Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-13
G. A. R. VETERANS
Attend to Business Matters,
Thursday, at Cleveland.
Grand Thanksgiving Meeting TO- the
Presidents Prospective Recovery.
Senator Hanna Prcsidcs. Judge Day Among The
Eloquent Speakers.

intense interest MAS manifested by
the delegates in the report of commit
tee Oh pensions and it WAS generally
believed that the convention would
take some radical action bearing on
that subjtCi.
Gen. SichIes offered resolution ut
INC opening of the proceedings 81 the
convention, rendering to the President
'ancctIonate congratulations upon his
rapid convllesccnce. for which all
civilized nations pray
Com:adc Thistlcwood of Illinois, Of
fcrcd rs IN amendment series 81
| resolutions calling for a law Furnishing
| attacks upon the chief Executive KS
treason. The amendment was not SOC
onded and Gen. Sicklcs' resolution was
adopted by a rising vote. The mes
: sage was ordered telegraphed 20 the
, President
| The committee on credentials repOrt
| Cd that the roll prepared by the adju-
tlnt general WAS correct and should bc
! adopted.
The roll showed Il total voting
strength Of 1910. including delegates
| department commanders ana past az
I plrtmcnt comman icrs
]
situt devoted - large part Of his an
uual address u the matter M pensions
! Without any effort hc aaii. ran tEr
part OF the organization ar its officers
To give the pension problem any undue
prominence. that subject has overshad-
/ owed Lli others and mas called for more
attention and thought IN the past year
than all other questions which concern
| us
H. criticised the administration "
| the pension bureau and demanded tho
honest and fair administration OF laws
which are already on the statute
bunks." continuing. ne said
~ an officers laVlcSsucss, reckless
ness and holiness go To such eXtrem
lengths as 70 lead him 20 override and
| ignore a plain ana unmiStakeablr orr
| der indicating the line OF his duty. an
der the law. coming from his superior
| officer. the secretary Of the interior.
| what can the poor ann hclpl. 81 old SOL
der expect at his hands when Ne is
| claiming the exercise ~ his discretion
! cannot possibly result In anything else
III most ~ the cases than positive de-
NAL of the benefits prescribed ny the
law"
After advcrtine % The Importance of
judicial assistance III the admniS;ra-
| tion Of the pension bureau. and an
| swcring objections to the g.. \ Il. bill
having this object in view. the com
! mander- chief added We cannot
, conceive that the measure Of duty to
those who saved this country would h"
hclittled. while this country has hun
| drcds Of millions NJ duTiars to engage
| in a humanitarian war in the interests
! of the down-trodden of other coun-
/ tries.
He referred respectfully 10 the failure
Of the veterans preference bill tx re-
c"ivc favorable consideration by CON
! Grcss and urged further efforts to Sc
/ cure its passage.
| The report of the adiutaut general
+. NJ. Storrott. showed a total member
| ship June 90 1"ol. Of 2s9. 5c7. in 667S
posts. TIE gains during the last year
/ were 3nnl.. ana the losses G7.l72-hy
| death. Al6G. and 10y suspension. 16.262
| Tie number dropped from the rolls
having been previously suspended wa
7792
The states in which there arr over
! 2o0O members include Connecticut.
/ o61: New Hampshire 1891. ana Yer
| mont 356N.
! The amount expended for relief dur
| Ing the year was SlI9.336
The report of August brahms. chap
lain-n-chicf, showed that @7ia post, oh
serted Memorial day services. - ~ nf thu.
comrades participating. a= aid -ti MO-
| mems Relief Corps. with li.Cpr members
| TN" numbcr Of cemeteries visited Wa
1n,tN6 and the number of graves dccorat-
"a sl3.Nih Tho public schools partiripat
ing We're 800. ana the number M pupils.
21N.2Si. other organizations which took
part in the ceremonies numbered rs;
Following is an abstract of report "a
the committee on legislation:
Your committee rcErctfullv acluow,-
edges the defeat Of Ii" Harris bill! as
5il0 in the 18th Congress. hi; strongly
urges that this measure be AGAIN present
,, "a to the j1ih Congress ~ Il committee
to be appointed by the incoming com
man,ic--n-c
Section lI3i Of the Revised Statutes pro
ridcs that persons honorably discharged
from the military or naval servicc by rca
son Of disability resulting from wounds
or sickness incurred in the line of duty
snail De preferred for appointments TO
civil offices. provided they are found to
possess the business saGacitv ncccssar.
for the proper discharge Of The duties
OF such office.
In" amendment embodied in ihc Uar-
ris bill was designed to broaden the scope
or this section Of the law in order to i'll
Guide within the preference all who re-
ceiVed honorable discharges from the
service. Under the present law a large
number Of soldiers and sailors who wer,
wounded AMI who served Cor wears after
ward are excluded ana in nany cases
preference given to those who saw bur
little service. Very few veterans are row
living who come within the preference
provided in Section i7,i.
Tie Thanksgiving mass meeting IN
praise and Thanksgiving for the pyospec-
i've recovery Of President Mckinney was
attended by an immense outpourng Of
the people. including veterans and visit
ors. Senator NJ. A. Hanna presided as
The Nom Irritating