The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-07
Report of the Committee on Pensions
Not Satisfactory To Delegates I'm
the Form Presented.
DEBATED At GREAT LENGTH
FINAL ACTION POSTPONED PROBABLY
UNTIL THIS MORNING.
Referred Back with Instructions to
Make OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Address-women's Auxilfaries.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 6.-Delegates to
the National Encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic began their annual
meeting to-day. Auxiliary organizations also
held sessions. Acting Commander-in-chief
Johnson was elected commander Of the G.
A. r. to serve until the regular election this
week. Chicago was chosen as next meeting
place by reclamation. Annual addresses
and reports were delivered.
The report of the special committee on
pensions was read and a motion made TO
refer il to the committee on resolutions. This
created much discussion, many of the dele
gates favoring the immediate adoption OF
resolution covering the subjects mentioned
in the report. The Michigan delegation was
the first TO object TO the report on the
ground that it failed to specify what the
| Grand Army wanted. They were supported
by Indiana. Kansas and New York. After
a discussion lasting nearly four hours the
report was referred back to the committee
on pensions with instructions that II be pre-
scented at to-morrow's session embodying
recommendations and resolutions. The re-
| port will be printed tonight and distributed
among the delegates. Until then it viii be
withheld from publication. The encamp-
| tomorrow morning at 3 o'clock.
The greatest secrecy is being maintained
| in regard to the pension report II Is
known, however, the report begins with an
exhaustive review OF the history of pension
| legislation and the causes Leading up TO the
present pension system and methods 1t
| declares that no class OF citizens bears more
cbeerfully the burden of supporting the gov
eminent and its institutions than the vet
| Grams. Comrades in encampment are not
| here to criticise, but to discharge a patriotic
| duty to the country in considering the PEN
| sion question. The National Encampment.
the report continues. has never made an
appeal to the country in vain, and reason,
| rot passion, and argument instead OF in
vective, are becoming to men who are all
| marching on the downward slope of life.
DEMAND OF VETERANS.
| The report goes on to say that the vet
Grams rightfully demand the -fulhllment OF
a solemn compact made when they man
fully and bravely gave all they had to
| the country, not counting the cost to them
| selves. The report then cites the conditions
when in 1880, Congress passed the act to
provide relief for disabled veterans and their
| widows and orphans not conditioned upon
! evidence that they were disabled while In the
| service This act was intended TO meet the
| reeds Of veterans who. in advancing years.
| could not furnish evidence that they were
| suffering from the hardships of army life
| 1t was claimed that the original construc-
| ton of this law was abrogated in 1888 by
most unjust and arbitrary rulings Of the
pension commissioner first placing the bur
| den of proof upon applicants for pensions
| that they were not suffering from disabili-
ties consequent upon their own vicious hab-
to- mid 49, At
Grams who applied for pensions were not
eligible If they had an income aggregating
IS per month.
The committee, the report continues, had.
on Jan. IL Of this year, waited upon the Sec
| rotary of the interior, commissioner Of pen
sions and finally on President Mckinley 10
| point out the injustice of those rulings and
expressed a confident belief that the Pres
| ident will take measures to bring about
different ruling in the near future. The
committee has asked that the limit of in
come TO debar widows from pensions shall
| be placed at not less than $3.50 year, and
that the obnoxious rule requiring negative
evidence be revoked and the former rule re-
established, so as 10 place the basis OF PEN
| sion claims where IL was in 1880. The
Grand Army Of the Republic. the report
continues. repudiates with emphasis the
pension roll is inflated by fraudulent claims
| and challenges any one who so believes TO
nroduce evidence.
| ae report is signed by r. Il. Brown.
man. Louisville; John Palmer. Albany.
| a Y: J. w. Burst. Sycamore. ILL.,. and
Charles Clark Adams, OF Boston H. b
Case, the other member Of the committee,
did not sign the report. Ii was said that he
had sent a minority report. but this could
not be confirmed.
SICKLES CoUNSELED MODERATION.
The debate over the report was getting
very warm in the encarnpment to-day when
the whole matter was referred back TO the
committee for specific resolutions TO cover
certain points. General Sickles. Of New
York. counseled moderation in the matter.
A delegate from Kansas caused considera-
BILE uproar by introducing resolution that
the encampment respectfully request the
President 10 remove the pension commits
sioner at once. This brought a score OF the
veterans TO their feet. all OF whom wanted
to speak, but a motion to recommit was
adopted and quick adjournment relieved
the situation. which was growing emhar-
raising. The delegates are moving very
slowly In the matter. and generally they do
not desire anything to go through that In
any way reflects upon President Mckinley.
There were many corps reunions during
the day and night. The show feature was a
parade of Union ex-prisoners of war.
One OF the attractions OF the day was the
squadron of lighting ships anchored In the
Delaware river. From early morning unit.
dark there was steady stream OF humanity
pouring on the vessels. and several times
orders were given not to let any more per.