Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-11-14

and ratines, under which more than
three hundred shousand claims have
been allowed and paid, have bean revok-
Cd, and another construction OF The law
has bssu established, and now regula-
tions for proof and ratings, las favor.
able TO claimants, hare been adopted (;
that board Of revision has BEEN organ
ised IN tho Pension Once, charged With
the duty Of revising all these adludicat-
cd claims In accordance with this new
construction, and such changed regula-
lions a. 70 proof and ratings that unoer
these changes, thousands OF pensions
have been suspended without notice and
Thousands Of pensioners have been drop
ped from the rolls. It 70 claimed that
an adjudication Of q pension settles moth
Ing; that the Secretary Of the Interior
and Commissioner Of Pensions are In
vested by law with absolute power over
the pension roll, and that Il 10 within
their legal authority 70 reope.i and TO
wise pensions allowed by their prcdeces-
sors under regulations adopted by them,
whenever they sce nc to change tho rules
Of evidence and the scale OF ratings un-
der which the allowance was made; and
this In country Of law, where from the
very infancy OF the government the
United States, by its organic Law, ID 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 relation
and condition 10 life fraud Ia never pre-
sumed, but must clearly proved,
and every person shall have the
right to face his accuser. To emphasize
the viciousness Of the situation and &C
cusation, we learn that Il Ia said, a.
though by authority that vt 10 expected
that many Of the pensioners 90 summa-
rily suspended or dropped will be able to
prove that that they are still entitled to
tho pension of which they have been de-
prived"; thus saying In no uncertain
voice that the burden 10 not upon the
party alleging the fraud, but that the
government which they had preserved
shall first brand with infamy by the
charge, then sentence, and after the
stlgmA has been effective, then concede
TO them, whose barriers and support OF
character have been thus undermined,
the pltiful privilege Of moving for u
new trial upon the ground OF newly dis
covered evidence; and this not upon
strangers, aliens or foes, but upon our
own flesh aud blood, our comrades, the
sayiours Of the nation-those who, In
the language of Lincoln, the Immortal,
have "borne the battle"
We deny that the Secretary OF the In
terror and Commissioner OF Pensions
have any such power. We Insist that
the adjudicating divisions OF the
Pension Office, acting under the direc-
ton and supervision Of the Commission
or of Pensions and Secretary OF the
Interior, are tribunals established by
authority OF law fog the settlement OF
pension claims. and that their decisions
are entitled to full faith and credit, and
cannot be legally impeached when q
change of administration occurs, except
for fraud, upon charges preferred and
evidence adduced In support thereol.
We insist that where changes are
made In the construction OF the law,
rules of evidence and schedule OF rat
ings, unfavOrable to claimants, they
must and should be limited 10 their
operations to the future work OF the
office, and not the past. An er post
tdcto regulation Is as repugnant to our
sense OF justice a. an er post Jdeto law,
and we protest against the adoption ana
enforcement Of any such regulations Ia
the matter Of pension claims.
Therefore, The Grand Army of the Republic
| In National Encampment assembled, speaking
for that great army Of beloved comrannes many !,
Withstand the strong arm OF the government
when administered with an unfriendly hand
proud Of the good name and fair lame OF tnt
American volunteer soldier. In.crss.Sa IN, ~,
tension roll shall In truth and In fact be-Ihs
/ ID IL In theOry-a "roll Of honor, and ever mind
full OF its cardinal principle, ITO preserve honor
and purity In public Affair." scouts ana 9 &c. ns
and resents the imputation that because SOM
unworthy survivors may he found, that discretli
shall he cast upon the entire roll, and this grea
body Of brave and patriotic eit,sn: sn.i, ' ~.
| there shall he no backward step In pension iegts
lation or administration; that no pensioner shal
be deprived Of his property without due proces
honesty and fair dealing; that the poor and low
ly shall not he put TO unnecessary, expensNe :.
oppressive process 10 preserve their meagre PHI
tsnces; that the sscred trust In favor OF thSs
observed aud sacredly administered; and We III
| now solemnly and deliberately
Resolve, That the Grand Army Of the Repub
Nc looks with solicitude, not TO say alarm, upol
the proposition, that after SUFFICIENT tribunal
have been established by Law before which ques
tions have been presented and adjudicated, up0l
evidence submitted and examined. and up0l
which grateful nation has accorded pension
In this their hour Of need 10 those who In ia hou
Of need stood between it and death, the ofiicer
Of that nation. Administering public trust, hay
arbitrarily deprived, without notice or an oppor
tunity to be heari, our needy and distre.se'
comrades Of the rights thus solemnly adjudse'
and connned 10 them.
We declare, That every presumption shoul'
i be made In favor of such records % male; ina
no presumption Of fraud shall he INDUCED u
| against them, and that no change be made IN IN
pensions 90 accorded until amer charges hay'
been made and evidence In support there0
has been produced Of which charge each pen
sloner has had full notice and . full and complet
/ opportunity 20 be heard In supp0Tt Of the pen
i sion 90 accorded to him; and u 10 further
Resolved, That ~ the Commissioners OF Fen
sions, by his recent Withdrawals OF the obnoxl
Gus rulings which had been % generally con
demned, has virtually acknowledged the incor
| rectness Of such rulings, We deem h his furthe
duty 10 at once restore 10 the rolls the thousand
of pensioners now standing illegally suspended
| 1 II II. w WARNER, Committee
ii