The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-14
An Appeal to the People in
Reference to the Pruning
of Pensions.
DECREASES WERE DENOUNCED.
Resolutions Of Interest to Grand
Army Men Adopted During the
Closing Session.

ing citizens of Louisville and visitors from
abroad participated in the function, and
the array of beautiful women and gorgeous
toilets combined to create an enhancing
scene. General Lawler and Mrs. John A. Lo-
gan and Ex-Governor Simon Buckner and
Mrs. Wallace of Chicago gave reception
to the encampment officials and delegates
while the festivities were IN progress. The
exodus of visitors was on in earnest all
day, but tens of thousands whose faces are
turned toward Chattanooga and Chicka-
manga will remain over until Saturday
and Sunday. In every respect the encamp-
ment has been an overwhelming success.
When the delegates assembled to-day
several hundred failed to respond to the
rollcall and the absentees were roundly
scored by General Lawler, who objected to
the drudgery of the work being left for a
few. The report of the committee on pen
sions, composed of one representative from
each State and Territory, was listened to
with profound attention. In part it was
as follows
The representatives OF the people, in Con-
gress assembled, recognizing the deep senti-
ment of gratitude which justly pervades the
entire community, solemnly declared by ap-
propriate legislation that a pension once
granted upon acceptable and accepted evidence
constituted vested right, of which the pos
SCISSOR could not be deprived except by due
process of law, and we insist that this statutory
and patriotic provision be carried out with the
utmost good faith, to correspond with the high
character OF the obligation recognized and
owing. No Nation that is unmindful of its
duties to its defenders can expect that hearty,
ungrudging loyalty which is the pride and
glory of the American soldier; and we demand
for our comrades that just treatment which the
country gladly comedies. No niggardly cutting
down of pensions under the guise OF reissues;
no partial and grudging allowances that cut
here and pare there, with the full measure due
that the country owes TO its surviving
heroes Nothing short of full measure dealt
with an honest hand and liberal heart will
ever meet with the appreciation of the
American people, and for this we confidently
appeal to the grateful, patriotic entiment of
the whole people, and earnestly believe that
our appeal will not be in vain. Receding from
no position heretofore taken, reaffirming all
our previous declarations on tt subject, we
specially demand liberal and just construc-
ton of the laws passed for the benefit of the
pensioner, to the end that his declining years
may not be harassed with doubts born of dis
trust, or the difficulties thrown around him by
a rigorous and restricted construction of laws
passed in the effort to relieve his necessities.
Comrade Semple of Pennsylvania de-
ciared that the report did not go far
enough. The encampment should demand
the restoration of every veteran dropped
from the rolls, with the payment to him of
every dollar of which he had been unlaw-
fully deprived. This sentiment was
cheered, but the report was unanimously
adopted.
There was spirited debate over reso-
luton submitted by the Department of the
Potomac, praying Congress to pass law
imposing penalty for the violation of the
veterans pension law.
The committee reported against the reso-
luton, but General Adams of Massachu-
sets, General Anderson of Washington,
Corporal Tanner of New York and Town
send of Ohio made forcible speeches in its
behalf. The opposition contended that it
was proposed to ask for such legislation
as had already been branded as class legis-
lation and therefore null and void.
ballot was demanded and the COM
mittee was defeated, the resolution being
adopted by large majority. A batch OF
resolutions went through with little dis
cussion. One declared against civil serv-
ice Determinations against veterans on
account of age. Another favored an in
crease of the present pensions allowed to
the widows of ex-soldiers and sailors to
the uniform figure of $12. Still another
condemned the violation OF section 1854,
Revised Statutes, by the removal of vet
Grams in Government employ.
The proposal to establish military park
at Vicksburg, Miss, was approved, and
also resolution declaring that the stars.
and stripes should float from every school
house. The encampment voted in favor
of a celebration of the organization OF the
Grand Army Post. A resolution demand
ing an amendment to the interstate COM
merce laws prohibiting railroads from
making determinations in the matter of
rates against veterans to future encamp-
ments, and another indorsing the project
for the establishment of a national univer-
sity OF patriotism was reported upon adj
versely by the committee, and its action
was sustained.
A resolution on Memorial day which
was an indirect reference to the dedication
of the Confederate monument at Chicago
last May caused considerable discussion.
Ile resolution was luIeUQeu 10 cOHuemn
the dissertation of what was termed the
most sacred day of the year to G. A. r.
men, and this excited much unfavorable
expression of opinion. One delegate
pointed to what Mr.. Watterson said yes
terday, that both the Confederate and
Federal dead were comrades on'the other
side of the dark river now, and insisted
that it was not appropriate for the en-
campment to notice the Chicago incident.
The resolution was ultimately withdrawn.
The matter of admitting into the G. A.
R. the members of the order of Sons of
Veterans was reported favorably by the
committee. This subject has repeatedly
come up before encampments and at this
one as at the others it met with much op-
position. The discussion of the resolu-
ton showed so much opposition to
it that in order not to kill it
entirely its supporters succeeded in having
it referred to the committee on rules and
regulations, to be reported upon at the
thirtieth National encampment at st. Paul
After this action had been taken an effort
was made to reconsider the vote, with
view to defeating the measure finally and
for all time, but this effort failed.