The Portland daily press., 1900-08-30

66ub Uu6 JILL 10 AOllk1660 6alu IL WeAS III
PRODUCED 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 adJudicat-
Ing the more than Il, 900 appeal cases now
pending, and in way just to applicants
and to the government. The full details
of this measure were submitted to Con-
gress when the bill was introduced and
to this interesting data reference is made
for an Intelligent understanding OF this
most important proposed legislation. In
view of the conceded Justice and need Of
this measure by leading jurlsts OF the
country, comrades are urgently requested
to do all IN their power to secure its early
passage by Congress.
UNHAPPY IRRITATIONS.
1t is source OF great regret that the
Pension Department is widely criticised
by large number of worthy applicants
for pensions, under the belief that their
claims are not treated IN liberal and
just way, under the present admtnistra-
tion of the pension laws. Such state of
feeling is greatly to be deplOred for 1t
gives rise TO irritations of an unfortunate
and unhappy sort.
Your Commandments CHIEF has given
diligent and painstaking attention TO
many or these complaints, ana loyal
efforts have been made to compose the
unhappy feeling Of dissatisfaction that
exists, In this connection. The impartial
and worthy execution OF our pension
laws professionally calls for great pru-
dence ana wisdom on the part of those
charged with the duty of their adjud1ca-
tiOn, The great weakness undOubtedl
TO be found IS the faulty present system
in force IN the Pension. Office. Nothi ng
should be left to individual interpreta-
ton. 1t Is not so much the question OF
Offf InIc co. Tofo crrc.
tenn, in the execution Of our generous
pension laws With the proposed Pom
sion Court of Appeals once duly organ
lied, the whole atmosphere Of the Pen
sion Office would be quickly changed into
as harmonious and popular branch of
the government as are those of the De-
partments of the Treasury, OF the Post
Office and Of Justice. For then the law
would be effective under high judicial
Interpretation,
Your COInmander-in-C Chief believes
that the passage of the proposed Pension
Court Of Appeals Bill would brinQ har-
mOny and settle, once for all, the Vexing
questions and irritations now so pro-
nOunced IN the Pension Office, through
Its wise provisions for interpreting the
pension laws and ability to speedily clear
the app9AI cases now Durden1ng the lies
of the Department of the Interior. And
this view, strongly held, leads to the
urgent and repeated appeals made IN this
address for comrades to neglect no OppOr-
tunlty to aid in securing the passa &c Of
this most important and righteous meas
ure. With 1t peace and concord and full
Justice III pension cases would be Sc
cured; without it, no end OF heart burn
1ngs and 1rr1tations will continue,
MILITARY INSTRUCTION.
The committed of which Comrade
Allan O. Blackwell is chairman, having
the subject OF Military Instruction in
schools IN charge has been especially
active and efficient during the past year,
and careful attention is called to its very
able and valuable report
A bill was introduced into Congress
providing for the detail of retired and
non-cOm1n1ssIOnedO officers of the regular
army TO teach military Grill in schools,
at the request Of local boards and this
was not reached before the adjournment.
1t is believed that it VIII become a law at
the next session, and 1t viii become a
most useful and valuable measure.
MEMORIAL DAY.
Profoundly impressed with the weaken
ing way Memorial Day is being observed
in the element of games and diversions OF
more coming into view, your Command
er-in-Cb1ef strongly recommends that II
fall on the last Sunday in May.
If this change Is made 1t is believed
lIOlu VICE CONGRATULATIONS ana interchange
OF views lat The holy sabbath day viii
preserve = from The dissertations which
now largely pervert the tender associa-
tions Of this unique Memorial Day from
It's original Specification. This subject
was presented to the 32d Annual En-,
campmeu6 at Cincinnati in 1898, anC
failed TO receive the Al support OF com
rades at 6nat tlme-Owing, it is believed
to the lack Of careful consideration. The
main OBJECTIONS made against the pro
posal We're, [ u that the legal holiday nov
liked for May Both would have ID b.
changed, causing much trouble. q
That 1t would not be wise to change the
date as originally designated, and @
that the clergy would not approve the
selection OF Sunday. These objection
appear almost thrilling in view OF tn,
fact that the growing tendency of max
Ing an ordinary holiday of MemOria
Day, more conspicuous for games ant
sports than as memory day for the dear
dead, Is now the rule. AS IL does no
need q seer nor prophet to fOretell that il
few years after we are all gone tn
sacreuD6SS of this one day of pat riOti
memories will be a dead and gone memo
rial unless its original purpose is wisel
safeguar1ed. The new custom Of scat
terlng flowers on the waters in memoir
OF those who died on the sea in battle
ships or otherwise, is a touching memo.
rial worthy of the widest extension an.
Observance The object In thus urgin
the designation of the last Sunday il
May for a national Memorial Day is i,
order that the sacredness of the Sabbat
may preserve it in the hearts of futul
generab1ons--fo on this day the graves
or soldiers and sailors and ali our dea
ones could be decorated each order an
friend doing this in their own way an
all to teach that life and death are tn
common lot of man, and that the cultur
OF the living Is measured by the tende
memories Of their dead. The Legislation
necessary for this change would be S
easily and readily provided as TO rende
objections on this score without forcs
Viewed from a national standpoint tn
recommendation thus submitted ha
season. the last Sunday in May would b
generally acceptable, for the flower
bloom everywhere in our Union theI