Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-06-26

to the committee on resolutions.
Commander-in-C Chief Kountz made brief
address, after which resolution was adopted
adverse to the consolidation of the Sons of
Veterans with the Grand Army. telegram
was received from General Grant thanking
the Encampment for its resolutions of sym-
pathy.
COmrade Patch read a communication
from Comrade Bruthony of Massachusetts,,
presenting an accompanying portrait of Gen.
Grant. 1t was unanimously moved that the
portrait be received, appropriately framed,
and sent to the family of Gen. Grant.
resolution was adopted on motion of
Comrade Jones Of Delaware. appropriating
$500 for Mother" Bickerdite, for her faithful
and kind services as servant during the war
Comrade Hall of Maine offered a resolution
eulogistic of Post Commander Winsor B.
Smith, who died suddenly at his residence in
Portland this forenoon.
1t was voted that the next annual encamp-
ment be held sometime between October and
May. A recommendation that Memorial Day
shall be observed on the Sabbath was adopted
BY the committee to whom it was referred
yesterday.
Comrade Loring's resolution in favor of
the eight dollar per month pension bill was
reported adversely and there was minority
report in its favor by Comrade Graves of
Michigan The adverse report was adopted
after protracted debate, and the encampnent
has thus refused to commit itself in favor of
the bill.
During the session Pension Commissioner
Black. Governors Robie of Maine and Alger
of Michigan. Past Commander-i C 1ief Rob.
inson of New York and Congressman Reed
of Maine made brief addresses and were en-
Enthusiastically cheered.
As the Nineteenth Annual Encampment of
the G A. K. draws near its end, there is a
constant withdrawal from the ranks of the
veterans.
Many are leaving Camp U. S. Grant for
home tonight and many mo re will leave to-
morrow, while the exodous in reality will
occur on Saturday.
Many of the veterans are men prominent
in business affairs, and majority of them
are doubtless anxious to return to their
homes to resume ordinary vacations.
That nearly all the members of the organ
ization have thoroughly enjoyed their few
days in Camp U. S. Grant, has been abun-
dainty attested by the veterans themselves,
and to large number, the nineteenth en-
campment will be a memorable episode in
their lives. The veterans have entered into
all the enjoyments, for which their camp
life presented abundant opportunities, with
rare zest, and have found each such pleas
ures as best suited himself.
1t has been week of freedom in camp.
| Never in the history of the organization has
encampment reunion or other gathering of
the Grand Army been favored with better
weather. 1t has been simply delightful all
the week. There may have been some dis
agreeable circumstances attending the re-
union, but the instances are not many. There
have been cases of exorbitant boards for &C.
ccmmodations by which visitors have suffer-
ed, but these have been exceptions and not
by any means rule.
Hotel and restaurant keepers have reaped
golden harvest, as have the hundreds of
peddlars of medals, lemonade and other
things salable.
Now that the question as to on whom shall
fall the honor of bearing the title of COM
mander-in-chief of the G. A. R. for the next
year has been settled by the selection of Hon.
Samuel S. Burdett of Washington, d. C.
1t is considered that the main business of
the Encampment has been finished and the
comrades will quickly desert their tents and
quarters for homes.
When the afternoon session was called to
order, today, all tie routine business had
been disposed of, with the exception of elect
ion of the national officers.
After the session was called to order sew
eral kilograms of greetings from posts in
various parts of the country, who are not in
attendance at the encapment, were read.
A resolution favoripg free land grants to
the soldiers was offered, but deemed inadvi.-
able to take on the subject.
The report of the Veterans Rights Union
of New York, favoring that the Union use all
possible efforts to secure recognition of PEN
sion claimants at Washington, was reported
adversely from the committee.
A minority report, however, was adopted
and the commander-in-chef was authorized
to appoint a committee to present resolutions
to the department at Washington in behalf
of pension claimants. recommendation
was adopted that all petitions from posts or
pension claimants be sent through the Ma
tional headquarters of the Grand Army of
the Republic.
A series of resolutions of thanks to Con-
gress for having placed General Grant on the
retired list of the army, were adopted.
1t was then voted that the enc ,mpment
proceed to ballot for commander-in-chief A
roll of the States was called for nominations
When Illinois was called Comrade Lawles
presented the name of John W. Burst, of
Illinois. The nomination was seconded by
Comrade Clarkson of Nebraska.
Comrade Hall of New York presented the
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