Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-12

II nOAAAuASs10 0llVu VI tu0 SuSlUlI
Bureau Severely Criticised
!. ..Loss in Membership.
i Cleveland, Sept. 1.-THE national con-
vention Of the Grand Army of the Re-
public opened this morning with a large
attendance. Chief Ras-
sieur read his annual address, and the
officers and committee reports were
submitted.
The commander in chief Leo Ras-
steur, devoted a large part OF his an
nual address to the matter of pensions.
/ without any effort" he said, "on the
part of the organization or it's officers
TO give the pension problem any undue
prominence, that subject has over
shadowed all others and has called for
more attention and thought in the past
4 year than all other questions which
concern u.s."
He criticised the administration of
the pension bureau and demanded "the
honest and fair administration of laws
which are already on the statute
books. Continuing. he said: IF an
omcers lawlessness, recklessness or
boldness go to such extreme length as
TO lead him to override or ignore a
plain and unmistakable order, indicat-
ing the line of his duty, under the law,
coming form his superior officer, the
secretary of the interior. what can the
poor and helpless old soldier expect
at his hands when he is claiming to
exercise his discretion under the law?
The exercising his discretion can not
possibly result in anything else in most
OF the cases than positive denial of
the benefits prescribed by the law"
After adverting to the Importance of
judicial assistance in the administra-
tion of the pension bureau and answer
Ing objections to the G. "A. r, bill, hav-
ing this object in view, the commander
in chief stated: I'VE can not conceive
that the measure of duty to those who
saved this country will be belittled
while this country has hundreds of
millions of dollars to engage in hu-
jmanitarian war in the interests of the
down trodden Of other countries"
He referred regretfully to the failure
of the veterans preference bill to re-
ceive favorable consideration by con-
/ gress and urged further efforts to se-
cure its passage.
Another ground for disappointment,
he said was the failure to pass one of
the three bills for Soldiers Home in
South Dakota, Idaho and Oklahoma
AS to military and patriotic instruc-
tion in the public schools, he deplored
the expulsion of non commissioned Of
f1cers from the bill which passed con-
gress THE schools of the country,
he said. ARE the fruitful field where
patriotism can be so planted and culti-
waited that nothing can destroy or
eradicate 1t. Hence every effort in this
direction should be continued with re-
newed efforts and patriotic exercises
made obligatory in the public schools
by law. wherever such is not the case,
and it is at all practicable
4 The report of the adjutant general,
F. NJ. Sterrett, showed the total mem
bership June 80. 1901, was 269,507, in
6,678 posts. The gains during the last
year were 30.019 and the losses 37,172,
by death s.166. and by suspension 49,
262. The number dropped from the
rolls, having been previously sus-,
pended. was 7.722. The number on the
rolls June 80. 1901. Including 25,550 sus-
1 penQeQ, was I95,Usi.
The states in which there are over
1000 members are as follows: Cali
fornia and Nevada. 4,792; Colorado
and Wyoming, 2.117; Connecticut
1897; Illinois, 22,132; Indiana. 1850;
Iowa. 1886; Kansas. 1851; Kentucky
I2,5sS; Maine. SAL; Maryland, 2,52S;
Massachusetts. 1s.o67; Michigan, 1854;
Minnesota. 6.115; Missouri 1896; Me-
braska. 5.633; New Hampshire. 1891;
New Jersey, 5.373; New York. 3O,143;
Ohio, 25,111; Pennsylvania, 2S,565: Yer
mont. 1868; Washington and Alaska.
2.501; Wisconsin, $3.50.
| The amount expended for relief DUR
ing the year was s119,326.
| Referring to the Southern Memorial
Fund, the adjutant general said: The
Importance of aiding our comrades of
the southern states and their success
sors in the important object lesson Of
placing the flag of the union on the
graves of our fallen. lying in national
and other cemeteries OF that section
on Memorial day. each year, for all
time to come. urges to adopt the best
method towards securing that end"
The report of August brahms, chap
lain chief showed that 72,749 posts
ouSeINSu MeiHoIidl uay services, SI,fUV
of the comrades participating. as did
I2,064 Women's Relief Corps with $4,000
members. The number of cemeteries
visited was 1o,6s6, and the number of
graves decorated was 312.S46. The
public schools participating was 1906.
and the number of pupils 27S.2S6.
Other organizations which took part,
in the ceremonies numbered 1926.
Gen. Sickles offered a resolution which
was adopted by rising vote rendering
to the president affectionate congratula-
tions upon his rapid convalescense for
which all civilized nations pray.
TWO EMPERoRs MEET.