The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-09


annual reports were submitted.
The encampment convened promptly at
2:30 O'Clock The first business in order was
lengthy report from the committee on
pensions. The report dealt extensively in
an effort to refute the charge that the pen
sion roll was a roll of dishonor. 1t cited
the fact that expensive Investigations had
been undertaken by the departments of diff
ferent States, and after close inquiry there
had not been a single case of fraud dis
covered. which could be traced TO a member
of the Grand Army of the Republic. The
report went on to say that the roll was
distinctly a roll of honor. 1t made some
what extended comparison with the work
accomplished now and during the last year
of the administration of General Grant.
This showed that the efficiency of the de-
partment in the way of prompt disposal of
claims had been vastly increased. The COM
mittee gave figures showing that the death
rate was rapidly increasing among pension
ers The number dying each year now ex-
ceeds forty thousand. 1t is estimated that
the increase in the number of deaths each
year will be such that in 1920 the number of
pensioners will be reduced to a. little over
250 eco, and that in 1910 the list will be
obiiterated The report recommended that
just and liberal provisions should be made
for adjudcating the claims now pending in
the department and that no relaxation of
efforts on the part of the Grand Army of
the Republic be allowed to interfere with
this duty.
H. CLAY EVANS DENOUNCED.
When a motion was made to accept and
adopt the report Corporal Tanner, of New
York, arose to discuss 1t. He said that in
the main he agreed with all the committee
had said. But in regard TO that portion of
the report which dealt with the administra-
ton of the Pension Office he did not agree
and he went on to speak in unrestrained
criticism of the present commissioner Of
pensions, Hon. II. Clay Evans. With evident
feeling, he said:
Il stand ready to be responsible here and
elsewhere for all statements / may make
on this subject, and 1 declare that Com
missioner Evans, calling his chiefs of di-
vision together, and using language which
indicated intense feeling, if not anger, in
structed them to disregard totally every ap-
plication based on deafness or rheumatism.
He further intimated to them that if any
one declined to accept his suggestion he
would find chiefs who would obey his or
dere"
At this point the speaker was interrupted
by a point of order that he had no right
to indulge in personal criticism of any Off
Ger of the government. The commander-in-
chief ruled that on a motion of this kind
covering the official conduct of an officer
of the government, it was in order to dis
cuss the manner in which he performed his
official duties. Tanner weht on at much
length, saying that in his opinion it was
clear that the man who could make such
an order as to deafness and rheumatism
had never himself heard the sound of can
mons nor slept in the open air. and he was
not surprised, therefore, to find that the
commissioner of pensions had an army
record which consisted of three months and
sixteen days as a clerk in the commssary
department. Tanner urged the department.
as sovereigns of the Nation, to demand that
justice, if not liberty be followed by the
government in all its dealings with the SOL
diers.
A delegate from Kansas followed Tanner
in the same strain, denouncing in unmeas-
ured terms the unfair and illiUeral spirit in
which the rulings of the pension depart
ment were made. The matter was disposed
OF finally by postponing until after the re-
port of the committee on resolutions was
received. 1t is understood that a number
of resolutions have been sent to the COM
mttee bearing on the conduct of the Pen
sion Office.
A somewhat dramatic episode arose at
this time by the appearance of a colored
woman on the platform bearing a small
photograph of the monument to Colonel
Shaw, the negro officer who was killed at
Fort Wagner. The bearer of the photo
graph was Mrs. William Scott, of Lathrop,
Mo. She proceeded to explain briefly what
had been done to honor the memory of this
| az L.
the recognition in broader way of the
faithfulness, bravery and efficiency of the
negro soldier. She urged that some pro-
vision be made by which the colored SOL
diers could unite in an organization similar
to that of the Grand Army of the Republic.
but made no specific suggestion.
Commander-in-chief Goblin replied very
briefly, praising in the highest terms the
service of the negroes in the army. Mrs.
Scott then, upon request. sang in touch
ingly clear voice a song which was a plea
for a better recognition of her race.
Business was further interrupted by the
entrance of a committee of three ladies of
the Woman's National Relief Corps, head
ed by Mrs. Martin, the national president.
Mrs. Martin, after reading a report of the
years proceedings, which showed a large
balance in the treasury and no liabilities,
stated that when the call for help arising
from the war with Spain was made she
found no authority to use the money of the
corps in that way but she took the re-
sponsibility of sending out a call for an
emergency fund, and in this way had col
lected a large sum of money. which she i'm
mediately applied to relieve the wants of
our soldiers. She closed by respectfully re-
questing the National Encampment to give
to the Relief Corps authority to change it's
constitution, so that its funds can be used
for the relief of soldiers serving in the war
with Spain. The resolution was, under the
rules, referred to the committee on resolu-
tions.
The commander-in-chief congratulated
the ladies on their excellent management
of their finances. and said that he had no
doubt they managed their husbands equal
ly as we'll.
This was followed by a delegation from
the Sons of Veterans Senator Thurston Of
Nebraska, being the speaker. He made a
brief but eloquent speech on behalf of the
Sons of Veterans, and was replied to by In
spector General Alonzo Williams, of Rhode
Island.
a still further inte rruption of regular
business was the presentation to ex-Com-
mander-in-chief Clarkson, of Nebraska, of
magnificent silver set in an oaken case
The ex-commander, with deep feeling,
made response expressing his thanks for
the high honor shown him.