The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1894-02-08
State Encampment.


partment of Maine, held its annual En-
campment at Bangor, Tuesday aud
Wednesday of this week. The National
Commander, Capt. Jack Adams, Govern
or Cleayes, Adjutant General Conner
were among the distinguished visitors.
About 300 delegates were in attendance
Tuesday. Commander Wainwright
Cushing delivered his annual address.
In abiding to pensions he said;
In the matter of pensions and other
aid to cur needy comrades, our good
State has been both just and generous.
| would recommend the committee on
pensions urge our next Legislature to
make at least AS generous appropriations
for the object as were made by the last
Legislature.
Concerning the subject of national
pensions, something ought to be said,
and said plainly. Let us approach the
subject candidly and without passion.
We gratefully acknowledge that our
government has, as ii rule, dealt gener-
ously with its veteran defenders.
| The public sentiment of "A grateful coun-
try has found expression in the progress
felt for few years that the time had
come when every veteran defender of
the Union should receive Il pension from
the government which he helped to save.
In lieu of this the law of 1890 was pass
ed, by which every disabled Union sol
der, and his needy dependents, are en
titled to pension of from Sc to Sl2 per
month. according to the measure of disa-
Ting the pension question for some
years to come. 1t began to be admins
tered faithfully and literally and the
hearts of the old soldiers were made
glad. But To- a new thing has arisen
under the sun. The cry of fraud arises
from no less source than the Executive
chamber of the United Safes. Thou
sands of our comrades have had their
pensions suspended or wholly with
drawn without previous warning or OPP.
portunity to be heard in defence. while
the pension department has begun IA
panstaking search to see if their pen
sions were not secured under fraudulent
representation. SO swift. universal and
unerring has been the condemnation of
the action of the commissioner of PEN
slons in taking away the pension while
the investigation of fraud is pending,
that this regulation has been rescinded.
and hencetorth the pension will be con
tinued Until the investigation is closed,
and the fraud has been proven, at least
to the sa,i- faction of the pension depart
meht.
He commended the order of Command
er-in-Chief Adams, requesting any COM
rade knowing OF person rec wing
pension wrongfully 10 forward proof to
the Pension Office, Washington, and to
G. \. X. headquarters, and endorse the
action OF the National Encampment at
indianapolis on this subject.
The annual report of Assistant Adiu-
tant General II. c. Vaughn showed l67
posts in good standing; total member
ship in good standing Dec. 81, 1893, .
275; loss by death, 200, the largest ever
reported in one wear; amount expended
in charities, S3I0S.0i; the number in
good standing is ISL less than last year.
The report of Assistant Quartermastcr
General 4. NJ Warren shows the total
assets to be Sl46l03. and the balance on
hand Ct S517 80. The report of Medical
| Direc,or W. H. True was read.
On Wednesday. }. Wesley Gilman of
Oakland, was elected Department com
mandcr. James +. Parsons was elected
senior vicc-commander; c. NJ. Chase,
junior vice-commander: w. ii. True,
medical director; Rev. c. y. southland.
chaplain. The Encampment closed
| Wednesday evening with Il grand camp
| fire in Norembega hall.