The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-29


that our pension laws were most liberal
and In the main satisfactory. and that
the complaints made were generally
against their Interpretation by those
\ charged with their execution. To avoid
irritation of an unhappy sort, amend
ments were thought necessary so as to
make clear the meaning OF our pension
laws, beyond the changing rules estab-
lished for executing them by different
officials.
PENSION COURT OF APPEALS.
The fact that different rules and diff
ferent interpretations Of the same laws
have been established in the execution
Of pension legislation, makes it clearly
apparent that a pension court of ap-
peals should be provided, SO as to in
sure the fair and impartial judicial set
tlement of all disputed claims for pen
sions in a competent court specially
authorized to deal with such cases.
Your administration brought this sub
ject to the attention or the president OF
the United States, and submitted a bill
for its consideration to carry into effect
the recommendations made to him as
detailed in a letter accompanying the
same. 1t was afterwards decided to pre-
sent the bill to congress and it was in
troduced in both the senate and the
house of representatives in the closing
days of the last session, too late to be
acted upon. This proposed bill provides
what is believed to be ample ways and
means for promptly and satisfactorily
adjudicating the more than IA 600 ap-
peal cases now pending and in a way
Just to applicants and to the govern
ment The full details of this measure
were submitted to congress when the
bill was introduced, and to this interest
ing data reference is made for an in
teIligent understanding of this most inn
portant proposed legislation. In view
of the conceded justice and need of this
measure by leading jurists of the coun-
try, comrades are urgently requested to
do all in their power to secure it's early
passage by congress.
T1. anti r. RI fc-
posing of all appeal cases in the pension
office before a judicial tribunal worthy
of the veterans who saved this Republic
to full freedom in the Sos From a care
full consideration of the whole subject
your coTnmander-in-chief feels that the
early passage Of this pension court OF
appeals bill would relieve public men
from a vast amount of letter writing
and secure prompt Justice to all appli-
cants for a pension, and place the pen
sion department on a basis of legal ad-
judication of pension cases, at once gen.
orally satisfactory and commandingly
just to all interests concerned. Cen
erOuS pension laws are one thing, and
their proper and legal execution is quite
another matter-aS the action Of the
pension office furnishes abundant proof
during the past few years.
What is needed, beyond doubt, is a
pension court of appeals to provide in
terpretations of the law in a competent
court with high judicial functions, SO
that there shall hereafter be no grounds
for charging that political consideration
of party policy, or the personal
idiosyncracies of pension officials per-
vert the true purpose of the pension
laws from being impartially carried out.
Your cOInmander-in-chief has given this
proposed measure his hearty support,
and regards it among the most use
full and most desirable pension measures
ever introduced in congress. 1t should
early become a law, and so settle for all
time to come, the constantly arising lr-
ritations and conlssejnts in the. line of
pension applicants. And this proposed
court should be desirable IN setting
claims for pensions under the Spanish
American war and any future wars.
MEMORIAL DAY.
Profoundly impressed with the weak
ening way Memorial Day is being OBJ
served in the element of games and
diversions of one sort or another which
are more and more coming into view,
your mander-in-c chief strongly recon-
mendS that it fall on the last Sunday in
May. If this change is made it is be-
heyed from wide consultations and in
terchange of views that, that the holy
Sabbath day viii preserve 1t from the
dissertations which now largely pervert
the tender associations of this unique
Memory Day from it's original signifca-
ton.
OFFICIAL REPORTS.
Following the address of General
Shaw came a long list of reports sub
mitted by the minor officials and the
various committees of the organiza-
tions. The reports read were those of
the executive committee, council of
Stewart, Quartermaster General Atkin-
son, Surgeon General Baker, Chaplain
in-Chief Grimm, Judge Advocate Cen
eraI Torrance, Senior Vice Commander
mander-in-C Chief Minton, Custodian
Holcomb, Inspector General Cummins
committee on legislation of veterans in
public service and of the committee on
pension legislation
The report of Adjutant General Thos.
J. Stewart was in part as follows:
Ths 9ta 9 ba in Of GOOD ane standne
June 80, 1889 waS 6'sO5 posts with 8 9, mem- tSao
on June 80, 1900 SITS posts, with mem
for 7iHp the twelve months ending June 3d. 100.
are as follows:
RECAPITULATION.
Members in good standing June 30,
1SO0 .......-. .-.----.-...--.-....... zel,Ss4
Gains by muster in............. S,901
Gains by transfer; :,,; a,;t - az
Gains from delinquent re-
ports -.-.---.-.-... .-..-..-.--- 65l5- 81 4'6
Aggregate ........ ........ s19, ,457
Loss Loss By By feapn honorable discharge, @ sss
Loss by transfer ............... S,95S
Loss Loss bS " dishoSnoTsSIe sSsSssSI diseh.se. = $ $
Loss Loss By By surre1der lde of Cha er, rs 427s5
800 - $50 s..''.e. 276 s62
30. 100. S.,''... .'. 2s.474
Total borne on rolls. SOC, 1876
Reports received from departments
show 1868 members were dropped from
rolls, having been previously sus-
pended.
Unusual interest has been manifested
in our order during the past year. Com
rades have been more active than for
some years heretofore. The losses from
all causes reported during the last
twelve months have been 11,319-less