The National tribune., 1908-09-10

hrst distinctly and unequivocally recog-
n1zeo. The justice of this order ap-
peaied to citizen and soldier alike, and
1t was most faithfully administered by
the then Commissioner of Pensions.
Ihat predetermined official. in the exer-
clse OF the authority conferred by law
did much to disarm criticism of the
pension system in general No dispose
tlon TO impose unusual burdens in maxi
ing the proof of age was manifested by
me Bureau. and the veterans with prac-
teal unanimity voiced their satisfaction
with the new order of things.
Order No. -.
Order No. rs was merely executive
direction. clearly authorized by the stat
ute. which placed the Pension Bureau
under the direct control of the Presi-
dent, and made the Chief Executive re-
sponsibie for its administration The
order was purely personal. and, Of
course without the continued binding
force of Federal Statute. 1t could be
revoked by his successor or any future
PRESIDENT. The G-and Army of the
Republic, the more certainly to insure
stability in the pension system. believing
IN the principle for which it had se long
battled. resolved to make the effort to
enact Order No. 7s into law. The Nc
Cumber bill, approved Feb. s. 1907. was
the result. Without division the Con-
gress and the President wrote into the
laws OF the Nation in words and figures e
an equitable provision Ito a degree)
Tor the care and comfort of our COM
Tades without attempting to measure in
individual instances the value of the
service of each beneficiary
The Widows BIZ.
BY the act of April 1e, 1908. the Sui
ioway bill, the most deserving of all
pensioners, the widows of the soldier
and sailor dead. were pensioned at a
liberal rating. The Cornmander-in-C Chief
and the National Pension Committee
gave this legislation the closest atten-
tion. In the ranks of the Grand Army
of the Republic there was well-defined
division of sentiment as to certain linz
ltations imposed Suffice it to say, the
Commander-in-Chief and the commit
tee sought the highest good of the
greatest number, and accepted as the
alternative of success the bill practically
as originally framed by the Hon. c. s.
Sulioway, the patient, hard working,
great-hearted Chairman of the Commit-
tee on Invalid Pensions of the House Of
Representatives. Mr.. Sulloway person.
ally would have extended the marriage
limitation IL he had deemed 1t practica-
bic without endangering the passage of
his bill The limitation as to income.
one of the most perplexing problems
with which pension officials have had to
VltSi, Wde elllTely etIml1aIet- 10 nave
changed the limitation as to marriage
from the 9th of June, 1890, go as to
make eligible all widows down to the
date of the passage of the act, would
nave added about $4,000 to the list OF
eiisibfes. thus adding to the additional
appropriation needed tabout $4,000,
oee, II was estinated) the sum of So
t6s.oe0 bringing the total up to about =
s15.e0e,00o. This. with the increase
carried by the McCumber bill, making
due allowance for the loss to the entire
pension roll from dropped" and
deaths" would have added SIS zoe, 600
to the appropriation for pensions in two
wears. 1t was not deemed wise to in
sist upon the proposed change Is to the
limitation of marriage. lest we might
fail in the larger matter.
Your committee has thus hastily
sketched the progress of pension legts-
lation since the National Encampment
met in Columbus, o.. in 1883, 20 wears
ago. While cur progress has seemed
slow. yet mighty advance has been
made. and a principle which we have
consistently urged upon the Congress
has been accepted, as sane and .souHd.
Tho Grand Army of the Republic has
always stood for general pension legis-
iation and never for an especial class
In view of what has been accomplished
in the rounding out of a code of laws
money, impossible in any other country,
annually upon the defenders of the Re-
public and their dependent ones, may
we not now consider the work of gen.
eral pension legislation for at least a
few years closed? Our great Govern
mont has sought to be fair in the main.
The Representatives of the people in
Nation and State have been generous
The members of the Grand Army of the
Republic occupy an enyiable place in
the hearts of their countryInen. By
and continued good citi-
We shall continue to command ,
the respect of the american people. It
ought to be the care of us all that by no
act or word Of ours shall we forfeit our
claim upon the gratitude and affection
of this people.
Thanks.
The National Pension Committee ac-
knowledges with sincere appreciation
the always courteous consideration of
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt. President of
the United States: Hon Joseph c. Can
non. Speaker OF the House of Represen-
tatiyeS; Hon. p. J. McCumber. Chair 2
man of the Senate Committee on PEN
sions. and Hon c. s. SrIloway. Chair
man OF the Committee on Invalid Pen
sions of the House of Representatives
To Hon. Nespasian Warner, Commits
sioner of Pensions; Hon. J. L. Daven-
port, First Deputy, and Hon. I. NJ. KEEL
ly, Second Deputy Commissioner of
Pensions, We extend our thanks for mcSe
valuable aid. Like the true comrades
they are. they have increasingly con-
ssr.ed the interests of you ALL The
affairs of the Pension Bureau are in the
hands of loyal. devoted public officials
mindful Of sacred obligations not light
ly assumed nor lightly regarded
Respectfully submitted in F., C. & l..
BY order of committee
Robert 4. Brown, Chairman; Jno. r.
King, Secretary.
Committees.
The Commander-in-Chie announced
the following committees;
On the Address of the Commander-in-
Chiefs. s. Burdett. Potomac; John
S. Kountz, Ohio; Leo Rassieur. Mis-
souri,; Z. II. Rhoads, Rhode Island; ST.
las II. fowler.
On Report of Senior and Junior Vice
in Chief-E c. Milliken..
Maine: e. Z. Stillings, Massachusetts,;
Jas. ts'Donneil. Illinois; Ed N. Keteh-
am, Texas; A. D. Sandborn, New Hamp--
shire.
On Report of Chaplain in Chief
Henry TT. Dufield, Michigan; ]. ]. Beas-
ley. Kansas; Daniel Tatum, Maryland;
5. d. Van Pcft, Kentucky; r. NJ. Greene,
California.
On Report OF nspeetor-General-W
J. Wells. Pennsylvania: ]. NJ. Whitley
Wisconsin; z. F. Hahn. New Jersey;
Fhos. A. Carr. New Mexico
On Report of observation-disclosures
c. Black Illinois: A. B.