New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-10
PENSION EXAMINERS DENOUNCED.

PENSION EXAMINERS DENOUNCED
most interesting feature OF the encampment was
the report az the pension committee of the Grand
Army % the Republic This committee severely
criticised the medical division 81 the Pension Blu
reau. declaring that II a dead line where
yer" executed the claims of veterans seeking pen
s!ous- IL accused the personnel OF this division
OF app-os ching the reports Of the examining sur
Eeons throughout the country with suspicion and
distrust made m bad faith. u denounced
the reports that extensive frauds were pr1ctised
IN pension claims absolutely haseless.
The Wcmau's Reref Corps. the Daughters ~
Veterans and the Ladies ~ tho Grand Army or
the Republic also met iu annual convention TO
day THOUSANDS OF veterans and their wives. not
delegates either Of these organizations. attend
ed army corps reunions In the big tents on the
White Lot. spent tho beautiful october day In
sightseeing. 4 feature OF the late afternoon was
the dedication OF the cornerstone Of the proposed
memorial br.dse to connect Washington with the
National Cemetery at Arlington. Secretary Root
was the orator Of the occasion.
ADDRESS OF GENERAL TORRANCE.
General Torrance began his address with a n aIlu-
sion 10 tho assassination Of President Mckinley,
eulogizlng the dead Presidents character and con
demning the crime that struck him down. Speak
ing Of the report made by the Grand Army's com
mittso pensions. General Torrance said that
the acceptance OF the resignation of Commissioner
Evans By the President Immediately followed the
presentation Of this committees report him.
Referring further 10 this Inquiry. he said
The most gratifying result Of our Investigation
sale charges u fraud 50 often made against the
pensonsr 4 large part OF the last report o. com;
cases Of fraud cImIaittcd or Attempted to b com
ing thirty wears. but when analyzsd it appeared
that very few who had any military service were
were simply impostOrs not soldiers. The report
further showed thar The number ot Jnion soldiers
thousandth part o. per cent 81 the total PHnSer
partmert 0f the government 70 make favorable
a showing.
He pointed OUT that there more than two hun
dred thousand survivors Of the civil War whose
names do not appear the roll ~ al and advo-
Gated legislation in their behalf
General Torrance paid high tribute to the work
81 the women's auxiliary organizations and de-
voted considerable space 10 consideration of the
status Of the eN-Confederate soldier on this point
he said.
II Is not expected that the Grand Army OF the
Republic an organization will embark In the
building OF homes for soldiers. North OF south,
or org in the World more 5eeomingy crown
It's labors OF love in behalf OF It's own membership
tnan by extending the hand OF helptlness 70 their
fellow countryInen aEa'rsI whom thsy W. one s
suits OF civil Var are the animoSities ana bitter
feelings engendered thereby and | am conIlnced
der country Is 10 earnestly ard IN removing
every barrier that separates or estranses the PEG
feet fruit II We do not win the hearts well as
the flags Of the men who wore the gray \ union
OF carts well OF hands e. iud'spenSapIt 10
an indissolubIe union Of indestructibie States
General Thomas j. Stewart the new commander
in-chief or the Grand Army OF the Republic, mas
been adjutant general % the State Of Pennsyl-
v2nia since 1856. He horn in Belfast ireland.
on September II. 1888. He was educated IN the pun
lie schools Norristown. Penn and served In
the lSsth Pennsylvania Volunteers In the civil
Var IL has heA
National Guard since ls6S. He department
commander OF the PennsyIvania Grand Army OF
the Republic IN 1897, Secretary OF Internal Al
fairs OF Pennsylvania from 1856 10 $3.50. ana al
tutsnt general OF the Grand Army Or the hepuo-