The Portland daily press., 1885-06-26
THE VETERANS.
How They Passed the Day in the City.
Report Of the Eneampment Meeting in
City Hall.
Gen. :. s. Burdette Elected Commander.
in.Chief.
Ex-GOy. Selden Conner Senior Vice
Commander.
Officers Of the National Relief Corps
Elected.

| The Encampment was called to order in
| pursuance to adjournment at a little after 10
| o'clock yesterday morning.
| Comrade J. L. Bennett of Illinois, pre-
| sented series of resolutions from the De-
| partment of Illinois, in substance as follows
| The first was resolution communicating the
fact that the sum of S470 had been raised by that
department for the purpose of erecting suitable
| monument to the memory of Comrade Stevens,
the founder OF the Grand Army OF the Republic:
That sum not being suleent the department Of
| take the matter in hand and by suitable ,ac-
ton Obtain contributions from the order generally
throughout the United States for that purpose.
Referred to the committee on resolutions.
The second resolution requested the National
Encampment to adopt as memorial badge to be
worn on Decoration Day, a black ribbon, 112X
6 inches with the words "In Memoriam'' and
the Grand Army badge stamped thereon in silver,
with or without the number of the Post
Referred to the committee on resolutions
The third resolution was request to the Ma
tional Encampment from the Department Of Hi
Conlrade Stevens was the founder OF the Grand
Army of the Republic, should be recognized
Referred to the committee on Commander
in-chief's address.
Comrade Wagner, of Pennsylvania, from
the committee on the order of the Sons of
Veterans, made a report, in which it was
stated that the committee had examined the
constitutions, rules and regulations of the
several bodies calling themselves Sons Of
Veterans, as heretofore existing and as now
amended; that they found much that was
commendable, and many things which did
not impress them favorably, and which
should be changed. The committee COM
mended the organization and its purposes,
bnt doubted the wisdom of any official recog-
milton of that order by the Grand Army Of
the Republic, or any supervisory interest in
it; and offered a resolution resembling all
former resolutions giving official recognition
to that organization. The report was re-
ceiyed and the resolution adopted.
Comrade Evans from the committee on
report of the Inspector-in-chief, presented
his report, in which some recommendations
were made as to the procuring of more com
plete returns in that department in the flu
ture The report was adopted.
Comrade E. S. Dodd of Ohio at the re-
quest of the Commander-in-Chief, read the
following despatch in reply to the resolu-
tions telegraphed to Gen. Grant:
Mt. MCGREGoR, N. ", June "a, 1885.
John S. Koi7'tz. CO7nn1dnder-ji,-Chicf Of the
fTrGNU army oJ inc helfttbtlc.
Gen. Grant directs me, in reply to your de-
spatch, to tender through you to each one of the
three hundred thousand veterans, his comrades,
now represented at Portland, his thanks for their
interest in his health and welfare. Gen. Grant
wishes to take this occasion to also thank them
for their splendid services which have resulted in
giving freedom to race. peace to a cOntinent,and
[Signedl f. D. GRANT.
The reading of the despatch was received
with tremendous applause followed by three
loud cheers for Gen. Grant.
On motion it was ordered that the despatch
be spread upon the Journal of the National
Encampment.
Comrade Patch of Massachusetts, in an
eloquent speech, presented to the Encamp-
ment on behalf of Comrade H. W. Berthung
of Post 80 of Pennsylvania, a large crayon
portrait Of Gen. Grant, with the request from
the donors that it be suitably framed by the
Encampment, and thereafter presented to
Mrs. Grant A resolution to that effect was
adopted by rising vote
Comrade Grosvenor of Ohio offered reso-
luton instructing the Council of Admins
tration to insist upon definite contracts for
transportation rates to the Goth National En-
campment, and authorizing the Council, in
case q lust and fair contract could not be
made, to change the place of the Eneamp-
ment, and make arrangements accordingly.
After some little discussion the resolution
was adopted.
Conrade Nones of Delaware offered a reso-
luton appropriating one or two hundred dol
lars for the Immediate relief of mother
Bicker, one of the grand old nurses who ae-
companied the army of the Tennessee in all
its wanderings, and is now in destitute cir
cumstances in California The amount on
amendment was raised to $500 and the reso-
luton as amended passed During the de-
bate it was stated that Gen. Logan had as
serted that the very first bill he should intro
| duee in Congress at its next session would be
one to pension the old lady.
Comrade Hall of Maine offered the follow
ing resolution concerning the death of Past
Department Commander Wlns0r b. Smith of
! this State, who died yesterday morning at 4
O'Clock from the rupture of blood vessel,
occurring from the exertions in the march of
| Tuesday:
| of the Department of Maine, member of the Ma
tional Encampment, died in this city at O'Clock
this morning from rupture of a blood vessel;
Resolved, That it is with profound grief that the
Encampment receives these tidings, giving visible
emphasis in the midst OF our joyous meeting to the
sad fact so often presented, that comrades and
as an organization, our days are speeding to theil
| close;
Resofred, That the sympathies of this National
| Encanpment be hereby extended and entered
| upon its minutes, and copy of these resolution
be forwarded to the family of our deceased com
rade.
Comrade Barnum Of New York, moved as
an amendment that a memorial page be in
| serted in the proceedings. The resolutions,
| as amended, was adopted.
| resolution from the Department of New
| York, changing the time of holding Depart
| ment Encampments between the first day OF
| January and the first day of June was report
| ed adversely upon by the committee on rules
| and regulations, and the report was adopted
| On recommendation of the committee on
rules and regulations, to whom the subject
| had been referred, that reports be made semi
| annual instead of quarterly, the encamp-
| ment voted adversely.
The same committee reported back an
amendment to the rules by which the install
| lation of officers could be made public.
During the afternoon, Gen. j. s. Black
| the commissioner of pensions, made his ap-
| pearance in the room and was greeted with
| three cheers. He was escorted to the plat
| form, and spoke as follows:
| Comrades Of the Grand Army of the Republic
1t is with heart filled with varied emotions thai
/ greet you today, in fraternity, charity and 10y
| see men VINO with bare sabres, rode after Sherl
| dan and with trailed muskets fought beneatl
| Meade, under Sheridan and Logan, Applause
| and WHO making the resstiess column OF victory
| marched under Grant from the beginning to the
end in the most illustlious war that ever set tht
| banners Of liberty high advanced upon the pro
gress road Of humanity greet you and ma than
of age falling upon these heads there is spring
eternal within their hearts, the ever flowing foun
| tain of loyalty, whose waters, unembittered, arr
sweetened by pleasure and made brighter by fra
ternity. / know that this vast audience, not onl.
| splendid in its personnel, but splendid in tina
| which it represents, does not miSapprehend 1T
high mission; does not misapprehend that its OBJ
ject is to add new and ever burning laurels to thu
brow of the American volunteer soldier, and reg
ular too, wherever his name may be borne by TIN
winds iaround the globe. A set of men who ap
preciate all that belongs to victory, who CLAIM
nothing of spoil. Comrades, thank you again
for this pleasure of meeting you face to face. Al
low me to say in conclusion that belong to tn
working contingent of the Grand Army OF TIL
Ann ICIn a a
cept as meet you now, may never have occa
sion officially to know you but if | should vii
do the best can. [Great applause]
The committee on the address of the Com
mander-in-chief made the following report
To the National E,campment G. 4. RI
Your committee to which was referred the ad
dress of the conmander-in-chief respectfully re
port as follows
The work of the year evidences the fidelity an
ability of the Commander-in-chief. Despite tn
Presidential contest, the depression OF business