The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-12
Commander Rassieur Goes After
Commissioner Evans.
HITS CONGRESS A LICK
For Not Passing the Veterans
Preference Bill.
Urges a Renewal of Efforts
Along That Line.

Republic opened this morning at the
Euclid Avenue opera house with a large
attendance. Intense interest was man.
ifested by the delegates in the report
of the committee on pensions and it
was generally believed that the conven-
ton would take some very radical ac-
ton bearing on that subject.
General Sickles offered a resolution
at the opening of the proceedings of the
convention, rendering to the president
the anectlonake organizations upon
his rapid cOnVaIescence for which all
civilized nations pray Conrad Thistle
of Illinois offered as an amendment the
series of resolutions calling for a law
Furnishing attacks upon the chief execu-
tive as treason. The amendment was
not seconded and General Sickles' resO-
luton was adopted by a rising vote
to the president
The committee on credentials report
ed that the roll prepared by the adj
jutant general was correct and should
be adopted.
The roll showed a total voting
strength of 1,340, including delegates,
department commanders and past de-
partment commanders.
The communicating chief, Leo Ras-
sleur, devoted a large part of his an
nual address to the matter of pensions.
Without any effort, he said, on the
part of the Organiza ton or its officers
TO give the pension problem any undue
prominence that subject has over
Swallowed all others and has called for
more attention and thought in the past
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 officers 1aWleSsness, reckless
ness and boldness go to such extreme
i'm rCs a.
ignore a plain and unmiStaka bic order,
indicating the line of his duty, under
the law, coming from his superior Off
Ger, 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 that
law. The exercising his discretion can
not possibly result in anything else in
most of the cases than a positive denial
of the benefits prescribed by the law"
After adverting to the position of ju-
dicial assistance in the administration
of the pension bureau and answering
objections to the G. A. r. bill having
this object in view the conlmander-in-
chief added:
we can not conceive that the meas
ure of duty to those who saved this
country would be lessened while this
country has hundreds of millions Of
dollars to engage in a humanitarian
war in the interests of the down trod-
den of other countries
of the veterans preference bill to re-
ceive favorable consideration by con-
gress and urged further efforts to secure
its passage
Another ground for disappointment he
said, was the failure to pass one of the
three bills for a soldiers home in South
Dakota, Idaho and Oklahoma
AS to military and patriotic instruc-
ton in the public schools he deplored
the exclusion of non commissioned Off
10
gress.
The schools of the country he said,
''are the fruitful field where patriotism
can be SO planted and cultivated that
Hence every effort in this direction
should be continued with renewed eff
forts and patriotic exercises made
obligatory in the public schools by law,
wherever such IS not yet the case, and
it is at all practicable
The report OF the adjutant general,
f. NJ. Sterrett, showed that the total
membership June 80, 1901, was 269, 507,
in 6,67S posts. The gains during the
last year We're 80 019, and the losses
81. 1272-by death s 1856 and by suspen-
sion 16 262. The number dropped from
the rolls, having been previously sus-
pended, was 1922. The number on the
rolls June 30, 1921, including $3.50 sus
pended, was 1885, TIE states in
which there are over 1900 members arc
as follows:
and Wyoming. 2. 11T; Connecticut, 1897
Illinois, . 1872; Indiana, 15,S59; Iowa, r.
S7S; Kansas, 1881: Kentucky, 2,5ss;
Maine, SAL; Maryland, 2,52S; Massa-
chusetts. 1907: Michigan. 1851 Mime
sofa. 6,115; Missouri TO- 965: Nebraska,
8, 633; New Hampshire, 1891; New Jer-
sey, 5,373; New York, 30.143; Ohio, Ill;
Pennsylvania, $3.50; Vermont, 1865,
Washington and Alaska, 2,501; soon
sin, $3.50.
The amount expended for relief dur
ing the year was $119,326.
Referring to the southern memorial
fund, the adjutant general said.
'.The Importance of ai5iag our com
rades of the southern states and their
successors in the important obse t
lesson of placing the flag of the
union on the graves Of our fallen ing |
in national and other cemeteries of that I
section on Memorial day each year for !
all time to come. urges Us to adopt the /
best method toward securing that !
end 4"
The report Of August brahms. chap |
showed that ,749 posts OBJ T
served memorial day services, 90, 500 of /
the comrades partfcipa ting as did 2
064 Woman's Relief corps with 1880 +
members. The number of cemeteries /
visited was 1856 and the number Of
graves decorated 80 S16- The public /
schools participating was 1896, and the /
number Of pupils 27S.2 S6. Other organi-
cations which took part in the ceremo
MES numbered 1856
REPORT ON EGISIATION
Your committee regretfully acknowl- /
edges the defeat of the Harris bill. I
S5417. in the Fifty-sixth congress, but /
strongly urges that this measure be
again presented to the Fifty-seventh /
congress- by a committee to be appoint /
ed by the incoming commandments
chief.
Section 1745 of the Revised Statutes
Of the United States provides that per-
sons honorab1y discharged from the I
military or naval service by reason of 7
disability resulting from wounds or
sickness incurred in the line of duty i
shall be preferred for appointments to /
civil Offices provided they are found to /
possess the business capacity necessary /