Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-13
BOYS IN BLUE
Sco:e the Administrations
Infamous Pension Policy.
Vote Overwhelmingly in Favor of
Louisville for Next Encampment.
Illinois and Indiana Present Candidates for
Mkt comman ndsr.in-c Chief.

PITTsBURG, Pa, Sept. l2.-When the
report of the committee on pensions was
read in the G. A. r. meeting, today, cheers
punctuated every paragraph. The report
says: Your committee would reiterste
the sentiment and renew the recommend
alton touching the rights of the Union vet
eran and the duties, of the government
toward him, embodied in our report sub.
mitted to the 27tli rational eneampment.
After the adoption ofthat report there was
change in the action of the pension
department in its rules for the suspension
Of payment without hearing, and many of
whose pensions had been suspended under
that unfair rule have been restored to the
rolls.
Your committee is of the opinion that
there is still just cause for complaint in the
technical rulings and requirements of the
pension department which work unfavor-
ably to the applicant and result IN an unjust
discrimination against his interests; that
doubts are unjustly decided adversely to
the claimant, which under any reasonable
liberal construction should have been
decided 10 his favor.
"Order No. 229 from the department of
the interior, bureau of pensions, issued
June 10, 1898, is especially obnoxious as
establishing needless and hard requirements
in the preparation and Forwarding of testi-
uony in the support of claims. We insist
hat evidence, very often procured after
ears of effort and at great expensive of
lime and money on the part of the appli-
cant, should not be thrown out for mere
lack of form or want of compliance with
any purely technical or arbitrary rules.
We urge that this order be so modified rs
to provide that all evidence presented be
fairly examined.
"l our committee feel constrained to call
the attention of the national encampment
20 the fact that large part of the appropri
ttions made by the 52d Congress for the
payment of pensions for the year ending
June 80, 1854, was unused and turned back
into the treasury, while hundred of thous-
tnds of unadjudicated claims remained
pending in the pension bureau. At the
same time great credit was claimed on
behalf of Congress and the administration
lpon grounds that the aggregate appropria-
ions We're reduced, yet it appears the only
-eduction made was effected by cutting
lown the appropriation for pensions SO that
Union veterans alone feel the effects Of this
-pirit of economy.
at is a significant fact that while a
period of II years elapsed between the end
ing of the war with Mexico and the close
IF the war of the Union, the amount now
expended for the pensioning of soldiers of
the Me xican war is ncreasing and the amount
expended for pensions to Union veterans is
diminishing. We feel compelled to say that
bor 10 ovid ly ha nf hot ba
administrative and legislative departments,
feeling of hostility to our worthy and suf
fering comrades, wards of the nation, who
bore the heat and burden of the battles,
ceiling which certainly should not exist in
/ country saved by their devotion.
while the Grand Army of the Republic
is pledged to purity in public affairs and
Fill therefore, sympathize and cooperate
with any and all proper efforts at economy,
o the end that all public burdens may be
reduced to minimum, we view with ex-
RENE regret the false economy which
,hayes and pares to the quick, at the
Expense of honor, justice and patriotism.
"We insist upon an honest, patriotic con-
,tructi0n and administration of the existing
pension laws and that every just claim be
speedily settled and whatever is found due
shall be paid while the applicant is alive to
receive it. We are confident that the loyal
,entiments of the country will condemn the
policy that attempts to recuperate the pub
nc treasury at the expense largely of the
,lender purses of our disabled heroes,
sidows and orphans"
The adoption of the report was moved
and seconded by dozen voices, and the
report was adopted with deafening shout.
The matter of location of the next
,ncampment was considered. Jurt after
he welcoming exercises, today, Henry Wat
srson made an eloquent speech presenting
lie claim of Louisville. Now the invitation
Of St. Paul was presented by Ex-Comman-
ler-in-C Chief Rea and Col. Davidson. When
he question was put the viva voce vote in
favor of Louisville was so overwhelming
hat the opposition, instead of demanding
call of the roll bowed aoquiesence.
On the call of departments for nomina-
ions Tor commanaer-in-ch chief, Ivan n.
Walker of Indiana, and Col Thomas G
Lawler of Illinois, were named in enlo-
sistic speeches The election was made the
special order for noon, Thursday. Ad-
iourned.
Eight hundred delegates and visitors par
ticipsted in the opening sessions of the
welfth annual convention of the Women's
Relief Corps. R-p1rt of National Secre-
tsry, Mrs. Sarsh F.. Phillips, showed total
of 139 o9l, gain of 4751 over
last years report. National Chaplain Har-
riet J. Boge, Hartford, CT, reported 299,-
l09 soldiers graves decorated May so, 1894
Less than 100 delegates were present at
the annual convention of ladies of the G.
A. r. National President Mrs. j. Weth-
erp made an address.
One thousand ex-prisoners of war were
ia line. this afternoon, in the annual pa
rade of the organization. The reception
rendered, tonight. by the citizens commit
- in the big Westinghouse building at
rinton. 10 miles distant, to delegates,
Grand Army visitors and representative cit
,zens, WAS one .f the most brilliant social
functions in the history of the State. Six
thou. and guests ere present. Governors
Pst.ison and Mckinley aud the Confederate
G neral John E. Gordon, were the special
lions OF the occasion.