The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-08
VETERANS CONDEMN EVANS.
TIE @. A. n. DECLARES AGAINST THE
PENSIONS COMMISSIONER.

Issue Turns on tho Question whether He
ImpuRned the Characters of Soldiers
Widows-Col. Albert ID. shaw of Now
York state Elected Chief.
PHILADELPHIA. Sept 7.-Col. Albert d. Shaw
OF New York was elected by reclamation to
the post OF Comman der in Chief OF the Grand
Army OF the Republic to-day. The convention
was called TO order shortly after 10 O'Clock.
After tho disposal Of somo unimportant
routine business Command -in-C Chief John
son said that the nominations OF officers were
in order. Past Commander Major William
X. Warner at once went to the stage and
in a brief speech placed Major Leo
Rassieur's name before the convention. Col.
Shaw was nominated by Department Com
mander j. W. Kay OF New York. The nomina-
ton OF Col Shaw was seconded by Thomas l..
Sample. Past Department Commander OF
Pennsylvania. and by delegates from Ohio.
Indiana and South Dakota. The applause at
the close Of the nominating speeches was 90
general that 1t was seen at once that the senti-
ment was In favor OF tho election OF Col. Shaw.
Major Rassieur thcn withdrew his name. and
moved that the election be by reclamation.
This was done with a shout.
The other officers elected were: Senior Vice
Commander-n- Chief. Ira Irwyn Robbins. 1ndi-
ana, Adjutant- General under Past Commander
in-Chief Walker: Junior Vice Commander-in-
Chief. Michael Minton. Louisville. Ky. Chap
lain in Chief. Jacob L. Grimm. Maryland Sur
geon- General, DR.. William H. Baker. Mass
achusetts. All were elected BY reclamation.
An hour Of the time following tho elections
was consumed in listening to tho reports OF tho
various associations OF women affiliated with
the G. A. II. Meanwhile tho Committee on
Resolutions had conferred with the Committee
on Pensions and by a vote Of II to IL had
formally lapide1 To nrAaant reROlutiOn1 con-
demning Commissioner OF Pensions Evans.
One OF the delegates who leans to the con-
sentative side hear ring OF this said:
This action now appearst to be pregnant with
the most lame ntable consequences. 1t means q
demand for the increase OF the pension list
from It's present hgure-S13S. 100000 to the
enormous sum OF $200.O00.000. 1t means not
only the serious embarrassment OF President
Mckinley but also the introduction Of ono OF
tho Eravest elements OF discord that has ever
entered into the councils Of the Republican
party. At present no one can foresec what
contingencies may arise. for among them 1t 10
possible thatthe Grand Army Of the Republic
may find itself arraigned on the side Of its
traditional enemies"
The report OF the Joint committees was made
at 1890. 1t was signed by four OF the COM
mittee Case. OF Tennessee. who declined to
sign the majority report. being absent. Tho
report said:
Your Committee ON Pensions respectfully
presents this supplemental report. pursuant to
tho instructions OF this Encampment We
respectfully direct attention to section All of
the Revised Statutes OF the United States.
which reads as follows:
Section 471-The Com missioner Of Pom
sons shall perform under the direction OF the
Secretary OF tho Interior such duties In the
execution OF the various pension and bounty
laws as may be. presented by the President
"Resolred: This Encampment respectfully
represents to the President OF the United
States its earnest conviction that Rule
No. 225. now In practical effect in the ad-
Indication Of claims for pensions under SEQ
tions OF the Act OF June %. $780, In the Pension
Bureau works great injustice to worthy OK
soldiers and sailors. and We express the hope
that you will find it consistent with your
duties as an administrative officer to abrogate
this rule. and re-sstablish the prino ipls a. do
fned in Rule No. 1884, Under the operation OF
Rule No. 1874. promulgated and put into sifeot
soon after the passage Of this act. unauestion-
ably responsive to public sentiment and based
upon sound legal propositions lin q word. tho
simple expression Of the letter and spirit Of
tho law. 400. 900 names were added to the PEN
sion rolls of the Republic. and to which no OBJ
lection was heard for years after its promulga-
ton.
Resolved. second This Encampnent res
pectiully represents that tho practice In the
Pension Bureau Of barring widow claimants
who have an income Of 500 a year from pen
sion is not warranted by the terms Of the law.
of the Com missione OF Pensions to successive
Secretaries OF the Interior that the limitation
be increased to $3.50 per year.
.Resolred. third. That the Commnnder-in-
Chief appoint a committee OF i've comrades to
present to the President certified copy OF the
action OF this National Epcampment, with an
expression Of our earnest deRire for justice
only to our disabled comrades and the widows
and orphans Of our dead. under the letter and
spirit Of the law.
'Rpsolred. fourth, That this COMMITTEES Is
hereby authorized and directed.in the event
1t is determined that relief may not be afforded
by the adm Illustrative officers Of the Govern
ment to then present to the Congress . re-
quest for the amendment OF the law In such
form as will mako certain tho true intent OF
tho statute. as We believe 1t should DO con-
strued az herein represented.
Signed r. b. BOWEN.
y. w. BURST.
JOHN PALMER.
CHARLES CLARK ADAMS"
Tho name OF Gen. Sickles was added to those
four to make up the committee Of i've to wait
upon the President. 1t was said that the
concluding paragraph was added at the request
OF friends OF President Mckinley who wished
to save him from embarrassment.
So important was the pension question that
there was no adjournment for lunch. The
radical element won the day and resolu-
tons condemning the Commissioner were
adopted. 1t was learned that tho cause OF
. tact ff,f he 90 r..
Commissioner OF Pensions Is that in his in
structions to subordinates he 10 said to puRn
the character OF widows OF old soldiers. 1t was
upon the truth or falsity OF this statement
that the committee divided. The majority
OF seventeen wanted the Commissioner
called to account. but the minority
said that there was a doubt a. to