The record-union., 1896-09-04
Major Clarkson In the Lead for
Commander-in.C Chief.
The Report Submitted by the Pension
Committee Arraigns the Present
Commissioner of the Pension
Bureau for Disregarding the Law
of 1894, Providing That Pensions
Should Not be Withheld Until
After Judicial Hearing.

ST. PAUL, Sept. 3.-Buffalo will en-
tertain the Grand Army Of the Republic
next year. 1t did not take the national
encampment long to settle that ques-
ton. which has in other years provoked
a lively contest. Denver, the only other
city which was presented, was with
drawn before a ballot was taken.
Admiral Meade'S name will not be
presented to the encampment to-mor-
row. He realized to-day that he had no
chance of election. New York is now
solid for Linehan, but Pennsylvania is
divided, and it looks tonight as though
the command of the c.. A. r. until next
September will be placed in the hands
of Major Clarkson of Omaha.
At the afternoon session of the en-
Campment the report of the Pension
Committee was presented and referred
to a committee to report on its recon-
cations. The report referred to the Act
passed in 1894, providing that pensions
should not be withheld until after jul
dicial hearing by the Commissioner of
Pensions, and added: The administra-
tiOn of the Pension Bureau has been con-
tinued as though the provision referred
to was but waste paper, and the feeling
Of uncertainty and doubt has been but
slightly if to any extent allayed. 1t is
III vain that wise, just and patriotic
laws be passed, if they are to be admin
istered with an evil eye and an unequal
hand"
The committee reported that it had
urged the speedy passage by the Fifty
fourth Congress of the House bill
which was drawn for the purpose of
SO far as possible restricting the hostile
administration of the Pension Bureau
and Of compelling a fair and liberal
construction and enforcement of the
laws of Congress on the subject of pen
siOnS. The House passed the bill, but
the Senate failed to act on it, and on
that account the unsatisfactory condi-
tion still obtained in the administration
of the bureau. We recommend that this
encampment speak clearly and dis
tinctly, SO that it's meaning cannot be
misunderstood by anyone urging upon
the Senate the necessity for the prompt
passage of the bill in all its essential
features as passed by the House Z
The committee made no recommended
ton as to two sections in the bill One
provides that soldiers who lacked hon
Orable discharge from pay or service
should be entitled to a pension if they
rad been honorably discharged from a
later term of service. The other section
extends a pension to those who We're
forced into the Confederate service at
the opening of the war by the severe
Conscription law, but joined the Union
army as quickly as they could, being
Union men at heart. 1t is designed to
bear the soldier Of fortune who fought
on both sides. also such Confederates
who We're released from Johnson's S
Island towards the close of the war on
condition that they would join the
Union army. Such men the Grand
Army will not admit to its ranks. and it
does not want to see them pensiOned.
The special committee which was ap-
pointed last year on the question of ex-
tending the army membership and
privileges to the Sons of Veterans re-
ported in favor Of allowing them to
visit c. A. r. posts and accord them
membership after q probation Of six
months, without the right to vote, and
give them the latter power when il is
seen the Grand Army membership was
seriously diminishing.
\ minority report was presented
modifying these recommendations, and
both reports were referred to d special
committee.
The second session Of the Ladies Of