The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-08
PEACE DAY.
Continued from First Page,

Continued from First Page1
bilities met, and a reasonable balance
in the treasury"
Referring to his visits to departments
said:
In the south the greeting of ex-Con-
federateS who participated in many of
our camp fires was exceedingly agree
aDIe ana was preliminary to the deVo-
ton to country and flag manifested in
their response to the call of the presi-
dent. One feature, however, which
could not but impress me is the fact
that the color line still exists. There
are many cOlored soldiers in some of
the departments Iaboring under great
disadvantage. The race prejudice re-
mains and the chasm seems to be wild
en1ng; 1t seem impossible to overcome,
ana Tor 1t can only express my ex-
treme regret. What the remedy is, If
any am unable to suggest.
The Pension Question.
1.-THE pension question has engrossed
the attention of the entire Grand Army
during the year as never before. Prior
70 the assem- bling of the last congress
there seemed to be a concerted attack
upon the pensioner, and among many
OF the old soldiers the impression pre-
vailed that it did not originate in the
camp OF our enemies. At all events the
newspaper attacks contained state
mentS, many of them distorted and mis-
tive, which left the pensioners as a
class IN an unenviable light. That these
attacks were unfair and made for a
Speclnc purpose seemed to be evident
and their object was presumably to
prevent any increase in the appropria-
lions for pensions during the incoming
congress over that of the preceding
year. This thought also seemed to be
followed in the granting of pensions,
or at least was looked upon as one Of
the reasons for the delay in adjudicat-
Ing claims although there no
steady increase in the number granted
The proposition to publish a list of pen
sioners placed the Grand Army in
peculiar position. No man believed
there was any necessity for it, and that
It would produce any possible good, or
that there were any considerable num-
Der of fraudulent pensioners on the roll.
On the other hand, the opposition of the
Grand Army to the publication would
at once have been seized upon and ia
ken advantage of by the pension oppo-
nentS as evidence of our knowledge of
fraud and a disposition to conceal it,
Our only recourse was to suffer in 81
lence or with simple indignant denials
and look to the future for VindicatiOn,
L therefore appointed committee to
take the matter up in all its details
and prepare report. 1t is evident that
much of the pension agitation, and in
fact, the complaints of unfairness arises
from the special acts granting pensions
to individuals outside of the general
laws, for which the Grand Army is in
soldier demands is that the existing
pension laws be administered with JUS
tice and liberality in accordance with the
intention Of the laws when enacted
and which were to provide for the SOL
der and relieve his necessities to the
full extent to which he is entitled. This
is due him and this there should be no
cavil or question about his receiving
The communicated embodied il
his address a letter from Commissioner
of Pension Evans which contained the
following figures:
Number of pensioners on
agency rolls June go 1897 976, Ola
Originals granted includedin
Restorations granted inciud-
ed in report not rolls. 762 7614
Originals granted in 1898. 80 SAB
RestOra lions granted in 1898. 4OS9 Sc. 1877
Dropped in 1895:
By oeatns ...-.-..-..-.......-.3 50 694
BY remarrfage NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 369
By expiration minority 49, 2l21
BY failure to claim ........... 3031
BY other causes ..-............ 6436 ,651
On roll June 80. 1898 ................. 9g3 IA
Net increase for year ................ H. 700
TENSIONS, army and navy,
Fees paid exa mining sur
geons ...:........-..... 1884 24s
Agencies salaries and ex-
Bureau, salaries and per
diem .....................3,1S2 S92 4613. s61
Total Observation-Disclosures. .s149 255, IA
Memorial Day.
Memorial day was celebrated
throughout the nation with more than
usual enthusiasm and interest.
in he