The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-13
Herbers rernsinlng in good

June - ffr5 was ~ 80. showing 4 ICES -
n 49, ~ which number T.3ss was ~ osath-
Considering the fact that many OF our
comrades are poor. and owing 20 business
depression and many having been out or
oulriovrnent ard added 70 this the fact
that many are not able 20 attend pos.
raNetlns,H bv reason Of their inhrmiues ana
have allowed themselves 70 De suspenaen
for non-payment Of dues, our neTn oerStip
has kar,t m wonderfully well. With the
Irrreaasa rrosperfty which we are sure 10
have 7 see no reason why very many or
the ~ H60 who are on the suspended hst
NAV not take their places again as achye
working members have urged all posts 10
aupolnt a special committee on reinstafs-
rnent IN call on every suspended coTnrade
and settle with him In some way ana ge'
him back into our ranks. In many de-
pzr;ments I heard the delegates talking
about establishing picket posts ana te-
ifaylng that consolidation Of many OF the
smaller posts must soon take place. l rec
ommend that the committee on rules ana
regulations be instructed 10 prepare pan
Of organization and report the same 70
the next national encampment. by ~hlch
this question OF consolidation and tho es-
Establishment OF picket posts may be UNI
form and In accordance with rules ana
regulations.
Pensions.
This Is question that We, as an organ
izatlon, feel deep interest In. We know
that all the legislation enacted by congress
I'm the interest OF the old soldier has been
brought about b. or through the influence
Of this great powerful organizauon-tne
Grand Army OF the RepubllC-and those
Of us who are more fortunate physically
than others propose 80 keep II M JUST as
long az We live And while we are not
asking for any new pension legislation.
we do ask and insist that when law Is
PASSED by congress that Its provisions as
intended By them shall be carried out ana
not misconstrued and mtssnpiied ny any
man or set OF men OF any party who may
he In power am not a lawyer. but
know the verdict OF any court Of loyal
men would he that after man has FUR
nIshed the proofs and has been granted
pension. that pension cannot he taken
away from him without due process or
Law. ! know this Is being done. however.
all over the land. for ! have seen the evil
dences of IL I'm every department In which
7 have Interpretations reduced from III to
80 and from s. 10 Sc. and many cut OFT en-
tire Then again, a man who applied for
a pension two or three years ago VIII re-
ceive a notice that his claim Is rejected.
then notified that his case il reopened and
allowed. bat only from the time Of reopen
ing. thus cheating worthy man out OF
$500 or 30.
Many OF our comrades thus dealt with
are not able 10 bring suit 10 test tho
constitutionaiity Of this sort OF ruling OF
q pension commissioner. ! would, there
fore. recommend that the incoming coun-
ell OF administration he empowered 10
select case and prosecute the same.
II has been the custom Of encampments
60 appoint a committee 70 prepare some
testimonial for the retiring commander
in-chief I recommend that no such com
mittce be appointed this year, bat that
this money be used I'm making a test case
as 10 the constitutionslity OF the act OF
June q. 1890.
Memorial Day.
This soldiers and sailors day r. becom-
ing more sacred 10 us and TO the Amer
team people each year: for each year our
ranks are thinner. and there are moro
mounds TO cover with flowers and the
cold flag" l think IL safe 20 say that
the day was more generally observed this
year than ever before and especially
through the South. BY the generous con
tributions OF the Womsn's Relief Corps.
the Sons Of Veterans and our posts OF
the Grand Army Of the Republic. we
have been able 10 place a flag on every
grave I'm the eighiy-one national GENE
teries. and we have also sent $3.50 IN
money 70 help our comrades I'm the South
defray the expenses of properly observing
Memorial Day In these cemeteries. This
work has been cheerfully performed by
our comrades scattered through the
South. and I'm some places IL has been
quite hurdensome 20 them: and believing
that this beautiful observance OF the day
should live as long as the Republic lives.
and that there IL no place from which
patriotism and love for country and tho
old flag can be SO we'll taught as from
these national cemeteries. and as the gov
eminent through the war department
has the caro- or these cemeteries. I rec
cmmend that the commander-in-chlcfw who
shall be elected here. shall appoint COM
mittee Of three 20 memorabilia congress
20 include In their appropriation for tho
care OF these cemeteries a sum sufficient
o. defray the expense Of holding Memorial
Day services at each % them. The cv-
penditures can he made through the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT department OF
tho army.
Comrades let us sec 70 e that the day
IL kept as a Memorial nav. let us do
nounce In our own communities any desc
Grafton OF the dav. such as races and
games. excursions halls and other amuse-
ments~ot which there IS too much on
this dav-the tendency Is 10 forget the OBJ
tccts OF It's observance and make IL a
day Of pleasure and recreation.
woman's Relief Corps.
This ersnd organization. our auxiliary.
composed or The loyal women OF this
country. is doing n noble. patriotic work
everywhere. During The mast wear. under
the leadership ~ that noble woman from
my own state Mrs Emma Z Wallace.
it has donc much 70 aid MS in our work
teaching patriotism 90 the children. Mac
Ing the RAG on Cur school houses. caring
for our comrades and their families when
in need. booking after the comforts Of th.,
"hovs" In the Soldiers Homes. f., fact
working all along the iine WITH ass and for.
us IN tts membership az nearly isa A,A
are found MANY OF the brfxhtcSt and b.sr
women - the land I'm my visits "a tho
department cncamumeufS ! have deemed
II a pleasure tn visit thoir conventions
and in your name hid tnem God speed
in Rll their undertakings And right here.
comrades. lot me say 70 you. with ali
praise for the work OF an other orEanira-
lions from my experience in making tho
grand rounds ana coming in contact
with all. believe that = there were fewer
organizations and an working alonu the
same line there would be better results
and more accomplished for the veterans
OF the war. In unity there Is strength
! believe, Judging from what have seen
that there ought 80 lie but enc
soldiers and Sailors crrantzs-
tion tand that the Grsna Ar
N.Y.. one Wcman's organization and
the Soas Of Veterans. these three al yys,rk .
iRg together VII accomplish more than
Va can u We scatter iuto - many GiNer-
sng ordevS
sons or Veterans.
have hai the lo,al support 90 this
earnest ard in,cAgcUt ho5y % Young
men. and 80 has bevn nay pleasure 20 Wis.
many ~ their camps. and i am more tha.
ever Impressed that tls crEanlza. asn ar
camps 90 the sons % Neteraus = a w5rs
the Grand Array Of the Republic Should