The Washington times., 1895-04-13
CORPORAL TANNER 5 GILL
Union Legion Veterans Dis.
pleased with a Circular.
ASKED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Proposes to Make Test of One Of the Many
Cases Suspended by Commissioner of
Pensions Lochren-Intends to Carry 1t to
the Court Of Last Resort-0pinions Diff
er Regarding the Wisdom Of the Step.

'S's3t IL lHE.n ~ ~
lgtTg
There seems, to he considerable differ
enee of opinion among the members of the
Union Veteran Legion of the United States
in regard to a circular letter issued by Ma
tionat Commander James Tanner, of the
Legio1i, which calls for contribution of
$40 from each OF them fer the purpose of
prosecuting to the court of last resort the
cases OF pensioners who have been sus-
pended fromlthe pension rolls.
Although the talk at headquarters, No.
910 Pennsylvania avenue, was not loud
or vigorous, there was a deep undercurFent
] OF objection upon the part of some mem
bers Of the Legion against the action of the
national comma nder. -ia,,,alUel s,it g.
1t is hinted that be had originally in
tended TO issue the letter as an order, but
that such strenuous objection was made
when the MATTER was brought before the
organization that be finally assumed the
entire responsible and issued the letter
as a personal matter.
Tanner vEta n1 lrs1s
The main question OF issue seems to be
the general tone or the letter in regard 10
the restoration TO the rolls of all PEN
sionerB without discrimination. Tie ma
Jort1 or those who Were interviewed last
night held to the opinion that only men
who had seen active BeFvies We're entitled
to restoration, and some even went so far
as to say that those who had not seen
active service should be stricken from the
rolls.
DOES NOT APPROVE ALTOGETHER.
Major NJ. B. c. Wright, ad1utant general
OF the legion, says that he does not in all
respects approve OF the action of his su-
perior In the issuance of the letter re-
ferred to, bat declined TO be interviewed
further upon that point. He is decidedly
in favor of the fullest pension to every de-
serving soldier with a record emitting
him TO that distinction, provided his dis
ability is shown TO be of actual service
oTigtIT,- and not otherwise.
Lieut.-Col. NJ NJ. Whitney says: My
opinion is that the legion is peculiarly
service organization and as such we do not
believe that the class OF soldiers who were
never ar the front should be entitled to be
placed on the pension rolls, as 1t does not
make il the ron of honor it should he to
have names upon ii that are not entitled
to such distinction.
~ am thoroughly in accord with the
order but I wish that the national com
mauder had added something like this to
it."
Col. Charles E. TToutnan, assist ant ad-
Jutaut general, Gays; III is my opinion
that the cases OF Long and Shakespeare had
not fully decided in the courts whether
or not the Commissioner OF Pensions had
issued 4 legal order, aud in order TO test the
case without iInpugtiing the high inteiii-
gence, pure patriotism, and great love for
the soldier of Commissioner Lochran. and
| 70 fAar af,ar
OF soldiers who have been suspended are
without the means TO follow up the case TO
the Supreme Court, where final adjudica-
ton must be had, the national commander OF
bis own yolition appealed to that feeling OF
charity aud comradeship existing among
the old soldiers, and, TO allow the many to
defray the expenses of one, issued that
Circular
Major James N. Brown also expressed
his opinion in the same strain.
The circular, among ether things, says:
WILL MAKE A TEST CASE.
.'The nationa, commander has concluded,
after mature deiiberation, that the hour
has strucR and tie opportunity arrived
for the comrades OF the Legion to demon
strate in the highest degree, the sympathy
we have for those who have suffered
under the reductions, or the cutting off of
| their pensions.
| II propose TO select some average case
| out of the numerous gIles within our knowl-
edge, and to prosecute that case to the
| court OF last resort. j propose To employ,
as attorney in that case, Comrade Thomas
| s. Hopkins, who was, and is, counsel for
| Judge Long and Gen. Shakespeare, and
who, so far, has handled these cases most
successfully.
''In ortier TO do this, 1 request that each
encampment of the Union Veteran Legion
send me check, draft or money order for
! $40, payable to my order. shall take
| Conrade Hopkins receipt therefor, and
present it in my report at the national en-
campment at Buffalo, next fall, he guaran-
teeiBg to conduct such case to the court OF
last resort.
Quite number or our encampnaents are
| too poor TO send even $fo; but from among
| the comrades of the order who can afford to
| send it, / shall expect personal contribu-
| tions enough to make up all average OF $40
! from each eneanlpment.
PURELY PERSONAL REQUEST.
''Comrades will bear in mind that the ua.
tionai commander has no right, power OF
wish do more than to request that they
make a contribution to fund to be used
for the purpose specified, but I sincerely
| trust that all who are antagonistic TO the
| financial slaughter of our old comrades,
| of which we have heard and known so much
| during the last two years, Will embrace this
| opportunity to furnish the sinews OF wal
| to fight q battle on the part of those who
| for four long years could fight, and did
| fight their country's battles, but are help
1 less to-day.
Comrades will understand that what
they contribute they bid goodbye to. II
| we win the case, they win have the glorious
satisfaction or knowing that the Union
Veteran Legion helped 10 right mighty
wrong: and if we lose they will have the
secondary satisfaction OF knowing that
they played mans part in defense OF
| fellow " man.
JUDGE LoCHREN DOES Mt CARE.
| Commiss Iener Says Long and ShalS espeare
Cases Differ From All others.
:" Speaking or the matter, Commissions