The morning call., 1893-09-08

pageant OF tonight, representing the
military history of the United States, in
tablsaux aad frsvrs ~. Tse sesiaDa,
bodies of the 6. A. Il. resumed their ses-
sons this morning. In the session of the
Grand Army proper, the committee on ad-
dress of the commander-in-chief presented
report indOrsing it in every particular,
and added: "The Grand Army of the Re-
public has no objection to the searchligbt
of investigation being turned on the pen
sion iist-the nations roll of honor-but it
does demand that it be a searchlight of
love for and not hatred toward the brave
men who bore the brunt of battle. or their
widows or orphans" The committee to de-
wise ways and means TO erect a monument
to the rank and file of the Union army at
Washington approved the organization
which came into existence at the, last en-
campment having the same end in view
This is known as the National Reunion
Monumental Association of Washington
City,"
Rev. A. B. Hendricks of West Liberty.
Ohio. was unanimously elected chaplain
in-chief.
The committee on pensions presented a
lengthy report regarding the disability act
sions. The report says the act was &C.
cepted by the surviving soldiers and by the
people in general as a settlement of the
question. Under the administration OF
that law the poorhouse gave I'D it's yeter-
ans. he who had borne the brunt Of battle
was cared for. and the most sacred trust
accepted and left as legacy to the nation
was faithfully administered. Within a
few months we hear with profound sor-
row and regret that all this must be
changed. To emphasize the vicousness
of the situation and of the accusation, we
learn that it is said, as though by author
ity, that it IL expected that few if ans of the
pensioners so summarily suspended or
dropped will be able to prove at they are
entitled to the pensions of which they
been deprived. thus saying in no uncertain
voice that the burden is not upon the party
alleging fraud. but that the Govern
ment. which they have preserved, will
brand them with infsmy by the charge
and sentence, and after the stigma has
been inflicted will then conceds to them
whose barriers and support of character
have thus been undermined the pitifuI
privilege of moving for a new trial upon
the ground of newly discovered evidence.
We deny that the Secretary of the Interior
and the Commissioner of Pensions have
any such power. We insist that the ad-
Indicating division Of the Pension Office,
acting under the direction and supervision
of the Commissioner of Pensions and the
Secretary of the Interior, are tribunals
established by authority of law for the
settlement of pension claims, and their
decisions are entitled to full faith and
credit, and cannot be legally imppached
when a change of administration occurs.
except for fraud. and upon charges being
preferred and evidence adducrd in support
thereof. We insist that when charges are
made they must aud sh, uld be limited
in their operations to the future work of
the Office and not the past. We demand
that there be no backward step In pension
legislation or administration; that no
pensioner be deprived OF his property with
out due process of law; that the presump-
tion be in favor of honesty and fair deal
ing; that the poor and lowly shall not be
put to unnecessary, expensive or Oppres-
sive processes TO preserve their meager
pittances; that the sacred trust in favor of
those who have borne the heat Of battle be
sacredly observed and administered. and
we do now solemnly and deliberately de.
clare that every presumption should be in
favor of the records So made; that no pre-
sumption of fraud shall be indu ged in
in pensions so accorded until after charges
have been made and evidence 10 support
thereof has been produced, OF which