Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-10

Commander int Chief Torrance pre-
sided and an opening prayer was de-
livered by Rev. J. 3. Starkey of Pitts
burg, who acted as chaplain-in-ch chief.
Commander Chief Torrance then
delivered his annual address. He was
received with cheers ana WAS fire.
quentiy applauded.
Gen. Torrance began his address
with Il touching allusion of the asSas-
sination of President Mckinley, cuio-
giving IN strong terms the dead Presl-
dents character and condemning in
bitter language the crime that struck
him down. He advocated the enact
mcnt of laws by Congress which
should make certain the punishment
Of any person who should make an as
saul, on ii Chief Executive. He said
that lawlessness Of speech usually pre-
cedcs laxlessness Of act. and added:
we have never had President who
| deserved to be caricatured and we
will never have one that self-rc-
| spectine press or people can afford
| 10 hold up 70 public ridicule. More
resnect for rightfui speech with less
appetite for sensationalism will 90
| much To wither the evil passions Of
men ana To III oiiiDAt tAi'+ ."'iNNS 80
security of both life and property in
| this republic.
| Talxine. 10 the question Of pensions,
| General Torrance related the clrcuiil-
stances connected with the iivesti-
CATION of the charges against Former
| pension Commissioner Evans. Speak
| ING OF the report made by the Hraiiu
Army's committee on pensions, Gen
Torrance said that the acceptance OF
| the resignation Of Commissioner
| E,-,ns nv the President immediately
| followed th,. presentation of this COM
| rnittea.s report to him. Referring fur
her 10 the effect produced by this m
quiry, ne sald:
| ..One most gratifying result OF our
| investigation was to ind that %"
| Ground existed for the wholesale
| charges of fraud so often made against
| the nension commissioner. \ large part
of the last report of Mr.. Evans was
| taken up with a recital of cases oil
| fraud committed or attempted to be
| committed against the government
during The preceding 80 years, bu'
| when analyzed il appeared that very
few who had any military service were
parties TO sucn frauds. The violators
Of the law We're simply impostors. moi
soi,lers.
The commander in chief also took
| oonizance of the charge that the pen
sion roll contains the names OF more
Union soldiers than there are survivors
Of the war, and pointed out that there
are more than 100000 survivors OF that
war whose names do not appear on tht
roll ut all. He advocated legislation IN
their behalf, saying:
Few of these veterans have nos
pital record and to "a large extent theN
comprise the men that marched WITH
Sherman TO the sea and fought Viii
Grant at Appomattox. They took par
in the grand review in 1865 and were
The last to leave the field and amone
. the last to apply for relief at the hands
Of the government.
/ "FoI more than third of cent'ir,
| they have borne an honorable part u
advancing the interests Of the country
and at this late day, when III their oit
APE they apply for heln. they siiouis
not be regarded with 'iiS;avo' bccdus'
Yhey did not apply earlier
{ Gen Torrance declared that no peeu
: MARY compensation ever could be mad
1 10 those who preserved the Union
ri THE patriotic impulse that moye'
! ,ls TO Law all on the altar Of our coiin
: try had" he said. mo fellowship viii
. nerceuary- motives. We did not be
# LITTLE the grandeur of the cause il
which we engaged by calculation Q
/ personal gain. The inadequacy OF GU
nav hut added TO the dignity of tn
D penalties we referred
4 Gen. Torrance paid high tribute Z
(continued on page 80