The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1902-10-09
MANY GOOD CLAIMS ARE
DISALL0WED EVERY YEAR
Commander-in-Chief Torrance Makes q
Rousing Address, in Which He AIludes
to the Death Of Mckinley and the
Need Of Congressional Action in Re-
gard to Anarchy-Good Work Of Wo-
mans Corps Commended.
[BY ASSOCIATED pREss.1

o.I
Washington, Oct. o.-Among the official
of the Grand Army of the Republic, which
met here today was the report of the COM
mittee appointed last year to investigate
the administration of the pension office by
the then commissioner of pensions, Hon.
II. Clay Evans, and to bring the result of
the investigation to the attention 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 Roose
velt's notice the resignation Of Commits
sioner Evans was accepted.
The investigation was conducted in
Washington and the commission began
their report by saying that Commissioner
Evans afforded them every opportunity to
make it thorough. 7peaking of the re-
suits of their inquiry into special COM
plants they say that many of these were
without merit, but that on the other hand
many mertorious claims had been thrown
out.
From a personal investigation they
say, I'VE are convinced that scores OF
claims are rejected every day that should
be allowed
Minimize Their Disabilities.
The dead line, or place of execution OF
veterans claims was found in the medical
division of the bureau, where unlimited
discretion seems to be vested, to ignore
the reports and ratings of examining sur
keons and to minimize the soldiers dis
abilities"
The report closes as follows:
I'VE respectfully submit that it cannot
reasonably be expected that the pension
laws will be fairly construed and justly
administered in accordance with the
spirit and ntendment by those who treat
every applicant for position with dis
trust, regard his attorney as fraud and
brand the examining surgeons as ncom-
petent and dishonest.
1--WE contend that such an attitude on
the part of those ntrusted with the break
ing Of the Alabaster box of the nations
love disqualifes them to administer SO
sacred 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 irremovable belief and convic-
tion that the present commissioner of pen
sions is not disposed to administer the
duties of his Office in that spirit of equity
and justice to applicants for pensions
which they have a right to expect, and
while we are actuated by no feeling of un-
kindness toward the honorable commits
sioner of PENSIONS we are convinced that
justice to the soldier is impossible of at
tainment under the Present administration
of the pension bureau"
For the Next Meeting.
The three active candidates for the
honor of entertaining the G. A. r. at the
next annual encampment are: Saratoga,
Atlantic City and San Francisco. There
seems to be quite sentiment in favor of
choosing city between the cities between
the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and it is
said the encampment may go to neither of
the three cities named, if city in the Mid
die West actually pushes its claim.
The leading candidates for commander
in-chief are General Stewart of Pennsylya-
MIA, Gen. John c. Black of Illinois, Colonel
McElroy of Washington, and Gen. Daniel
Sickles of New York. General Stewart is
thought to have the lead at present, though
General Blacks friends claim about an
equal number of delegates pledged. For
senior vice commander the race apparently
lies between ]. M. Smith of Ohio, and II.
Continued on Page Two.)