The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-09-08

came into existence at the last encamp-
ments having the same end in view. This
IS known as the National Reunion Mon
umental Association of Washington
city,
Rev. A. 5. Hendricks of West Liberty,
Ohlos was unanimously elected chaplain
ln-chief
The committee on pensions presented q
lengthy report regarding the disability
act OH une, go, and the recent suspensions.
The report says, this act was accepted by
The surviving soldiers and by the people
IN general as settlement of the question.
Under the administration Of that law the
poor house gave up its veterans; he who
had borne the battle was cared for and
the most sacred trust accepted and left as
legacy to the nation, was faithfully
administered. Within few months we
hear with profound sorrow and regret
that all this must be changed e
emphasize the viciousness of the situation
and accusation. We learn that 1t is said,
as though by authority, that il IS ex-
pected that many of the pensionersso sum-
marlly suspended or dropped will be able
10 prove that 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 that the government which
they have represented shall be branded
by infamy by the charge.
We demand that there be no backward
step in pension legislation or admins
tration; no pensioner be deprived OF his
property without due process of law;
that presumption be in favor of honesty
and fair dealing; that the poor and loWly
not be put to unnecessary, expensive or
oppressive processes to preserve their
meagre pittances: that the sacred trust
ia favor of those who have borne the
battle be sacredly observed and admins
tered; and we de now solemnly and de-
should be made in favor of records SC
made; that no presumption of fraud
shall be lndulged in against them
whose barriers and support of character
have thus been undermined for the pitt
full privilege & moving for a new trial
upon the ground OF newly discovered
evidence. We deny that the secretary OF
the interior and commissioner of pensions
have any such mower. We insist that the
adjudicating divisions of the pension
office, acting under the direction and
supervision of the commissioner of pen
sions and secretary of the interior, are
tribunals established by authority of law
for the settlement OF pension claims.
Their decisions are entitledsto full faith
and credit and cannot be legally I'M
peached when a change of administration
preferred and evidencp adduced in support
thereof. We insist when a change Is
made, they must and should be limited in
their operations to the future work OF the
Office and not the past, and that no
change be made in the pensions so ac-
corded until after charges are made and
evidence in support thereof produced, OF
which charge each pensioner has had full
notice and opportunity 20 be heard. Be
1t further
Resolved, That as the commissioner of
pensions, by his recent Withdrawals of
obnoxious rulings, which have been SO
generally condemned, has virtually ac-
knowiedged the incorrectness of such
rulings, we deem it his further duty to
sc once restore to the rolls the thousands
of pensions now standing illegally sus-
pended.
The report was unanimously adopted
and the encampment instructed the COM
mander-in-chief to carry the question Of
the legality of the suspension of PEN
sions up to the Supreme Court of the
United States.
The committee on resolutions made
many recommendations, several of which
were adopted, including a resolution ask
ing that veterans be given preference IN
public service and a memorial asking that
the Grand Army hold services on Wash
ington's birthday. The new national
officers were then installed and each made
q short address.
The COMMUNICATIVE chief selected DIR.
George. r. Graham of Maryland, as sur
geon- general, J. F. Leach of Massachu-
setts, Acknowledgements; Louis Wagner of
Philadelphia. continued as quartermas-
ter-general.
The convention then adjourned sine
die.
Among the members OF the national
council OF administration are: Arizona,
H. B. Lighthize; Oregon, S. R. Reeves;
Idaho, W. A. Dodge; California, ). B.
Fuller; Utah, Rev. T. c. Tiff.