membership in good standing, a
| loss from June 1892. of over 2 900 must be re-
| ported The determination to weed out all
members who practically a dead weight to
| the order, together wi,h the pressure in finan-
| cial alters throughout the country, from Of.
fetal reports, is largely the cause lam pleased,
however, to report the delinquent list for the
same period reduced by almost 400 The total
| membership of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie is 443 554. of which 397.223 in good stand
! ing: suspended, Al 6j1. by delinquent reports
| A Z. The gain by muster during the past year
| is l34.
Recently, we find scores of worthy veterans.
some above the age of three score and ten yes,
{ four score years, many suffering from wounds
received on the ba attle-feld, or disease incurred
while in the service of the country, other
disabilities which are covered by law, cut off
from the pension roll without first making
proper investigation. During the past three
years some of those who were not the friends
of our country during the mighty contest from
1851 to 1855 have taken every means within
| their power to create public sentiment against
pension laws and pensioners. Unwarranted
| statements made against the pension roll.
| No facts are advanced to substitute the state
| mentS made. The pension laws of our country
affect the interests of veterans Of various wars,
| ob,yr irdis serir,7
of pensions affects only those who served in the
| war against tre"Son and rebellion.
New Officers Chosen.
After the reading of the various, re-
ports were completed at 4:3O o'clock,
and half hours routine work dis
posed of, Past tCommander-in-Ch Mer-
rill arose and nominated Capt. J. G.. b.
Adams, of Massachusetts, as command
er-in-chief, to succeed Commander
| Weissert, of Wisconsin. Immediately
there was a pandemonium, and cries of
adams, :" Adams - resounded through
the great hall Gen. Hurst, of Ohio,
then withdrew and Adams was chosen
by acclamation.
Ivan n. Walker, OF Indianapolis, was
then elected senior vice commander,
and J. c. Bigger of Texas was elected
| junior vice commander without opposi-
tion.
! Pension Matters.
| INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Sept. 8. The
national bodies of the G. A. r. resumed
business sessions. The rapidity with
which business was transacted almost
took some of the delegates off their
feet The selection of officers and place
of next encampment was. generally eX-
| 70 fol Il
The committee on pensions present
ed very lengthy report. Regarding
the disability act of June, 1890, the re-
port says:
This act was accepted by the surviving sol
diers and by the people in general a settle
ment of the question Under the administra-
tion of that law the poor-house gave up its
veterans; he who had borne the battle was
cared for. and thus the sacred trust accepted
and left as a legacy to the nation vas faithfully
7 administered
within a few months we hear with profound
sorrow and regret that all this. must be
changed that the construction of the law has
| been changed and the regulations and rules in
regard 10 proof and ratings under which more
| than 900 600 claims have been allowed and paid
have been revoked, and another construction OF
| the law has been established and regula-
| tions for proof and ratings. less favorable to
claimants. have been adopted; that a board OF
revision has been organized in the pension
Office charged with the duty of revising all
| these adjudicated claims in accordance with
this new construction and such changed regu
| lations as TO proof and ratings Under these
| changes thousands OF pensions have been sus
pended without notice. and thousands of pen
sioners have been dropped from the rolls.
To emphasize the viciousness OF the situation
and accusation, we learn that il is said, as
! though by authority, that sit is expected thai
any of the pensioners summarily suspended
or dropped viii be able to prove that they are
| still entitled to the pensions of which they have
been deprived, thus saying in uncertain
voice that the burden is not upon the party
alleging fraud, but that the government which
they had preserved shall first brand with in
fanny by the charge, then sentence, and, after
the STIGMA had been effective, then concede II
them. whose barriers and support of character
| have been thus undermined, the pitiful privi
lere of moving for new trial upon the GROUND
| of newly discovered evidence.
The committee also reported the fol
lowing resolution:
| Resolved That, as the commissioner of pen
| siors, by his recent Withdrawals of the obnox
ious rulings which have been so generally con
| dc mined, has virtually acknowledge the incor
| rectness of of such rulings, deem 1t his duty
| to at once restore 10 the rolls the thousands ci
| pensioners now stanGi-g illegally suspended
The report was unanimously adopted