The National tribune., 1885-07-02
WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY JULY

J. 81. Goulding, Vermont; Edgar Allen; Viz.
ginia; G. B. Johnson, Washington Territory
John FL. Ruhl West Virginia; George A. Han
naford, Wisconsin.
SOLDIERS HOMES.
Comrade J. L. Bennett, of Illinois, read 8
telegram informing the Encampment that the
Soldiers Home bill had been passed by the
Illinois Legislature, and advising the boys to
go home and do likewise.
On motion of Comrade J. c. Bonnel, in re-
sponse to a resolution of the Department OF
Nebraska requesting it. a committee of all the
members of the Thirteenth Corps present at
the Encampment was appointed to consider the
advsability of this Encampment devising a
badge for the members of the Corps, one never
having been provided during the war.
THE So A MONTH SCHEME.
Several minor resolutions were presented and
referred, when Comrade Loring offered the fol-
lowing:
Resolved, That this Encampment indorses the
bill pending in the last Congress- known as the So
measure, of which the following is copy:
A bill granting pensions for service in the Army
and Navy of the United States during the war OF
the rebellion.
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House of Represen-
tatiUes of United States of america in Congress as
sebled, That all officers, soldiers and sailors who
served in the army, navy or marine corps of the
United States for period not less than 60 days be-
honorably discharged therefrom, shall receive a
pension of SS per month during the remainder of
their lives This act shall take effect from its pas
sage
and instructs its Pension Committee to make all
effort to secure its passage.
After some discussion the resolution was re-
ferred to the Committee on Resolutions. All
resolutions were ordered to be referred without
reading
Comrade Samuel Harper, from the Council
nf .,,...t -Szl zl,.L.- q
thanks to the various railroads and railroad
officials who had shown courtesies to the Ma
tional Headquarters officers during the year,
and likewise for the great reduction of fares
which had been made for this Encampment by
different railroads. Adopted. 1t was agreed
that the noon adjournment should be to p. m.
A resolution of Past Commander in Chief
Wagner to make the election of National Off
GERS the special order for tomorrow morning
at 10 o'clock failed of passage by two-thirds
vote after somewhat spirited debate.
GEN. LOGAN COMES IN.
About this time Gen. Logan appeared in the
room, and his coming was the signal for tre-
mendous outburst of applause and cheers.
The reports of the National officers were pre-
sented, read and referred, as follows: Adjutant-
General, Judge Advocate General, Quarter
masterGeneralJ Inspector-General and Sur
geon-Genera
for speech, and responded as follows:
COMRADES: In the hour of business it is not
good time for speechmaking. / can only say that
am very glad to be here in your midst. This is
one of the largest Encampments ofthe Grand Army
of the Republic since its organization, and in its
growth we ought all to take pride am informed
that this organization now numbers about S7 900
members in good standing. Probably its numbers
are over 300 900. hope and trust that it may con-
tnue to increase ! have often said until every
soldier in this land who bore an honorable part in
tJnn nf ofn ShaI he
one of its members entitled to all the benefits that
may be showered upon it.
There is only one thing that desire to say. 1t Is
this, and always when think of it. it brings to my
memory sad reflections. You and i, all of us, are
moving along with time on the downward road to
eternity. We are growing old instead of young,
and we often the silvered hair that we used to
see ouly occasionally in the line. The heads of
nearly oil are becoming whitened A few more
years and the Grand Army of the Republic will
only be known one of the things that are past.
So, while live, let live that when we
die future generations shall remember that we
lived life of honor and patriotism, and defended
the best Republic that God ever created lap
plause.
am sorry to find that the youth of the land in
growing up, many of them at least ask: why is
this assembling ofthe Grand Army of the Republic?
For what does it meet? What is the meaning of all
this?" Let each and everyone that belongs to this
organization. who participated In the slightest de-
in the great that nearest the hearts of
all the loyal people of this land read history from
his memory to every child he meets, Applause,
that he may learn that patriotism which lives in the
hearts ofgood, true and brave men. My comrades,
it Is from you that the truthful history in the future
must be written. 1t is not the man who writes for
the benefit of many but he who writes and tells the
tale that all may know the facts, who Is the true
historian. So let it be with
am glad to have met you. hopewe may meet
again many times in the future, Iapplause,l and
that our meetings may always grow in interest," and
that they may ever be as pleasant as this one has
been. (Great and prolonged applause.
The Encampment then took recess until
o'clock in the afternoon.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION
was called to order at the appointed hour by
the Commander-in Chief; he using gavel
made from piece of the stockade of the An
dersonville Prison. which was presented by
Comrades Ransom and Bond, of Michigan.
Vice Commander in Chief Rea took the
chair.
Department Commander Hall, of Maine, on
behalf OF Comrade DIR. w. III. Eldridge. of Burn
side Post, No. AZ, Department of Maine pre-
sented to the National Encampment a gavel
and box containing it, both of which were
manufactured from wood from every State aud
Territory of the United States, to be held as
the property of the Encampment so long as it
shall exist and then, when it shall terminate
by reason of there no longer being comrades
enough to compose National Encampment, it
shall then be turned over to the organization
of the Sons of Veterans and held by them for
ever
The gift was received with great applause,
and appropriately accepted by Senior Vice
Commander Rea, in an eloquent speech.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PENSIONS.
Past Commander-in- Chief Merrill, from the
Committee on Pensions, made the following re-
port, the consideration of which was postponed
until after the Committee ON Resolutions
should have made report touching the reso-
luton of Comrade Loring:
To the National Encdmpment:
The Committee OH Pensions respectfully submit
the following report:
Early during the Winter session of Congress the
Committee met in Washington, the Commanders
to the brevity of the session and the consequent
pressure of public business it was impossible to
secure the introduction with any promise of pas
sage, of just such pension bill met the approval
of your committee.
To the Mexican Pension Bill, as passed by the
House of Representatives, the Senate had attached
several amendments directly in the line of the
ton of the National Encampmant. Although not
altogether what was desired, this bill included
many excellent features that your committee united
in urging its passage, the only measure possible
to succeed in the then state of legislative business
The bill finally failed of passage by only a few
votes
We recommend the pursuance in tine future of
the well-deiined line of action concerning pension
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
as recently organized by the Hon. Commissioner
of Pensions and that its further value largely
depend upon the continual cooperation of the
Grand Army of the Republic: therefore,