The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-30

Memorial day services. 5,O16: pupils p%artici-
pating. 3S6. 13S; other organizations parti-
cipating. 2.s73; addresses delivered 10 posts
on Memorial day, 2,Ol; posts having burial
plots. $50.
MAJOR ROBBINS'S REPORT.
The report of Senior Vice COMMANDMENT
chief Robbins was in part OF follows: II
have visited many posts at their business
meetings and on social occasions. and hay.
taken part in the several reunions of COM
rades and found everywhere a strong fra
ternal feeling. and that the comrades are
drawing closer together as their serried
ranks are depleted by death. / find the
United States Soldiers Home at Marion.
Ind, and our State Soldiers Home at LAT
ayette, where the wives and widows OF our
comrades are cared for. TO be in a flourish
ing condition and crowded to their utmost
capacity. At the Soldiers Orphans Home
al Knightown. Ind, in June over 600 or
phans are being well educated and taugnt
manual training to fit them for the strug-
gle of life. 1t is my opinion that the senior
and junior vice commanders-in-chief should
be added to the executive committee OF
administration in order that they may be-
come conversant with the work and policy
Of the administration. If either of them
should be called to the supreme
they would be the better able to perform
the duties Of the position. The appointive
members of that committee might be res
duced by two and the expense would not
be increased"
LEGISLATION FOR VETERANS.
The committee on legislation for veterans
in public service regretfully, but necessar-
lily. reported progress" Looking over
the debates of the Congresses" the report
said. there can be found many kind words
spoken for the soldier and sailor. but abso-
lttfalx- .otH;-- l. 49, wro, ~ lau,
insuring to those who enter the military or
naval service in times of war-serving until
the end of their terms of enlistment. or the
close of hostilities, being honorably dis
ch~arged-a reasonable preference in the
public service in times of peace. Pensions,
yes. VIII any American urge that any
meager pitta nee as a pension doled out
compensates loss of manhood. The man
hood that was ready TO sacrifice life itself
voluntarily in battle In order that the Re-
public might survive. And the inherent de-
sire to earn bread by labor. Perish the
thought. We will not believe 1t.
Instead of public Office being a public
trust IL is too frequently regarded as a
private snap This permeates all our
government in spots. An honorable dis
the greatest badge of honor that can come
to any citizen in this Republicans a rec
concentration when applying for employ
ment to public officials, ought by them 10
be respected In some departments, how
ever. in recent years the badge or button
OF the Grand Army of the Republic, evil
which tried mems souls notably so In the
navy yard at Brooklyn, y. Y. rs not alone
regarded with disfavor by some of the lit
tie bosses there, but makes. him who
wears IL the subject of ridicule and not
seldom of insulting language unworthy to
come from one who claims to be an Amer
lean. And. besides this. though preferred
for appointment, veterans are the first dis
charged, and usually in such a way that
they. cannot hope TO get back. This is no
fancied picture.
prevail of John B.. Long, secretary of the
navy. who has many times, when appealed
TO, shown in various ways his regard Tor
the just claims of veterans Of war, the
yards. and the system in vogue of making
the petty boss sole judge, jury and ex-
ecutioner concerning the merits of men
when reductions of force are made neces-
sary for any cause, permits IL. Some OF
these bosses hate the veteran who is a
Grand Army man. The fact that no
statutory law protects worthy veterans en-
ables discrimination and wrong, many
times due to prejudice alone. being done to
them.
During the year the chairman of your
committee has many times had occasion TO
go to our comrade, William Mckinley,
President of the United States, in the in
terest of other comrades who needed help
or protection, and never in vain. Numerous
RESERVATIONS to the public service of veter-
ans wronged gave needed help, and some
sweeping reforms in ideas Of administra-
ton, adopted by him for the protection
of other veterans in their rights, have pro-
duced good results for our people In other
directions.
THAT the war for the Union and what 1t
| cost in sacrifice may not be forgotten, nor
its survivors be belittled-particularly by
the p~oliticians-in this day and generation,
That volunteer service in the army. and
navy of the United States in times Of war
deserves not alone emulation and praise.
but to those who survive and are honorably
discharged, being worthy and capable, pre-
ferment for appointment, promotion and
, retention in the public service in times of
peace. is a principle to which We ought to
stand committed now and forever" "
PENSION COMMITTEES REPORT.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
annual reports an adjournment was taken
until 2:30 p. m, when consideration of re-
| ports was resumed in executive session.
The first thing taken up was the report
of the pension committee. This would con-
tain. it was generally thought, some warm
statements. but there were none. There
was not in the report a specific declara-
ton or recommendation upon any subject.
The committee In the outset went at length
into the history of the work done by the
G. A. r. committees in obtaining from the
4 last SOUSftSS INCREASES III Certain Glasses
of pensions. 1t then discussed the differ
ences Of opinion existing between the PEN
sion Office and those members of the Grand
Army who hold the opinion that the old
soldiers have not received sufficient COM
| sideration. The report argued at length
against the statements that have been
made by the Pension Office in reply to the
original criticisms made by members of
the Grand Army. but offered no suggestions
as TO a direct line of policy to be pursued.
The report was ordered printed and will be
| the special order OF business tomorrow
morning at . o'clock, TO which hour the
| convention adjourned.
| After the pension had present.
ed its report silver services were presented
to Adjutant General Stewart and Past
| Commander Johnson, as a token Of the
esteem in which they are held by their
| comrades.
| The committee. which had taken the an
nual message OF Commander-in-chief Shaw
under consideration reported approval of
all his suggestions, with the exception OF
that relating to the change of the date of
| Memorial day from May 80 10 the last Sun
DAY in May. On this the reported
adversely. and its report was adopted by
the convention. An adjournment was then
taken until tomorrow morning.
School histories used in the public schools
| of the Southern States were denounced to-
day by the Grand Army of the Republic.
| The official declaration was made that the
histories have been written with the pur-
| pose of pertuating in the minds OF South
ern children the sectional prejudices of the
days of 81. Resolutions were adopted call
/ ing on the public in the name of the Grand