The National tribune., 1895-09-19
SITTING IN COUNCIL.
Continued from seoond pag.


Adopted.
Adverse to a resolution from the Depart
ment of the Potomac praying Congress to
make penalty for violation of the veterans
preference law.
A spirited discussion ensued among Com
| rades Anderson, Potomac; Adams, Massa-
chusetts; Tanner, New York; Townsend,
| Ohio, and others. All were in favor of sol
diers' preference but the ground of opposi-
ton was that such legislation had been de-
cided to be class legislation, and therefore
null and void.
The report of the committee was disagreed
to and the resolution adopted.
Resolution protesting against the desecra-
ton of Memorial Day by public sports and
games adopted.
COMMITTEE ON PENSIONS
Comrade /. N. Walker, from the Commit
tee on Pensions, reported as follows:
REPORT OF PENSION COMMITTEE.
"Who shall be just if not the Nation ?
Who shall be grateful if not the Republic2
! Who shall be generous if not the people
whose life and liberty have been preserved
and re-estabIished by their worthy sons?
"The Grand Army of the Republic in Ma
tional Encampment convened, speaking not
interests but for worthy but needy and suf-
tering comrades, who, in the days of their
youth, gave to their distressed country all
that they had and all that they held dear in
order that the Union might be preserved in
| tact, and that the sunlight Of liberty might
! shine undimmed throughout the whole land
they loved in all its parts, appealing to the
whole people for justice, solemnly protests
against policy which would deprive, di-
| minish, or impair the liberal provisions
made during the past 80 years for the man
who had borne the battle, aud for his widow
! and orphans
In recognition of the sacred trust i'm
posed upon them by the immortal Lincoln,
and the unselfish services rendered, CRATE
full people has striven for third of a century
to measurably relieve the suffering of its
distressed veterans, and make reeompense
for the trials they had endured and the serv-
ices they had rendered. Wise and liberal
construction had prevailed, in accordance
with recognized legal principles, applicable
to remedial legislation, so that the remedy
sought to be provided should be furnished,
and the trust SO imposed and recognized
fully and faithfully carried out; but as the
years have passed, the smoke of battle blown
away, and the war itself become memory
and passed into history, generation has
come on that knew not Joseph and in
some quarters the old soldier has come to be
looked upon somewhat in the light oil a bur-
den instead of great and patriotic privi-
lege, as he should still appear when viewed
in his true character.
"Deferring to this view-wholly unworthy
of great and patriotic people-construc-
tions have been given to laws, wise and Just
m 10 m cply hv TX IN rda
and restrictions have been imposed upon
those lily able to stand up under them, and
the just provisions authorized have been
grudglngly doled out as though laws passed
in the interests of the pensI0ner as a just
recognition of the obligations of the country
were criminal laws, to he strictly Con-
strued, and the benefciaries thereof were
public enemies, or parasites, seeking unjust
admission to the Treasury of the United
States.
"The representatives of the people, in Con-
gress assembled recognizing the deep senti-
ment of gratitude which justly pervades the
entire community when removed from the |
insolence of office, solemnly declared by ap-
propriate legislation that pension once
granted upon acceptable and accepted evil |
dence constituted vested right Of which |
the possessor could not be deprived except |
by due process of law; and we insist that |
this salutary and patriotic provision shall be |
carried ont 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, I'M
loyalty which is the pride and |
glory of the American soldier, and we de-
maDd for our comrades that just treatment
H., H. Il
gardly cutting down of pensions under the
guise of reissue: no partial and grudging
allowances that cut here and pare there,
will meet with the full measure of duty
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 con-
idently appeal to the grateful, patriotic
sentiment of the whole people, and earn
,stly believe that our appeal will not be in
rain.
Receding from no position that we have
heretofore taken reafiirming all our previ-
,us declarations on the subject, we specially
demand liberal and just construction of
he laws passed for the benefit of the pen
ioner, to the end that his declining years
nay not be harassed with the doubts born
If dstrust or the difficulties thrown around ,
linn by rigorous and restricted cOnstruc-
ion of laws passed in the effort to relieve
liz necessities"
The reading of the report was frequently !
Interrupted by applause, and at its clase was
dopted by reclamation.
Comrade Semple felt that the report did not
% for enough. 1t should have demanded
he restoration of every one who had been ,
ropped from the roll, with the payment to ,
i'm of every dollar of which he had been {
deprived.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S REPORT.
Fl. o. Moore, from the Committee on the {
Report, reported, highly
Adjutant-Geners Jones's adj s
ainistratOn of his Office, and indorsing his 4
to establish permanent Ma I
iOnal Headquarters. j
The report was divided, and that portion 1
elating to the establishment of permanent
was taken up and discussed.
Past Commander-in-C Chief Wagner. of
pennsylvania, offered old Independence Hall
a Philadelphia-rent, fuel, and light free
s depository for the documents, books ii
nd relics of the Order.
III. c. Townsend, of Ohio, moved to in c
truct the Commander-in-C Chief to make the b
ecessarv ARRANGEMENTS for the storaoe of ii