New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-04

- CONTEST FOR THE CHIEF cuMn,xn
REPORT on PENSION LEGISLATION
s.. Pau Mimi Sept Buffalo will sn.a,,.,.
the Grand Army OF the Republic rex, year 7. A.,
no take the National Encsmpmen, long 10 ss,,.,
that question which has in other years provoked
lively contest Deaver. the only other city VIII,
was presented. was Withdrawn before balo. va.
taken. and never seriously regarded as a COM
petltor for the honors SO the vote was made mani,
nous
1t looks to night as though the command Of IA.
Grand Army until next September would be placed
In the hands Of Major ClarksOn. Of Omaha
At the afternoon session the report Of the Pension
Committee was presented and referred TO com.
mittee to report on its recommendation. The 70.
port referred to the &c: passed IN 1884,. providing
that pensions should not be withheld until after q
judicial hearing by the Commissioner OF Pensions
and added: "rhe administration Of the Pension
Bureau has been continued though the provision
referred to was but waste paper, and the feeling Of
uncertainty and doubt has been but slightly II 10
any extent aayed 1t is in vain that wise. just and
patriotic laws be passed if they are to be admins
tered with an evil eye and an unequal hand
The committee reported that II had urged the
speedy passage by the LINth congress OF the
House bill which was drawn for the purpose OF
so far as possible restricting the hostile admin
istration of the Pension Bureau and OF compelling
q 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 II. and on that acc0 INT the un'
satisfactory condition still obtained In the ad'
ministrat ton of the Bureau We recommend that
this encampment speak clearly and distinctly so
that its meaning cannot be misunderstood by any
one. urging upon the Senate the necessity for the
prompt passage of the bill in all its essential feat
ures as passed by the House. The committee
made no recommendation as to two sections OF the
bill One provides that soldiers who lacked hon.
ora BILE discharge from prior services should he en-
titled to q pension If they had been honoraoy DIS
charged from a later term OF service. The other
section extends pension to those who were forced
into the Confederate service at the opening OF the
war by the severe conscription law but Joined
the Union Army quickly as they could. being
Union men at heart. 1t is designed TO bar the
soldier of fortune who fought on both sides; also
Confederates who were released from Johnston
Island toward 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 appointed last
year on the question OF extending membership and
OF allowing them to visit G. A. r. posts and accord
ing membership to- them under probation OF .
atter power WITTY TO them When It was seem that Il:
Grand Army membership was seriously diminish
decided to refer the report to the committee Of
which Past Commander { hief Palmer. of New
York is CHI iii man.
The committee held meeting while the oncamp-
was in session and fsySraby considered the
penson TO ali qualified veterans at the rate OF
cent for every day of actual service emitting time
spent in hospital
Delegations from the Woman's Relief Corps and
7 dies Of the G. A. r. were received and made
norris Of their years work. Nominations for COM
mander were made a special order for $3.50 a. m. 10
morrow. TO which time the encampment adjourned
The second session OF the Ladies Of the q. a; X.
Convention was held to-day in Bowihy Hall. There
was a spirited contest for president Mrs Catherine
J., Hurst being elected Mrs. A. B. Anderson, o,
Nnneapo,is was elected senior vice-president and
Mrs Sarah c. Mason, Of Nebraska, junior vice.
president Other elections were deferred until TO-
The annual convention OF the Womans Relief
Corps was held this morning. Mrs Turner. National
president in tie chair. The reports showed mem.
sho OF 1864 In relief 81 443 had been expended
ard since the organization NS'5'"o cash on nanas
ssll0,