The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-09-13

States except two-Florida and Arizona.
have travelled about 5000 miles dur
ing the year. While the work has been
hard, yet the deep fervent spirit Of fra
ternity shown me by comrades every
where, and the loyal demonstrations of
the people in every department visited,
has made the years work one Of the
pleasantest and happiest Of my life.
Veneration and esteem for the COM
rades and love for the 'old flag was
manifested everywhere, and through
this beauful southland from nearly
every school house and public building
in the cities where the department. en-
campments were held, "Old Glory
! was flying.
! Membership and Condition of the Order.
The consolidated reports Of the ad-
| jutant general show that the number in
good standing June 30, 1894, was 37l,-
| BOO, and on June so, 1895, was 351 ,639,
showing aloss of 1875, of which num-
Der 1868 was by death.
Considering the fact that many of our
comrades are poor, and owing TO busl-
ness depression and many having been
! out of employment, and added to this
| the fact that many are not able TO at
| tend post meetings by reason of their
intirmities and have allowed themselves
| to be suspended for nOn-payment OF
dues, our membership has kept up Won
derfully well. With the increased pros
| perity which we are sure to have see
no reason why very many Of the $4,000
who are On the suspended list may not
take their places again as active work
ing members. | have urged all posts to
appoint special committee on rein
statement 70 call on every suspended
cCmrade and settle with him i'll some
way and get him back into our ranks.
In many departments l heard the dele
gates talking about establishing picket
posts, and believing that consolidation
of many of the smaller posts must soon
take place / recommend that the COM
mittee ON rules and regulations be in-
structed to prepare IA plan Of organiZa-
tiOn and report the same to the next
national encampment, by which this
question of consolidation and the es.
tablishment Of picket posts may be uni
form and in accordance with rules and
regulations.
Pensions.
This IS question that we, as an or
ganiZatiOn, feel deep interest i'll. We
know that all the legislation enacted by
congress in the interest of the old sol
der has been brought about by ol
through the influence of this great, pow
erful organiZation-the Grand Army O
the Republic-and those of us who ar
more fortunate physically than other
propose to keep 1t up just as long as W.
live. And while we are not asking TO
any new pension legislation, we do asl
;; and insist that when law is passed b,
j that infan1af
by them shall be carried out and no
;; misconstrued and misapplied by an,
j. man or set Of men of any party VIII
: may be in power. am not a lawyer
but know the verdict of any court o
: loyal men would be that after man ha
furnished the proofs and has beel
= granted pension that pension cannO
be taken away from him without du
process of law know this is bein
done, however, all over the land, for
). have seen the evidences of it in ever
department in which / have been-pen
Il sions reduced from $l2 to S., and fror
IS to 81, and many cut off entire. The
y again, a man who applied for Il pensio
t two or three years ugo will receive
$ notice that his claim is rejected, the
g notified that his case is reopenOd and a
d lowed, but only from the time OF rt
q opening, thus cheating a worthy ma
I out Of $500 or so.
i Many of our comrades thus dealt wit
v are not able to bring suit to test the col
e stitutiCnality of this sort OF ruling of
Il pension commissioner. would, there
|! fore, recommend that the incOmin
! counsel Of administration be empowere
C to select 4 case and prosecute the sam'
II 1t has been the custom OF encampmen
II testimonial for the retiring commando
in-chief. | recommend that no sue
[ committee be appointed this year, b1
@ that this money he used in making
q test case as to the constitCtionality
:. the act of June -, 1890.
Memorial Day.
V This soldiers and sailors day is b
l. coming more sacred to us and to Il
Q. American people each year, for eat
a year our ranks are thinner, and the
e are more mounds to cover with fiowe
70 and the "old flag" l think it safe
It say that the day was more general
u observed this year than ever befOr
al and especially through the Sout
Ne By the generous contributions
p the Womans' Relief Corps, the Sons
ii Veterans and our posts of the Gran
is Army OF the Repubhc, we have Det
d. able to place a flag on every grave
r the 81 national cemeteries, and we ha
a. also sent 1896 i'll money to help our COZ
le rades in the South defray the expens
I'd of properly observing Memorial Day
these cemeteries. This work has be,
&c cheerfully performed by our conrad
t. scattered through the South, and
N some places it has been quite burde
ST some to them; and, believing that tt
al beautiful observance of the day shou
o. live as long as the republic lives, al
Nv that there is no place from which patrlt
ri ism and love IOr country ana the Q
:. flag can be 50 we'll taught as from the
nj national cemeteries. and as the COVER
OF ment through the war department h
II, the care Of these cemeteries, recol
II mend that the commander-in-chlet w
nd shall lie elected here, shall appoint
e- committee of three to memonallze co
ne gress TO include i'll their approprlatl
)e- tor the care Of these cemeteries a 81
l., sufficient to defray the expense OF no
he ing Memorial Day services at each
them. The expenditures can be llll