Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-12
UNION VETERAN UNION
Important Work Transacted at the Recent
National Convention;
to Tsensfer the Pension
Monument to Gen. Smith.

veteran OHlOu, helu Lima, ONO, 1TOI
August 9th to 10th, inclusive. resolutions
were adopted thanking Public Printer
Thomas E. Benedict for the manner ir
which he has treated the veterans of the
late war, especially members of the union
Resolutions were also adopted expressing
the appreciation of the veterans Of the sys
tenn introduced in the War Department by
Col. F. C. Ainsworth. officer in charge OF
make a prompt adjudication of claims OF
voring the transfer Of the pension office to
the War Department, where the military
and medical records are now on file,
A committee was appointed to urge upon
Congress the necessity for some legislation
in reference to pension matters. This COM
mittee is composed of the following: Cen
Baker, ex-member of Congress of Rochester
N. Y; Gen. George ]. Oaks, past national
commander, U. V. u, of Rochester, N, Y,
Gen. Long, Department of Michigan; Gen
ney. District of Columbia; Gen. S. S, Yoder
national commander; Gen. Wood, depart
ment commander, of Massachusetts,; Gen
Jacklin of Michigan, Gen. Rtchey of New
York. and others.
Work of the New Commander,
Gen. Louis F. Ellis of Lima, Ohio, was
elected commander-in-chief, U. v, u, TO,
the ensuing year; H. L. Street of Washing.
toE D. c., deputy commander-in-chief and
Col. Bfssell. second deputy commander-in.
chief Gen. Ellis was directed by the union
to order the committee appointed to urge
upon Congress the necessity for transfer.
ring the pension office to the War Depart.
n.ent. and other matters to call upon the
committee Of pensions of the House anC
Senate, and present to those bodies thei,
views in reference to the transfer of the
pension Office, and to prepare a bill some.
what on the lines of the service pension
hill, which would result, If passed, in doing
away with the pension agencies, an officer
being detailed from the retired list of the
regular army not higher than the rank OF
captain. who would be assigned to the var
icus congressional districts of the country
and who would muster the pensioners
every two months making returns to the
War Department, whereupon the paymas-
ter of the army would pay these pension
ers according to returns. 1t Is claimed
that this transfer of the pension office to
the War Department would save the gov
eminent at least $l1,0OO,0OO.
A Monument to Gen. Smith.
Gen. Ellis was also directed to take such
means as might be necessary to procure
requisite funds to erect monument SC
Gen. Green Clay Smith, late chaplain of
the national command. this monument to
be fitting tribute to the dead general as
well as a credit to the organization.
Gen. Ellis has instructed his deputy
commander in this oity to transmit a copy
of the resolutions referring to Col. Aims
worth and Public Printer Benedict to those
gentlemen; also a copy of the resolution re-
ferring to Gen. Smith to Mrs. Smith.
The veterans We're greatly pleased with
the character of their reception at Lima.
nearly every house OF. the town, whether
of the rich or of theI poor. being decorated
for the occa aston. An impressive feature of
the ceremonies Of the union was one con-
nected with the chaplain's chair, which
had been occupied by the late Gen Green
Clay Smith. This chair was decorated with
a suitable floral emblem in memory of the
late chaplain. and wasl carried through the
streets while dirge Was rendered by the
band. 1t was directed that the chair be
forwarded, as a meniehto, to Mrs. Green
Clay Smith. -
The meeting at Lima is regarded as one
of the most important ever held by the
Union Veteran Union, and as a result of
the resolutions there adopted it is expected
that an important move will be made dur
ing the coming winter to influence Congress
to carry out the wishes of the union, as indi-
Gated in the resolutions adopted.