Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-05-20

L
sions to All Alike-H Clay
Evans IL esoIution Defeated.
COLUMBUS, Indiana, May 19--The
second day Of the eneampment was
one of unusual interest because OF the
topics which came up for discussion IN
connection with the report of the COM
| mittee on resolutions. The first res D
luton was that presented by NJ. ID.
| Ellis. of Indianapolis, declaring for
the repeal of the civii-service law.
| The committee was evidently divided
on the matter, but it came up with the
approval of that body. 1t seemed at
| first as il it could not be passed by a
| whoop. for the reason that those OPP
posed to it did not know that it had
been presented Hon. j. I johnson.
of Rockville, who always commands the
attention of the encampment. rose and
was recognized. He warned the COM
rades to be careful about this subject,
as it was a very grave matter. By the
wisdom of both parties the civil service
law was passed in 1881. He was not
in favor of some of the rules under the
law, but it would not do for the Grand
Il
against a system designed to inquire
into the qualification of applicants fer
subordinate positions upon which the
efficiency of the public service depend
ed. AS a congressman he had seen
the working of the rule under the law
in the departments and had come to
| the conclusion that a system to ascer-
tain the fitness of aspirants was
needed.
The resolute position assumed by
Mr.. Johnston had a marked effect
| upon the encampment. Several com
rades took sides with him. while others
Iopposed. Pending the consideration
of a proposition to modify the reso-
luton so as TO change the rules,
the point of order was raised that it
was a political question, having no
right before the encampment, and
| Commander Dodge sustained the OBJ
lection, and thus the matter ended. 1t
| was evident that out and-out repeal
did not control the encampment when
the ruling was made.
There was greater excitement over
the resolutions presented by the Rich
| mond post, condemning Pension Com
| missioner Evans and asking the Presi-
dent to remove him. Objection was
made on the ground that some of the
charges were not sustained by evil
dence, and that the language of the
resolutions lacked dignity. The reso
lutions came to the eneampment with
the disapproval of the committee on
resolutions The motion to adopt was
first opposed by James T. Johnson in
vigorous five minute speech. While
johnson Was speaking there was a
marked change of sentiment. Col. |.
n. Walker, of indianapolis, and Gil
X. Stormont, of Princeton, spoke
against the resolutions, aud G. w.
Travis. of Charlottesville, and others
in favor. The resolutions were re-
ferred back to the committee to report
a new draft, which it did, in the fol-
lowing language:
Whereas, 1t is currently reported
from various sources that many of the
rules of the pension department under
the present administration are inimical
to the interest of the veterans of the
late war and imp0Sa- be zdsh szas.. -.a.sss
no man be a 20 or be retained
in the Office [ Missioner of pen
sions whose ssdency is opposed to
pensioning Un,on soldiers. 1t is the
sense of this encampment that the
time has arrived when every honorably
Union soldier should be
Ipso facto given a reasonable service |
pension, and his honorable dis
charge and proof of indemnity should |
be a sufficient pension certificate with |
out the Intervention Of an attorney |
We denounce all rules that tend to de- |
feat or delay this great measure and at |
all frauds upon the pension system |
ought to be specially detected and |
severely punished.
A sharp discussion followed, the |
objection being to the new resolution
that it lacked definiteness, but it was
carried by decided vote.
One resolution relating to pensions
lid not encounter any opposition. 1t
declared for the same pensions for Of
ieers and privates denounced granting
arge pensions to the widows of promi-
lent officers and the passing of special
pension acts by Congress for lndivid-
lals and the removing of the disabi-
tiles OF men under the charge of deser-
ion.
There was no, as much interest man
tested in the contest for department
as there has been in pre-
'ious years. There were fou candi-
lates for that position. each of whom
eceived the following votes: Daniel l.. |
Brown, of Indianapolis, 81: b. B.
Anderson, SIS; r. P. Finney.
few Albany. lis. and Rev. Ryan, a
opular Methodist preacher, 29i. In Ie
ccordance to the usage Benjamin NJ.
lutchins, of Columbus, was elected 7
enior vice commander. On the third
allot Jesse b. Carpenter, of Angola,
tho served in the navy, was elected
amor vice commander. The council [
{ administration elected is as follows:
ZEN Starr, Richmond: II. A. Root, v
liehigan City, George W. Lucky,
and w. l. Dunlap, Franklin v
overnor Mount was elected delegate {
large, and Lieutenant Governor j
aggard alternate. Y
Sixth district delegates: William Fl. J
wope, Milton, delegate, and Elisha T
'eakley. Shelbyville, alternate.
W. R. C. OFFICERS ELECTED.
President. Many j. Hadley. Dan
lie: senior vice president, Irene B. :
awley. Columbus: junior vice presi-
ant, Nettie Wink. knightstown; see-I
'tary. Josephine Thomas, Danville;
easurer, Alice S. Pike, Danville;