The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-12-15
PENSION LEGISLATION.
Protest OF the G. A. K Against Demo
cratic Enactwents-


At its twenty-seventh national en-
campment, held in Indianapolis early
in September last. the Grand Army of
the Republic approved the report of its
committee on pensions, the substance
of which is as follows:
ITO bind up the nations wounds; to care for
him who shall have borne the battle. and for
his widow and orphan" Thus spoke Lincoln
the great Lincoln the lust, standing reverent-
ly. with uncovered head, in the immediate pres
ence of q cruel and devastating war. that had
already lasted four years, the end of which, al
though so near. his prophetic vision was not
able 70 see: speaking to. for and by the author
ity of the American people, concerning one OF
the supreme duties OF the hour and the future,
when entering for the second time upon the
discharge OF trust committed TO him by that
people
Within few short weeks that end so long
hoped for had come; but his dying eyes were
not privileged to see the full fruition of his Ia
bors, and the work so well begun and carried
on by him fell into other hands. charged with
all the trusts that the conditions implied aud
required and those " no had borne the battle"
after so many days turned their happy feet
| toward their lonR deserted homes
a grateful nation met and received them, and
! gladly showered upon them the plaudits and
| the honors they had so well and hardly earned.
These bearers of the battle = were then.
| in the main, in the prime and vigor OF young
manhood. with all the honors and posi-
| bilities Of life before them. with all
/ the hopes born of lofty courage and
| patriotic and successful achievement beating
| high in their bosoms: and they little needed
\ and still less cared for material aid from the
| country they had preserved and made free,
| save where loss OF life or limb or impaired
health and broken constitutions were presently
] visible; and for such. in the main. ample and
| prompt provision was made by that country.
But, as the years passed by. middle life 100
frequently developed.nto premature old age, and
! youth passed into ripper years with galloping
/ feet: and alas. too soon the exultant and
hearty soldier found that In the race of life
there were weights upon his feet and burdens
| upon his shoulders. the result of premature
I and overheavy draughts upon his vitality,
that sadly interfered with successful competi-
| ton in the crowd and iostle OF the fierce
! struggle for advancement And still the ration
sought to keep abreast Of the neces sites OF her
! heroes, and by additional enactments to meas
; urably make provision for the necessities Of
/ those who had borne the battle.
| quarter OF a century had elapsed. The
| young had become cid, the'midile aged had te-
come feeble and the old had crosse ID the river
Time, with its ruthless fingers. had Joined
hands with the ravages Of war, and the two
combined had proved burden upon the aging
soldier greater than he could bear; ard the cry
credit, honor or coed name Of he nation many
/ who had followed the flag and faced the fiery
furnace OF battle had in want fallen by the
wayside. and in the poorhouses were looking
longingly for the relief and comfort Of the
grave.
4 Their sympathizing comrades and n patriotic
people. with one accord. voiced the sentiment
that such was not humane administering OF
. the sacred trust recognized and announced by
Lincoln. As to what the remedy should b.,
mems minds differed Many possibly n1l or-
{ ity. OF the survivors OF the war believed that
the time had fully come when The name of every
honorably discharged survivor should be placed
upon the pension roll Others. denying The
! right that they should receive au-ht from their
( country through the pension roll. stoutly
sisted the demand
I II under such circumstances and deal
Eng with these conflicting opinions that con-
Gress enacted the disability pension Law %
June, 1890 This act was accepted ~ the
viving soldiers and b. the peoplefn general as
a settlement OF the question: Under the ad-
ulinisiratiou OF that law the roorhouss rave Up
its Veterau-he who had borne the bait was
cared for; aud thus the sacred trust accepted
and left as a Legacy TO the nation WAS faith
fully administered
Within IA few months we hear with profound
sorrow and regret that al this mus. be
changed: that the construction or the law has
been changed and the regulatio aud rules in
10 PROOF oul uuuSE " ulOEt
than 10000 Claims have been allowed and paid
have been revoked. and another construction OF
the Law has been established, and new rcgua-
items for proof anu ratings, less favorable to
claimants. have been adopted: that a botri Of
revision has been organized in The pension Office.
charged with the duty o. revising al IL Sc adj
iudicaied claims in accordance with this new
construction. and such changed regulations a.
10 proof and ratings: that under these
: changes thousands OF pensions have been
SUSPENDED without notice and thousands
of pensioners have been dropped from the
rolls
To emphasize the viciousness of the situation
and accusation We learn that 1t is said As though
by authority. that 1T is expected that ulni VI
the pensioners so summarily Suspended or
dropped will be able To prove that thew are
still entitled 10 the pensioa OF which they have
been deprived thus saJing in 10 uncertain
voice that the burden is not upoa the party
alleging the fraud. but that the government
which they have preserve, shall first brani
with Infarny by the charge, their sentence, aud
after the stigma has been effective then con-
cede TO them. whose barriers and support Of
character have been thus undermined the
pitiful privilege of moving for new trial upon
the ground OF newly discovered e>ideLce: and
this not upon strangers, aliens or foes, but upon
our own flesh and blood comrades. the
saviors of the natioa-thOse who. in the lam
guage of Lincoln the Immortal have borne
the battle"
We derry that the secretary Of the interior
and the commissioner Of pensions have any
such power We insist that adludicating di-
visions Of the pension ONCE, acting under the
direction and supervision of the commissioner
OF pensions and secretary OF the interior are
tribunals established by authority OF law for
the settlement Of pension claims, and that
their decisions are entitled to full faith and
credit and cannot be legally impeacbed when
a change Of administration occurs. except for
fraud upon charges preferred and evidence ad-
duced in support thereof We insist that
where changes are made in The construction OF
the law. rules OF evidence and schedule OF rat
ings, unfavorabie TO claimants, they must and
should be limited in their operation 10 the fu-
lure work OF the Office. and not the past.
Therefore. the Grand Army OF the Republic.
in national enCampmeut assembled, speaking
for that great army OF beloved comrades many
Of them too poor. too bruised, too broken. 10
Withstand the strong arm of the government
when administered with an unfriendly hand,
proud OF the good name and fair fame Of the
American volunteer soldier. interested far be-
You'd any other person or organization that the
pension roll shall in truth aid in fact be-what il
is in iheory-a roll OF honor" and ever mindful
OF its cardinal principle. To preserve honor
and purity ir public Affairs" scouts and denies
these indiscrimin1ie charges OF universal fraud
ans resents the impuiation that because soma
unworthy survivors may be found. that discrediI
shall re cast upon the entire roll and This
great body OF brave and patriotic citizens shall
stand disg-aced be fore the country. We de-
raud that there shall be no backward step in
pension legislation or al minis.raton: that no
pensiouer shall b. depriv ed Of his propert
without due process o: Inv: hat the presump-
ton shall be in favor of honesty and fair deai
Ing: that the poor and Iowly shall not be put 70
unnecessary. expensive or oppressive process
10 preserve their r1eayer piitances: that the
saer.,5 fr-i-r in favor Of those " 10 have horne
the battle shall be sacredly observed and
sacredIr administered: AMI We do now solemn