The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-10

pension claims should be repealed, and we
ask the president to use his authority to
laws to SO perform their duty as to do justice
to the soldiers, and administer the law so
as not to obstruct the prosecution of pen
slons by technical requirements not within
the province OF the law, and which are only
calculated to hinder and obstruct in the eff
fort to obtain lawful pensions.
"A fact that it seems unnecessary to en-
large upon is that time is highly important
to the veterans. The passing years have a
dlrelul acceleration for them. Every day
brings them nearer the grave in increasing
ratio. Their needs cry out more vociferousiS
with every changing of the moon, yet the
n&mber OF weekly allowances steadily di-
clally states that he has 625, 900 claims pend
ing in his bureau. of which he says 20 900
SO far have received nothing at ALL Else
where he states that about zoo 900 survivors
received no pensions, and yet very recently
the commissioner recommended and carried
through a reduction OF 100 in his force of
clerks, on the ground that he had more force
than he needed. This in the face of the fact
that hardly day passes but that some
where or another in this broad land the pen
sion certificate arrives only in time to be
lad on the coffin of the applicant. In the
meanwhile the 1900 employees of the pen
sion bureau continue the dreary round of cir
cumlocution of pulling out the yellow papers,
adding a note to the Endorsements and re-
placing them in the pigeon holes. 1t has
been estimated by a mathematician fond of
caucu. atoms that the mere physical labor en-
ficient to have picked up the Army of the
Potomac in it's proudest strength and carried
it bodily from Washington to Richmond
AN OBNOXIOUS RULE.
Resolved, That the rule of the pension
Office by which a widow is debarred from
pension If she has an income of 500 per
year is unjust, and we ask the president
that the order be abrogated, and the mini
mum income debarring from pensions be fix
ed at not less than $500 per annum.
Resolved, That we ask for the re-establish-
Ing Of order 164, which enforced under
terms, took cogniZance in rating a mans
pension of all the disabilities he suffered
under. 1t was abrogated by the last ad-
ministrati and it was held to be emitted
to the lowest rate OF Sc per month comrade
must have some disability which is rated
at that amount. If he has three disabilities
rated at 81 each, he gets no pension at all.
This iniquitous rule is maintained up to this
hour, and we submit, is not such treatment
as We had a right to expect from Comrade
Mckinley.
Resolved, That in constituting the phrase
inability to perform manual labor it be con-
stl7led to mean inability to perform unpro-
muscular effort alone Your committee fur
Their respectfully states that it is wise to
receive even the official statement of the COM
missioner of pensions with several large
grains of allowance. He states in one place
that there are Is, 600 comrades who never re-
cceiYed a pension. In another place he fixes
from time to time, from his glowing state,
ments, as to the great work he is doing for
his comrades In comparison to what was for
merly done but most of his comparisons are
with the administrations Of President Grant
and President Hayes Prior to the act of
1880, granting pensions after ninety days
service for disability honoraby incurred even
after the war, he compares with the period
when the sum total Of claims was only 800 OO0
When, owing to the small force In the
rytlo
1t takes only five days He compares his
work with the work done when the clerks In
he has 1900. He dIscreetly refrains from
giving prominence to the number of his re-
jections. Our comrades living and the widows
of comrades dead cry aloud for justice. We
voice their cry and bring it to the ear Of that
comrade in chief authority over all the land
confident that he will do Justice"
The report was adopted without dis
cussion.
FINAL WORK.
Resolutions warmly endorsing Presi-
dent Mckinley and Secretary Of War
Alger were adopted without a dissent
Ing voice. The resolutions state that
the president and secretary of war
performed the important duties that
devolved upon them during the war
In a manner which is worthy Of the
commentator Of all patriotic Amer
ASoAo' LAC <hSCA ASSOIullOn says IHdt
official challenged the admiration Of
the world in the conduct of his Office
during the war with Spain.
The following officers were elected
by acclamation: Senior vice comman-
der-in-chief, w. @. Johnson, Cincin-
natl; Junior vice chief.
David Rose, of Delaware; surgeon gen.
eral, DR.. Pierce, Of Nebraska; chap
lain-in-chtef, Col. Lucas, Of Indianap-
Oils.
elected officers was performed by Com
rade Wagner. Of Pennsylvania. The