The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-10-14
TOO SEVERE
ON VETERANS
GRAND ARMY REPORT TOUCH
ING PENSION BOARD.
WHERE The TROUBLE LIES
Medical Division to Blame for Rejec-
ton Of Many M~eritorious Claims
New Commander.

Washington, Oct. 9.-Among the Of
fetal documents presented to the en-
campment of the Grand Army Of the
Republic, which met here today was
the report Of the committee appoint
ed last year to investigate the admin
istration of the pension Office by the
then commissioner of pensions, Hon
H. Clay Evans, and to bring the re-
suit Of the investigation to the at
tention of the president.
The first name signed to the report
was that Of Commander-in-Chief G..
Torrance, who stated in his address,
that as soon as the report was brought
to President Roosevelt's notice the
resignation of Commissioner Evans
was accepted.
The investigation was conducted in
Washington and the commission be-
gan their report by saying that Com
missioner Evans afforded them every
opportunity to make it thorough.
Speaking Of the results Of their in
quiry into special complaints they
say that many of these were without
merit, but that on the other hand
many meritorious claims had been
thrown out.
From a personal investigation"
they say, 1--WE are convinced that
scores of claims are rejected every
day that should be allowed.
Minimize Their Disabilities.
''The dead line, or place of execu-
ton, of veterans claims was found
in the medical division of the bureau,
wnere unlimited discretion seems to
be vested, to ignore the reports and
ratings of examing surgeons and to
minimize the soldiers disabilities"
The report closes as follows:
I'VE respectfully submit that it can
not reasonably be expected that the
pension laws will be fairly constru-
ed and justly administered in accord
ance with the spirit and intention
by those who treat every applicant for
a position with distrust, regard his
attorney as a fraud and brand the
examining surgeons as incompetent
and dishonest.
1--WE contend that such an attitude
on the part of those %intrusted with
the breaking Of the Alabaster box OF
the nations love d%isqualifies them to
administer so sacred a trust.
"Hailing from widely separated
states of the union and familiar with
the views Of our comrades, we deem
it our duty in making this report to
declare that among the survivors OF
the war of the rebellion there is an If.
removable belief and conviction thai
the present commissioner of pensions
is not disposed to administer the du'
ties of his office in that spirit ct
equity and justice to applicants fol
pensions which they have a right tc
expect, and while we are actuated by
no feeling of unkindness toward the
honorable commissioner of pensions
we are convinced that justice to the
soldier is impossible Of attainment
under the present administration o.
the pension bureau.
For the Next Meeting.
The three active candidates for the
honor of entertaining the G. A. r. a.
the next annual encampment are:
Saratoga. Atlantic City and Sa1
Francisco. There seems to be quite
a sentiment in favor of choosing
city between the Ohio and Missis
sippi rivers. and it is said the encamp
ment may go to neither of the three
cities named, if a city in the middle
west actually pushes its claim.
The Encampment Opened.
The encampment began its session
at 10 o'clock today in the First Con
gregational church in this city.
The attendance comprised about l,
900 delegates, making it n of thu
largest conventions every held by tn
organization.
Commander-in-Chie Torrance pre-
sided and an opening prayer was dc
livered by Rev. j. B. Starkey of Pitts
burg, who acted as chaplain-in-chiei
The report Of the committee on ere
dentials was accepted and withou