The National tribune., 1884-12-18
Army of the Republic, and fully indorses the senti-

Army of the Republic, and fully indorses the senti-
ments therein expressed
COMMANDER AND COMRADES: There has been
pabshed, with the statement that it to be
sent to ali Posts of the TAR, Circular from
members of Post No. Is, Department of Massachu-
sets, appealing 10 comrades and Posts for an
Endorsement of the IS a month pension BILL
Ii is earnestly hoped that such Endorsement will
not be given.
The Pension Committee of the National Encamp-
ment have had three years experience in present
ing the subject of pension legislation TO Congress
and its several committees; they were commits
stoned TO speak for tile Grand Army by the highest
authority of the organization. Their di5nterested
ness and desire TO secure the best possible changes
in the pension law Will hardly be questioned, and
three years intimate connection with the subject,
its possibilities and probabilities before Congress.
certainly entities their opinions to consideration.
This committee has reported and their report
received the almost unanimous Endorsement OF the
National Eueampment, that il was inadvisable at
present to ask for the enactment of law granting
universal and indscriminate pensions.
There now pending over $50, coo pension ap-
pleanis of the eyeless, egless, armless and sick,
and of the widows and orphans of our comrades
deceased. IL is estimated that fourths of this list
delayed and their present adjudication pre-
vented from the lack of testimony which the lapse
of 20 and the death of witnesses since the war;
renders unattanable. Doubtless fully 100000 of
these pensions for needy and suffering ones would
have been at settled by the passage of the law
asked by the Grand Army Pension Committee, but
which was INSTRUCTED and impeded by the seeming
division of opinion from theuntimely introduction
of the So month bill.
The Endorsement of the latter Is not merely a
question of placing your comrades and Post in di-
rect antagonsm 10 the National Encampment, but
far more and worse; IL is a question whether the
column of 10000 able-bodied and strong comrades
shall just now attempt to elbow aside the already
long waiting procession of 200 900 disabled and suf-
fering ones, the orphans and widows, that the
larger and stronger column may first get their IS
month.
Let us not, as members of the Grand Army so
place ourselves before Congress and the people.
The S. a month bill would add over one hundred
millions per year to the present pension dsburse-
ments there is possibility of its passage at the
present time. The more pressing and immediate
legislation may be secured by united action; di-
Vided councils prevent the enactment of any
proper measure of relief.
Let us, in accordance with the action of the Ma
tional Encampment, first unitedly demand such
immediate legislation shall give pensions to the
long suffering ones now vainiy knock ing at the
portals of the Pension Office, and close forever the
doors of the almshOuses of our land against the old
veteran and his dependent ones.
In God and humanty's name let the well veter-
ans wait till the law can be amended to grant JUS
tice to the crippled and disabled ones
GEORGE S. MERRILL
LOUIS WAGNER,
c. II. GRosvENoR, National GA. R.
JAMES TANNER, \ Committee on
s. :. BURDFTT. Pensions.
JOHN &. LINEHAN,
o. X. MCNARY,
By command of
JOHN S. KoUNTz,
W. W. ALcoRN, Commander-in- Chief.
Acknowledgement.
THE CoMMANDER-IN-CH CHIEF AT GAINESVILLE.
On the 10Th inst. Gen. Kountz received a
royal welcome at GAINESVILLE, where the SAM
tary Fair is being held, under the auspices of
the Grand Army. At o'clock Hazlett Post,
$50 strong, headed by Bauer's Band, proceeded
to the depot to receive and escort the Com
mander- in Chief to Gold Hall, where the fair
is in progress. At S:15 the train pulled into
the depot, and the distinguished guests, Gen.
John S. Kountz. w. w. Alcorn, Adjutant- GEN
eral, and j. NJ. Hall, Aid-de-Camp to the Com
mander-in- Chief, were escorted to carriages
amid loud cheering and the inspiring melody
of Hail to the Chief" At S:45 o'clock Com
mander kountz was presented to the audience,
and he met with perfect ovation. The old
soldiers cheered, ladies waved their handker-
chiefs and the little children Joined in doing
honor to the distinguished guest.
As soon as the storm of applause had sub
sided, Gen. KountZ made brief but eloquent
acknowledgement of the compliment paid him,
and was followed in few appropriate words
by Adjutant- General Alcorn. This was fol-
lowed by one of the most interesting events of
the evening. Hazlett Relief Corps, under COM
mand of Mrs. Ii. c. LilIibridge, filed into the
hail, and moment later the President, Mrs.
+. j. Terry, was escorted to the platform bear
ing magnificent stand of silk colors, which
she presented to Hazlett Post in most grace
full and appropriate address. The gift was ac-
cepted on behalf of the Post by Comrade S. L.
Wiles Another feature of the evening was
the address of Mrs. Lotte L. Myers, Depart
ment President of the Woman's Relif Corps of
Ohio. At the conclusion of Mrs. Myerss re-
marks Commander Kountz delivered a special
message from Mrs. Kate &. Sherwood, the Ma
tional President, to Hazlett Relief Corps, which
was received with vociferous applause. after
which the ordinary program of the fair was
resumed. FORSYTH.