The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-13

organizations which took part in the cere-
monies numbered, 2, 296.
The report Of the committee on legisla-
Ton Tor veterans in public service follows.
your committee regretfully acknowl-
edges the defeat of the Harris bill, 5li,
IN the tlfty-siXth Congress, but strongly
urges that this measure be again presented
70 the f1fty-seventh Congress by COM
mlttee 10 be appointed by the incoming
communicating chief. Section lao OF the he
Flsed Statutes OF the United states pro-
yides that persons honOrably discharged
from the military or naval service by rea-
son OF disability, resulting from WOUNDS
or sickness incurred in the line OF duty,
snail be preferred for appointment 10 civil
once, provided they are found TO possess
tne business capacity necessary Tor ei the
proper dlscharge or duties OF slcn once
The amendment embodied in the Harris
Dill " as designed TO broaden the scope OF
this section Of the law, in order to include
within the preference all who recelNed
honorable discharges from the service IN
der the present law a large number OF SOL
diers and sailors who were wounded ana
who served for years afterward, are ex-
GUIDED, and, Ia many cases, preference
given to some who saw but little service
But rev veterans are now living VINO come
within the preference provision in Section
In the second session of the Fifty-ffth
Congress senate bill No. 1856 granted the
privilege of preference, as outlined In the
Harris bill, to include all who had re-
celVed honorable discharges. II was also
I0Eofably reported from the committee on
reform in the civil service OF the House OF
Representatives,. but on TIE plea that the
committee had not met and considered the
blIi-the vote to report IL was on a can
yass or the members on the floor of the
senate, majority agreeing thereto-a mo-
ton Vas made by Mr.. Lodge, Of Massa-
chusetts, TO recommit the bill TO the com
mlttee. This proved to be the death-kneIl
OF the amendment, for although numerous
ton the bill never came before the
House"
The action of the convention on the re-
1OFf of Ctfl
a subject OF all-absorbing interest with the
veterans. 1t was expected that this mat
ter would be disposed of at to-day's ses-
slons, but the convention adjourned with
out taking any formal action on the report
DEBATE IN PENSIONS.
The commander-in-chief made a spirited
address later in the day in which he
made sharp attack upon the officers of
the Pension Bureau. He stated that since
ne had prepared his annual address he had
seen the report of the pension committee
and that il had made no recommendation
as to a remedy for the alleged existing
evils. He, therefore, urged that the COM
mittee De instructed to prepare charges
against the pension commissioner and that
these charges be presented TO the Presi-
dent, asking for an investigation of the
same.
John H. Palmer. of New York one of the
leaders OF the conservative element, de-
tlctt Gu " Il Lew oRdDCI Lldu that AItll.
Rasseur's suggestions relative to the Pen
sion Bureau officials would not be accept
ed. 1t would be unWlSe, ne insisted, for the
u, y. X. to take any such radical steps at
this time
General sicEles was careful to exonerate
President Mckinley, and directed his at
direct.
Senator Hawley announced his intention
OF fighting any attack made upon Commits
sloner Evans. He expressed the fullest con-
tidence in the administration TO rectify any
existing evils in due time, and cOunseled
moderation in the convention. 1t was
gates were in accord with Senator Haw-
leys views. Definite action, it is said will
likely be taken in reference to the matter
at tomorrow session.
The majority report of the pension COM
mittee criticises the present pension sys-
tenn much, if not more, than it does the
commissioner. 1t sets forth that the system
Is wrong in that the interests of pensioners
are entirely in the hands of one man. A
pensioner has no appeal from the deci-
sion of the Pension Bureau and cannot take
his case into court The establishment of
court of appeals is advocated. The griev
anceS OF the veterans IN relation to the
pension system are carefully Worded so
as to avoid the imputatiOn of criticism
against the administration and are placed
in interrogatiVe rather than assertive form.
The minority report states that ii is
openly charged that the pension roll, far
fro being a roll of honor, is saturated
with fraud and contains thousands and
thousands Of names not entitled to the
| bounty Of the government and recommends
that the President be petitioned now that
the term of office of the present commits
sioner has expired, to appoint a successor
of known integrity, capacity and fidelity,
who will faithfully execute the duties of
the Office in obedience to the laws of Con-
greSs
The report of the committee on creden-
tails was adopted, the roll prepared by the
adjutant general showing a total voting
strength of 1,340, said to be the largest in
point OF attendance in the history of the
organization.
A number of cities are in the fight for
the next encampment of the g. a. r., De-
troit, Denver, Atlanta, st. Paul, Salt Lake
City and CharlestOwn, w. Va, being men,
toned in the list of contestants. The place
OF meeting viii be decided at Tomorrow
session.
The contest for commander-in-chief is
as much in doubt tonight ever. The
supporters of General Torrance say that
because of the fight in the East he Will
land the prize Illinois will it is said, sup
port him. From a leading member o. the
order. however, General Sickles is said to
! be almost sure winner for the reason
that he is. the representative IF the wishes
of the rank and file of the Gran1 Army in
the matter of pensions.