Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-12
erai c. c. Jones and the quartermaster gen
erai' J. w. Burst, for their efficiency.
Gain In Mcmberxhfu.

erai, J. w. Burst, for their efficiency
Gain In Mcmberxhfp,
The membership Of the Grand Army,
June 80, 1894, was 1850 and the gain
during the year was 1910, from the fol-
lowing sources: By muster-in, 1852; by
transfer, 5,554; by reinstatement, 1S,471, and
from delinquent reportsJ 9,3Is. TO offset
these gains there were losses of IS, 1856 from
the following sources: By death. 7,36S: hon
cratic discharge, 1.437; transfer. $685. sus-
PENSIONS. S3,5S9: dishonorable discharge
40; delinquent reports. S,65S. Members re-
naming in good standing June 30 1895,
SI1.ao6; remaining suspended 40, 600
lie co.nnander-in-cbief said that he had
urged all posts to appoint special commit
tees on rerstatements to cali or every sus-
pei ded comrade and settle with him in
scne way, and get hiE back into the ranks
of the Grand Army.
Pension Legislation.
Upon the subject Of pensions. Command
er-in-Chief LAWYER said:
I'VE know that all the legislation enacted
by Congress in the interest of the old SOL
der has been brought about by or through
the influence of the Grand Army of the Re
public, and those of US who are more for
tunate. physically, than others, propose to
keep it up just as long as We live. And
while we are not asking for any new pen
sion legislation, We do ask and insist that
when a Jaw is passed by Congress, that its
provisions as intended by them shall be
carried out, and not miSconstrued and mis-
applied by any man or set of men of any
party who may be in power. l am not a
lawyer. but l know the verdict of any court
of loyal men would be that after a man
has furnished the proofs and has been
granted pension, that pension cannot be
taken away from him without due process
of law, know this is being done, how
ever, all over the land, for have seen'the
evidences of 1t in every department in
which l have been-pensions reduced from
81 to ~ and from IS to Sc. and many cut
off entirely.
Then, again, man who applied for a
pension two and three years ago will re-
ceive a notice that his claim is rejected.
thea notified that his case is reopened and
allowed, but only from the time of reopen
ing ing thus cheating a worthy man out of
$500 or so. Many of our comrades thus
dealt with are not able to bring suit to
test the constitutionality of this sort of
ruling OF a pension commissioner. I
would. therefore, recommend that the in
coming counsel of administration be EN-
powered to select a case and prosecute the
same.
1T has been the custom of encampments
TO appoint a committee to prepare some
testimonial for the retiring commander in
chief. l recommend that no such commit
tee be appointed this year, but that this
money be used in making a test case as
to the constitutionality of the act of June
q, $780,
Memorial Day.
General Lawler spoke feelingly of the
observance of Memorial day, which, he
said Is becoming more sacred to us and to
the American people each year, for each
year our ranks are thinner and there are
more mounds to cover with flowers and
the old flag. Let us, he continued, see to it
that the 6av fc kan rfol dc
let US denounce in our own communities
any dissertation of the day. such as races
and games, excursions, balls and other
amusementS, of which there Is too much
on this day."
General Lawler alluded In an apprecia-
tive way to the work of the auxiliary So
cieties, the Woman's Relief Corps and the
Sons of Veterans.
Dismissal From Departments.
The communicative chief said
"On my first visit to Washington, D. c.
when 1 did not see the President, my
heart was panied as listened to the re-
cital of the sufferings of our comrades
and widows and orphans of our late COM
rades, caused by their dismissal from the
departments. and their belief in the power
OF our great organization to again restore
them to places from which they claim
they were dropped without cause. con-
WINGED me that we ought to have special
committee to look after and help them.
l do, therefore, recommend that my sue
eessor be empowered to appoint commit
tee Of three for this work"
Wesley Brown Accidentally Drowned.
About 10 o'clock this morning Wesley
Brown, an eighteen-year-old colored boy,
fell into the river while at work on coal
barge which was tied up at Littlefield's
wharf. Before assistance could be rendered
he sank for the last time, and was drowned.
The body was recovered shortly afterward
and removed to the morgue. 1t is understood
that the mother and sister of the unfor-
tunate young man live in Pittsburg.
A Driver Slightly Hurt I'm n Runaway.