The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-04
TOPURGE THE PENSION ROLL
Plan Suggested by G. A. r. Post and
Approved by Commander WeisSert.
How the Government officials Can Be Assisted
in Exposing Frauds and Furnishing Un-
worthy Pensioners if Any Are Found.

NEW YORK, June 3.-The submission to
Lafayette Post. G. A. R.. of q series of res
olutions passed By Noah L. Farnham Post,
touching the subject of pensions. led to the
appointment. on March IL. Of q committee
of fifteen comrades 90 consider the subject
of pensions. On April %. ct Q final meet
ing of o subcommittee appointed TO pre-
pare resolutions. the following. which arc
now for the first time made public. were
adopted:
Resolved, That this post deprecates and re-
sents wholesale charges against the q. A. r.,
against pensioners and against claimants Tor
pensions, and against those who are engaged in
the prosecution or allowance OF such claims, as
rejecting unjustly upon honorable and patriotic
men, and insists that every charge shall be
promptly and thoroughly investigated, to the
end that any unworthy person may be speedily
exposed and punished, and that the worthy may
be publicly exoperated and yindicated.
Resolved. That it is the opinion of this post
that the membe of our order can render useful
ana active assistance ass, In exposing frauds upon
OF the existing list, or so much thereof as would
show the pensioners name, residence and serv-
Ice, giving regiment in which the service Is ale
legged, and basis OF pension. together with arefer
enee to the law under which the pension Is grant
ed, should be sent to the assistant adjutant-gen-
jutantgeneraI OF each department number
OF such lists, bearing the names only OF
the pensioners residing in that department.
such department. such lists to be distributed
one TO each post in such department. with In
structions TO reportto the said assistant adJutanr
general immediately upon ascertainment OF the
facts, any and every instance where. upon in-
vestigation by tire post or its members q fraud
ulent case may be found, suoh reports to DO
forthwith transmitted by the said assistant adj
jutant-general TO the Commissioner of Pensions.
or other designated officer OF the government
whose duty it Is 10 adjndicate pension claims.
is hell Of Of ar n
as to all pensions not yet granted, just con-
clusiOn upon the claims therefor could best be
arrived at If printed copies of such claims, or so
much thereof as would show the claimants
name, residence, service and reason for applica-
ton, together with q reference 10 the law npder
which the claim may be sent 10 the asslstanr
the assistant radjutant-generalo of each department.
number OF such lists bearing the names only
of the applicants residing in that department. or
State equal TO the number of postd in such de-
partment, such lists 10 be distributed. one to
each post In such department. with instructions
to report within thirty days any facts bearing on
the said applications that can be ascertained by
such post as to any applicants who may appear
to be unworthy under said law, such reports to
be forthwith transmitted by the said assistant
adjutant-general to the Commissioner OF PEN
siOns or other designated officer of the govern
ment whose duty 1t Ia TO adJudicate pension
claims.
partment Commander Joseph p. Cieary,
who approved them and for arded them TO
Commander in Chief Weissert. Com
mander Weissert In his Endorsement. says:
The resolutions are respectfully returned with
my entire approval, so far as resolutions aud
are concerned, they being In conformity with
the principles and practices OF the order. As To
the methods suggested, while they seem TO me
TO be excellent, yet the question as to how the
Grand Army can best cooperate with the gov
ernment IN these important measures should be
decided by the National Encampment, and, while
l approve OF publishing the resolutions, it
should be understood that the National Encamp-
ment will determine whether these or other
methods are the best calculated TO obtain the de-
sired objects