The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-21
Congressman CaIderhead Is
Promised a Warm Reception.
Object of Resolutions to Be In
trOduced at Encampment.
OFFENDED SOLDIERS.
Did Not Favor Pension Court of
Appeals Bill.
They Want an Explanation of
His Failure to Act.

Congressman W. A Calderhead is the
lucky Individual to be called up on the
carpet at the state encampment of the
G. A R this year This will be the
diversion Of the Junction City encamp-
ment.
Since President Mckinley has prom
ised to depose II. Clay Evans, The APP
pointment of whose successor is expected
any time now, things looked 50 tranquil
that it was to be wondered what would
turn up to ''resolute" on 1t IS taken
for granted that Evans will soon go
out and a Kansas man go in. although
not much has been heard lately about
the chances Of s. r. Peters or r. w.
Blue, because Of the absence of the
president on his western trip. The
chance of a repetition OF the last en-
campment Or two to "resolute" on
Evans and the president IL accordingly
very slim.
1t is more than probable that Com
rade Calderhead, congressman from the
Fifth district, will furnish the bait
Calderhead'S crime has to do with the
pension court of appeals bill. This bill
was drafted by the pension committee
of the national body of the Grand Army
of the Republic 1t was presented TO
the national encampment at Chicago
and adopted The idea of the measure
was to have a distinct and separate
court established to pass upon all dis
puted pension claims. The old soldiers
thought that a judicial tribunal TO act
in this way would be the proper thing
to pass fair legal and qualified Judg-
ment and its decisions would not be so
liable to be questioned or followed by
soreness 1t would be a relief to whom
SOeVer is in the trying position at the
head Of the department also They
thought it would reduce pension evils TO
a minimum.
The bill failed to get through congress
last winter. 1t died in committee. What
is more it died in Calderhead's COM
mttee. 1t is reported that CaIderhead
did not vote for it. Calderhead has never
given any explanation of his course.
The old soldiers want TO know.
Calderhead has a civil war record of
his own. He is a Grand Army man.
A member of the G. A. r. said today:
Yes / think the case Of Mr.. Calder
head will come up. In just what shape
1 cannot say. 1t will probably go to
the committee on resolutions
Congressman Calderhead is a member
of the house committee on invalid pen
siOns- In that capacity he has hereto
fore done things" for the old soldier
along the line Of minimizing complaints
In 1898 he posted a $4,000 challenge
against the Washington Post. when that
paper attacked pension grabs and
charged that special pension acts We're
an Outra geOls abuse Of power"
If the Post will write a general pen
sion law" answered Congressman Cal
derhead, which will render private pen
SiOnS unnecessary, 1 viii introduce It.
And ! Will also ask the committee on
appropriations to make an appropriation
for compensation for writing 1t equiv
alent to one years payment of private
pensions" Payment Of one years
private pensions passed by that, the
third session Of the Fifty-hfth con-
gress. aggregated something over forty
seven thousand dollars, according to
Calderhead's figures.
In view OF Calderhead's past zeal for
the cause Of the pensioners, contrasted
with the alleged inaction of the past
winter. the chance for him to rise and
explain is created.