The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-08
CHANGES IN PENSION LAWS.
GRAND ARMY DISSATISFIED WITH
SOME OF THE RULES.

objection 10 an Alleged Question
Appointed to Seek Rehabilitation
TO Return Southern Flags Was
KilIed-AIbert ID. shaw Chosen
COmmander-in-Chie UIumina-
ton of North Atlantic Squadron.
Philadelphia, Pa, Sept. THE Thirty
third national eucampment of the G.. A.
r., adjourned tonight TO meet In Chico
go in 1900. Many of the veterans left here
tonight
The features OF to-day's sessions were
the election of Col. Albert D. Shaw Of
Watertown. n. Y. by reclamation as
| commander-ln-chief for the ensuing year
and the adoption of resolutions scoring the
present pension policy.
At the opening session to-day Judge Leo
Rassieur of ST. Louis, withdrew as can
didate for commander-in-chief and threw
his support to Col Shaw. whose election
was made unanimous.
Judge Rassieur's action was cheered TO
the echo, and there were cries OF "Ras-
sieur for 1900" 1t is expected he will be
the next communicable
Other officers elected were: Irwin Rob
bins of Indianapolis, senior vice comman-
der-in-chief; NJ. Minton of Louisville,
junior vice commander; William H. Baker
| Of Lynn, Mass. surgeon general; Jacob
Grimm of Maryland, haplain-in-chief, and
| Thomas ]. Stewart of Pennsylvania. ad-
jutant general.
Don't Like Pension Rules.
The pensions committee presented its re-
port. which the encampment Immediately
adopted unanimously. The resolutions
adopted called for the abrogation of Rule
225 now in effect adjudcating claims under
section 2 of the June 27 1890, act, stamping
II as unjust and asking in its place the
principle defined in rule 1854, under whose
operations 100000 names were added to
the pension rolls
The resolutions also deplored the prac-
tce of the pension bureau, which bars
the widows, who have an income of S96
a year. and asks an increase of the limit
to $3.50. A committee of five was appoint
ed to seek relief of the administrative Of
ficers, and failing there, to ask Congress
to amend the law In such form as TO
make certain the true intent of the stat
ute.
Late in the afternoon motion was made
to return to the South flags captured dur
ing the war. This was killed.
Evans Asked About IL.
The majority report of the resolutions
committee complained that widows of sol
diers were asked if their lives had been
virtuous after the death of their husbands
and condemned such questions. The mi
norty report said that if questions of that
nature were asked this method of exam
nation should be condemned.
Commissioner Of Pensions Evans was
then asked over the phone If 1t was a fact
that this question was asked. Mr. Evans
replied that where charges were made
against applicants they were required to
answer ques tons relating to them. Other
wise no such questions were put to the
applicant
The celebration tonight included the IL
lumna ion of the North Atlantic squadron
and big camp fire of the Union ex-Dris-
oners of war. The ships were literally COW
cred with electric lights, big searchfights
being also in operation, and great crowds
were attracted to the Delaware river
shores.
The departments of the various states
this evening appointed their representa-
tives in the national council of admins
tration. They include, Alabama, NJ. d.
Wickersham; Florida, d. S. Wlmarth;
Georgia, j. A. Commerford: Kentucky. A.
H. Bliss; Louisiana and Mississippi Lin
coin Sims; Tennessee, George w. Patton:
Virginia and North Carolina, Jas. E. Full
For