The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-09-08
New York Man Chosen COmman-
der.in- Chief Of the G. A. R. by
Reclamation.
Judge Ressieur Withdrew His
Name and Asked This
Action.
Pension Committee Amends Its
Report in Some Important
Particulars.

i IlALabLLA AAA-A' oSpS' ~
ing session Of the national encampment
of the GRAD Army Of the Republic.
Judge Leo Ressieur Of ST.. Louis, with
drew as a candidate for COMMANDMENTS
chief, and Colonel Albert D. Shaw of
Watertown, N. Y, was elected to that
Office by reclamation.
After Colonel Shaw's election, the
business Of the encampment was inter-
rupted by the arrival Of delegations
representing the Women's Relief Corps,
Army Nurses and Sons of Veterans,
and a brief reception was held.
1t was expected that after the visit
ing delegations had left the pension
question would be taken up. Instead,
hover, the delegates proceeded to the
election Of the remaining officers. Irv-
ing Robbins of Indianapolis was elected
senior vice commander-in-chief, and NJ.
Minton of Louisville, KY, vas chosen
Junior vice commander. William II.
Baker Of Lynn, Mass, was elected sur
geon general. Jacob l.. Grimm Of
Maryland was elected chaplain.in-
chief.
The report Of the pensions committee
which was first recommitted with in
structions to the committee to embody
therein the desires Of the encampment
relative to the pension laws was again
presented. The report was accom-
panied by resolutions drafted by the
committee and the encampment at
once adopted them unanimously. They
were as follows:
Your committee on pensions respect
fully presents this supplemental report,
pursuant to the instructions of the n
campment.
I'VE respectfully direct attention to
Section AL Of the Revised Statutes Of
the United States, which reads as fol-
lows:
"'The commissioner of pensions shall
perform under the direction of the Sec
rotary of the interior, such duties in
the execution of pension and bounty
laws as may be prescribed by the presi-
dent
Resolved. That this encampment
respectfully represents to the president
its earnest conviction that Rule 225,
10Y in practical effect in the adjudica.
ton Of claims for pensions, under
Section 2, of the act of June ~, 1890,
in the pension bureau, works grave in.
justice to worthy ex-soldiers and ex.
sailors, and express the hope that you
will find it consistent with your duties
as an executive officer to abrogate this
rule and re-establish the principle "a
defined in Rule 1874. Under the opera
ton of Rule 1874, formulated and put
into effect oon after the passage of this
act. unquestionably responsive to pub.
lie sentiment. and based upon sound
legal propositions, in a word, the sim.
pie expression of the letter and spirit of
the law, four hundred thousand names
were added to the pension roll of the
republic, and to which no objection
was heard for years after its promul.
cation.
Resolved, This encampment respect.
fully represents that the practice in the
pension bureau in barring widow claim.
ants who have an income Of f96 a year
is not warranted by the terms of the
a. We "oA 10y CAOCASC IuS ISCOus
mendation of the commissioners of pen.
sions to successive secretaries of the in.
terror that the limitation be increased
to $3.50 a year.
Resolved, That the commander.in.
chief appoint a committee of five com
rades to present to the president a Ger
tilted copy Of the action Of this national
encampment, with an expression of ou1
earnest desire for justice only 10 GU,
disabled comrades and the widows and
orphans of our dead under the lette,
and spirit Of the law.
Resolved, That this committee is
hereby authorized and directed, in the
event that it is determined that relief
may not be accorded by the admins
trative officers Of the government, to
present to congress a request for the
amendment of the law in such form al
to make certain the true intent of the
statute as we believe it can be con.
str9ed as herein presented" +"
The report was signed by R. B.
Brown, J. W. Burst, John Palmer and
Charles Clark Adams. The committee,
as suggested in the report, was ap-
pointed, consisting of the four signers
Of the report, together with General
Daniel E. Sickles Of New York.