The Portland daily press., 1885-06-25

legislation heretofore marked out by the action of
| the National Encampment.
We recommend the passage of the following:
We recognize the great usefulness of the army
and navy survivors division of the pension office
soner of pensions, and that its future value must
largely depend upon the continual cooperation of
the Grand Army of the Republic therefore,
ReS0tted That the eommander-in-chief be re-
quested by general order to explain the nature
and value of the work DONE and to invite the
active cooperation of departments posts and
comrades in its further prosecution.
Inc committee on ritual, to whom was re-
ferred resolution concerning the matter of
uniforms, reported in favor of leavingsthe
matter optional with departments and posts
as to whether they should uniform them
selves or not.
Several other committees were called upon
for reports, but not being ready Comrade
Tanner of New York moved that the En-
campment proceed to fix the place for the
next meeting of the National Encampment.
After some little discussion and number
OF dilitary motions, the motion was adopted.
Thereupon for q space OF two hours enSued
season of brilliant and feryid oratory in
favor respectively of San Francisco and
Nashville as places for holding the next an
nual encampment. The comrades from
California presented as reasons the fact that
the Posts of the Department of California
were made up of soldiers from all of the
States of the Union; that California send
ing out but few soldiers during the war,
these comrades of the Grand Army were
precluded from the privileges of regimental
reunions, and they desired the presence of
shores of the Pacific. The Legislature of
California had unanimously passed bill
making an appropriation of $25,000 for the
entertainment of the Encampment; the city
government of San Francisco had added to
that 5000 IN the form OF an appropriation,
and the citizens of the State of California
at large had subscribed $4,000 in addition to
these appropriations of the State and city.
The hotels and boarding houses had agreed,
by written contracts, to exceedingly reason
able terms to members Of the Encampment
and comrades of the Grand Army during the
period of the Encampment Even the mat
ter of carriage and hack hire had not been
overlooked, and this, too, was to be furnish
ed at reasonable prices, with no Opportuni-
ties for eXtortion. All of the railroads have
agreed to furnish cheap transportation from
the Missouri river to San Francisco and re-
turn, the rate being S50fOr first class ticket
for the round trip, and there was no doubt
but that the eastern roads would meet this
reduction so that the round trip from New
York to SanFrancisco would not exceed $3.50
and it probably would be reduced to $75.
The friends of Nashville, on behalf Of the
State Of Tennessee, the city Of Nashville,
the comrades of the Grand Army in that
State, and large number of ex-Confederate
soldiers, warmly invited the Grand Army to
hold its next annual encampment at Nash
ville and urged in its favor its proximity to
some of the fields of battle where the most
glorious victories of the Union cause were
won; to the opportunity that would be af-
forded the Northern soldiers to visit the new
South; and to the fact that great good would
come therefrom to our common country by
the intermingling and social greetings of the
bravest soldiers of the North and the South.
In opposition to San Francisco, it was urged
that the distance was so great, tthat notwith-
standing thesg glowing inducements held out
by the comrades Of the Pacific coast, the ex-
pense of the trip, both in the loss of time
other than transportation, would be so great
as to render it impossible for the poorer sol
diers of the Grand Army, it being composed
largely Of poor men, to attend the Encamp-
ment.
The vote was taken by departments, with
the following results: