The Washington times., 1905-10-08
Commander Makes Ad-
dress at Reception IN
His Honor.
REWARD FOR SURVIVORS
Quotes Precedents of Former
Wars--Rouslng Enthu-
SiaSm at @. A. r Hall.

Not the opening gun. perhaps, but the
first volley of artillery in the fight for
a service pension was fired last night
at G.. A. r. Hall by Corporal james
Tanner, elected commander-in-chief of
the Grand Army OF the Republic at the
Denver encampment.
The Department of the Potomac of the
Grand Army was welcoming Command
er-in-Chief Tanner back to the city He
was escorted TO the hail by the rem
nant of the Old Guard, under command
OF Captain Edgar, and received by his
old comrades there with intense en-
Auditors Applaud.
The gist of the meeting was the plea
for a service pension. Corporal Tanner
voiced il eloquently and there was no
question of the completeness with which
his audience was swayed. When the
commander-in-chief took his seat the
enthusiasm broke out in round nfter
round OF cheers.
Commander A p. Tasker Of the De-
partment of the Potomac. presided. The
other speakers included Gen S S. Bur-
dett, who delivered the address OF well
come to the commander-in-chief.J r.
King, past commander-in-chief: Col.
John McElroy: Chaplain Couden, of the
House of Representatives. and Col John
a Joyce. who read an original poem
entitled Corporal Jim."
A distinguished gathering of men
prominent in the Grand Army was on
the platform. The haIl was filled with
the rank and file.
On the subject of pensions. Corporal
Tanner said in part:
'rOf the action of the encampment on
pensions the little / have to say / de-
sire very much TO say. because a portion
OF the press OF the country seems to be
of the impression that the action taken
was my personal action. or that / was
mainly responsible therefor
"I disclaim any such influence. and ]
disclaim any responsibility whatever for
what was done. / repeat what 1 said
in my speech of acceptance: The will
of the encampment will be the law and
the lode star Of my administration and
I shall do my best TO carry It into ef-
feet
"Once again. as they did last year al
Boston and two years ago at San Fran
! unanimous vote resolved in favor of a
service pension OF s12 per month for al
survivors of the Union army in the wal
of the rebellion who served at least
three months and were honorably dis
charged They also. with like unanimity
favored an increase of widows pension
from IS 10 sl2 per month.
Entitled to Consideration.
mot dissenting voice was heard, and
/ submit that when the chosen repre-.
sentatives OF such body OF men. com.
prising a quarter Of million of our feI
low-countrymen, counting in their rank,
innumerable men who now hold or have
held seats in both branches OF the Ma,
tional Legislature men who are or hay.
been governors of their States, men wft
have filed all classes of judicial or othe,
high civil positions. when such mer
record their calm conclusions. arrived
at in the maturity OF years. they are
10 say the least, entitled 10 the respect
ful consideration Of their fellow-citizeus
We have three precedcnts. Fort,
years after the war Of the revolution
! forty years after the war with Grea
Britain. forty years after the war wit
Mexico. the Congress OF the United Sta to
enacted service pension laws putin
upon the pension roll all the survivors O
the armies of the Republic engage
therein.
1t was done in the case of the sur
vivors OF the war with Mexico, notwith
standing the fact that a great proper
ton OF those survivors after that wa
put In four OF the best years OF thei
lives trying TO destroy the RepublI,
%
canvassed at the time by a very lars
proportion OF our citizenship. and pal
ticularly by the members of the Gran
Army. and I recall with pride on TIL
occasion that the consensus of opinio
thereon found general expression In II
declaration: They stood for the fla
once. Let them have II for that
As Others, So Treat Us.
"Appomattox lies forty years behir
US. Our time has come. and so Il
that we say with a united voice to II
, Congress OF the United States: AS ,
did 1t unto others, do IL unto u.s.
, The bugbear Is the cost The Il
creased expense will no, be near whi
some would have US helieve Much .
: II would be Offset b, n
roads which death l1asi 1--
. those now drawing p s r
: jority of those death rs e1s 90
the higher rate OF ps sio1 ras.
only natural. as tn s.- Hs ir
rate because Of the rr
| ties. which have so .-
fountains OF life
[ Law WoI save
: Give us the 3. f.e- b..
and at once you ca r1--
the board OF pens .1'sc
| gaOnx nut of exis