The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-09-08
THE MATTER OF PENSIONS
Leng!hy Repor. by Committee of
the G. A. R. Encampment
at indianapolis.
No Objection to the Search Light
of investigation Being
Turned On.
but 1t Should Bo tho Search Light of
Love and not Of Hstred-Tho
w. II. G.

1NDIANApoL1s Sept. 7.-At the encamp-
ment to-day the committee on address of
the oomnander-in' chief presented report
endorsing it In every particular and adding:
1.-THE Grand Army Of tho Republic has no
objection TO the search light Of inyeatiga-
tion being turned on tho pension list, the
nations roll OF honor. but Il does demand
shat IL be the search light Of love for. and
not hatred toward. tho brave men who bore
the battle. or their widows or Orphans"
Rev. A. B. Hendrioks. of West Liberty,
Ohio. was unanimously elected chaplain
in-chief. The committee on pensions pre-
sonted lengthy report. Regarding the
disability act of June. 1890, 4nd reoent sus-
pensions, the report says: This act was
accepted by surviving soldiers and by peo-
plo Ia general as a settlement OF the ques-
tion. Under the administration of that
law the Door 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 tho nation was faithfully ad-
nlinistered. Within few months We
hear With profound sorrow and regret that
| all this must be changed. To emphnaize
the viciousness OF tho situation and acousa-
tion We learn that II is said, az though by
authority. that IL 10 expected that any OF
the pensioners 80 sumnlarily suspended or
dropped will be able to prove they are
entitled to the pensions Of which they have
been deprived. thus saying in no unce in
voice that the burden Is not upon the party
alleging fraud. but the government which
they have represented shall brand with
infamy by tho charge, then sentence. and
after the stigma has been effected then
concsds to them, whose barriets and sup
port of character have thus been undei-
mined, the pltiful privilege OF moving for
a new trial upon the ground of newly dis
covered evidence.
"We deny that the secretary Of the in
terror and commissioner of pensions have
any such power. We insist that the ad-
Indicating divisions OF the pension office,
acting under the supervision Of the com
missioner of pensions and sec etary of the
thoiity of law for the settlement of pension
! clstms. Their decisions are entitled to full
faith and credit and cannot be legally i'm
penchsd whom = change of administr alton
occurs. except for fraud. upon charges pre-
ferred and evidence adduoed In support
| thereof.
1--WE insist that whom changes are made
they must and should be limited in their
operations TO the future work of the office
and not the past. We demand that there
be ho backward step In pension legislation
or administration; that no pensioneT be
deprived of his property without due pro-
cess Of law; that tho presumption shall be
in favor of honesty and fair dealing; that
the poor and lowly shall not be put to un-
neoessAry, expensive or oppressive prooes-
sss TO preserve their nsagre pittAnoes;
| that the saored trust in favor OF those who
have borne the battle be saoredly OBJ
served and administsred. and ws do now
evsty Presumption should be In favor OF the
records so made; that no presumption
Of fraud shall be indulRed In against them
and NO change Be made in pensions 30 Ac-
corded until after charges are made and
evidence In support thereof Produced. Of
which charge each pensioner has had full
NOTICE and opportunity 10 be hoard.
"Be IL further resolved. That as the
commissioner of pensions, by his recent
Withdrawals Of obnoxious rulings. which
| have been 80 generally condemned. has vir-
tunlly Acknowledged the incorrectness of
| such rulings, We deem 1t his further duty
to at once restore to tho rolls the thousand Dis
of pensions now standing illegally sus-
pen ded."
The report was unanimously adopted and
! the enoampmsnt instructed the commander
| In chief to carry the question of the legal
ity of the suspension Of pensions ny to tho
sunreme court of Tho United States.
The new national officers wore then in
stalled and each made a short address.
The commands,-in-c chief has selected DIR.
George X. Graham Of Maryland. surgeon
general; j. L. Leach, of Massachusetts, ad-
jutant-Reneral, and Louis Wagner, of Phil
| adelphia, 10 continued as qua termastcr-
general. The convention then adjourned
| sine die.