Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-30

l
infirmities there is urgent need of
closer touch and larger sympathy with
and for each other Kind words are
more than coronets' and the COM
radely cheer that knows no shadow of
turning this side of the grave, should
/ be the unfailing basis of our relations
to the Grand Army. 1t is source of
peculiar qualification to your com
mander-in-chief to know that during
the past year remarkable record of
| concord has followed this policy of
fraternity in all departments.
Referring to the Dewey Day parade
in New York, the commander-in-chief
fully endorsed the action of Depart
ment Commander Kay, and, thanked
the comrades for their object lesson
of loyalty to the Grand Army and to
| the dignity and honor of the saviors
of the Republic. Unless survivors of
the Great War march at the front in
all pagentries they should not consent
to appear in line No sophism as to
! troops carrying arms can have force
in the light of the glorious services of
/ the veterans of the union so far as a
place in the line is concerned.
'"The finances of the order are In eX
cellent condition and the Women's Re-
lief Corps are entitled to cordial praise
for their generous aid.
at is believed that with liberal and
just execution of present pension laws,
little further in the way of pension
legislation will be necessary to secure
for the great majority of the depend
ent saviors of the nation the fulfilment
of the pledged faith of the people in
. :, nf nj
in the morning of their lives, for lib
erty anu union. During the year the
original issues were 40,645; restora-
lions, 1888; total names added to
rolls, 45,33S. The increases, rerat-
general laws, 25,29S; old wars, 500.
sued, 105,591, against S9,054 during
the year ending June 80, 1899. The
number of pensioners on the roll July
/, 1900, was 1,O36,S 63, 43,334 having
been dropped during the years., 500
by deaths, 900 by remarriages and
6616 from all other causes. The dis
bursements for pensions and mainte-
nance of system from July /, 1865 to
June 80, 1900, had been 50 1929, 600,
divided as follows: Pensions, S2,52S,-
532,929; salaries and all other expens-
es of bureau, $4S,S0S,6 23; salaries and
other expenses of agencies, $12,613,-
$50.
1T is a source of great regret that
the pension department is widely crit
icised by large number of worthy ap-
plicants for pensions, under the belief
that their claims are not treated in a
liberal and just way under the present
administration of the pension laws.
Such a state of feeling is greatly to
he deplored for it gives rise to irrita-
tons of an unfortunate and unhappy
) sort The impartial and worthy exc
cution of our pension laws unquestion-
ably calls for great prudence and wis
dom on the part of those charged with
the duty of their adjudication. The
4 great weakness undoubtedly to be
found is the faulty present system in
force in the pension Office. Nothing
should be left to individual interpreta-
ton. 1t is not so much the question
of officials as it is of proper judicial
system, in the execution of our gener-
Gus pension laws. With the proposed
pension court of appeals once duly or
ganized, the whole atmosphere of the
pension office would be quickly chang
ed into as harmonious and popular a
branch of the government as are those
of the departments of the treasury the
postoffice and of justice. For then the
law would be effective under high judi
cial Interpretation. Your commander
in-chief believes that the passage of
the proposed pension court of appeals
bill would bring harmony and settle,
once for all, the vexing questions and
irritations now so pronounced in the
pension Office, thru its wise provisions
for interpreting the pension laws and
ability to speedily clear the appeal
cases now burdening the files of the
department of the interior With it
peace and concord and full justice in
pension cases would be secured; with
out it, no end of heart burnings and
irritations will continue.
'"The subject of patriotic teachings
; and civics has been prominent issue
in the past history of the Grand Army,
and great good along all patriotic lines
of education has been the result A
united effort in each of the forty-five
departments of the Union on lines sim
liar to those followed in New York
would result in glorious upbuilding
of the safe principles OF loyalty and
: patriotism.
THE Importance of proper military
drill in schools is now generally &C
knowledged by our prominent educat-
ors. 1t develops both mind and body
in desirable way, and it adds greatly
to the physical culture of our youth
Besides in a country where the ma
ton depends upon volunteers for its
soldiers in time of war, the wise and
prudent knowledge of military require
ments are elements of national
! strength of the most desirable sort in
times of peace.
Profoundly impressed with the
weakening way memorial day is being
observed in the element of games and
diversions of one sort or another
; which are more and more coming into
view, your commander-in-chief strong
: ly recommends that it fall on the last
sunday in May. II this change is made
it is believed from consultations and
interchange of views that the holy
Sabbath day will preserve it from the
dissertations which now largely per