The National tribune., 1885-07-02

melted in compassion when mercy pleaded. is as
beautifully expressed the sentiment Is true and
patriotic We commend also his words respecting
Memorial Day and the introduction OF politics into
our Order. 1t should be the endeavor of every
comrade to cultivate the one and avoid the other
Memorial Day is the choicest in the calendar of the
Grand Army-a day of sweet renlembrances, dear
to every loyal heart and any violation of its sacred
ness by making it the occasion for fr1voiity and
amusement such characterize the Fourth OF
July, should be treated indignity to the COM
radeS who died that their country might 1--we. In
similar spirit should be treated any attempt to In
ject politics into Order. is the highest privi-
lege of soldiers, in upholding the great principles
for which they struggled and sacrificed SO much al
ways to act as their judgment may dictate; but as
comrades of the Grand Army we should scorn 10
degrade Order or lower its standard by using IL
for purposes other than those which come legi-
timately within the spirit and letter of its govern
ing regulations
The careful and economical administration of
Commander-in- Chief Kountz has materially In
creased the funds of the National Encampment.
This is q cause of great congratulations for IL De-
hooves the GAR, now in its prime, carefully to
husband its resources that in its declining years
it may suffer the Inconvenience of poverty or
become in any sense object of public charity.
Your committee recommends that $4,000 OF the
amount now in the hands of the Quartermaster-
General he invested in State and municipal secur1-
ties in first mortgage bonds, upon real estate
worth not less than three times the amount thus
loaned, the investment to be made under the di.
rection of the incoming COMMUNICATIVE Chief ana
the new Council of Administration.
Attention is called to the increased number OF
members suspended during the year. These sus-
pensions cheaper the Order, setting adrift IN the
community class of men who know Its counter
sign, possess its badge and represent its member
ship without having sufficient interest IN It's welfare
TO perform its duties The reasons assigned by the
Commandments Chief for this delinquency are gen.
erous and honorable to the kindliness OF his heart
and we respectfully submit that whenever inability
to pay dues is known the real cause of such fall
ure it should be regarded a privilege as well as
duty to remit them. But il is undoubtedly true, as
the Commanders Chief asserts that the very large
number suspended, more than Sd COO nearly 20 per
cent of the entire membership, Is due to negligence
aud inaffin Of prSt0 0An Fort
but one remedy, the election of Post Commanders
pledged especially to discharge the duties imposed
upon them relating to membership, who shall also
be clothed with the power of appointing Post Quar-
termastcrs. The COMMANDMENTS Chief AS well as
each Department Commander, is charged with the
appointment of their Guartermasters and 1t is be,
lieved that the same privilege should be accorded
TO Post Commanders. 1t is recommended, therefore,
that Art. VI, Sec. l. be amended.
Attention is especially called to the matter OF
badges. Unless made of captured rebel cannon, a
badge is lie, and the Post officer other comrade
who prOcures them from any source other than
through National Headquarters merits court-mar-
tal and prompt dismissal. OF the IL bronze rebel
cannon now being used for badges the history of
their manufacture service and capture IS well
known, and simple and beautiful relic of the
war, therefore the badges made from them should
be eagerly sought. and are worth many times the
price paid In this connection it is recommended
that during the coming year the Commander-1n-
Chief be requested to give this matter his individual
attention. to the end that the manufacture OF spuri-
ous badges be stopped, and that the parties now
engaged i'll obtaining money under false pretenses
by their sale, be properly dealt with under the law
1t Is recommended also that in making their IN
spections, Inspecting Officers be charged with the
duty of closely examining every badge for the
determining of its genuineness
In the appointment of special committees to con-
fer with the authorities of the Catholic Church and
other denominations who were opposed to our
Order, under the impression that 1t was a secret
organization, the Commander in Chief has exer-
cised good judgment, and the success of the COM
mittee in removing serious obstacle to the admlS-
to our ranks of thousands of deserving soldiers
ought to be an occasion of JOY to every comrade
There is not in the wide world outside of the
Christian Church an association founded on such
broad and liberal principles as that of the Grand
Army of the Republic. Under the folds of its BAN
ners are gathered men of all creeds and nationali-
ties Lessons of mental forbearance and federation
have been learned through bitter experience, and
the ties which bind those who for four years fought
easily be severed on this side of the grave We,
therefore, recommend earnestly the heartest in
dorsement of the Encampment for the labor of the
Commander Chief in the settlement OF this i'm
portant question. The reference of the Commander
in-Chief to the Veterans Rights Union, accompa-
MED by his hearty Endorsement, must meet with
an earnest response from every comrade loyal to
this organization and alive to the interests of the
rights of the veteran soldier, decreed to him by
statute but which fOr many years have practically
proven a dead letter. 1t is timely and pertinent
and it behooves this Encampment to give to this
portion of his report their emphatic Endorsement
as the representatives of nearly 100000 veterans
organized to protect the interests of the old soldier
Your committee heartily concurs with all that
has been said of the work and aims Of the National
Relief Corps. 1t was grand undertaking, and has
been carried out in the grandest manner Side by
| side with the Grand Army it has pressed forward
accomplishing in the name of faith and love and
charity what comrades could not have done with
out its assistance 1t has earnest wishes for its
continued success; our hearty support of the pur-
poses of the organization, and our cooperation in
all of its undertakings. We offer its members now,
ever, the strong right hand of our comradeship,
which will never weaken in its grasp Of love,
spect and sympathy.
In order to carry out these suggestions and rec
concentrations, we recommend the adoption Of the
Resolved, That the Council of Administration be
instructed to cause suitable testimonial to be pro-
cured and presented to the Commander in Chief.
Resolued, That the incoming Commander in Chief
and Council of Administration be authorized TO in
vest $4,000 of the amount now in the hands of the
| Quartermaster-General in State municipal Sc
curties in first mortgage bonds upon real estate
worth not less than three times the amount thus
| loaned.
ResoIred, That the Commander-in-C Chief be re-
quested to ascertain who are the manufacturers
and sellers of spurious badges and to take such
steps to secure the suppression Of the same as he
| may deem proper.
Judge Advocate General Austin offered an
amendment to the resolution of the committee
with reference to investing the surplus funds !;
that the security required should be three times
the value of the loan. Adopted.
The Committee on Resolutions reported back
a resolution from Mcpherson Post, No. 81, De-
| ti0nal Encampment to memorialize Congress to
have the names on stones marking graves of
soldiers in National Cemeteries painted in black,
as well as cut in the stone. Adopted.
| THE So PENSION BILL.
The eight-dollar pension bill (resoluton of
| COmrade Loring) then came up upon a report
of the Committee on Resolutions adversely
thereto. A minority report was made by Com
rade Grams, of Michigan, in the form of rec
ommendation of the passage of the resolution.
| Thereupon ensued long debate on amotion to
adopt the minority report, the discussion taking
| in the whole range of pension legislation. The
motion to adopt the minority report was lost,
and the majority report adopted by decided
| vote.
Governors Robie, of Main, Algcr, of Mich
| igan and Farchild, of Wisconsin, came in
| during the discussion, and the proceedings were
varied somewhat by exciting short speeches
| from these comrades, as well as from Past Com
mander- in Chief Robinson, who appeared with
| them.
The afternoon session convened at 3 o'clock.
| telegram was read from the Surgeon of the
| Soldiers Home at Dayton, sending the greet
| ings of Past Commander in Chief VIM. Earn
shaw, who is lying very i'll; telegraphic greet
| ings from Abraham Lincoln Post No. 13, New
York, and Fairbanks Post, No. II, Department
| of Michigan.
MOTHER BICKERDYEE.
The Committee on Resolutions resumed its
report With regard to the resolution request
| ing the Encampment to memorialize Congress to
| pension Mother Bickerdyke, while sympathiz-
| ing with the lady. and fully apprcciating the
valuable services she had rendered her country
| and the soldiers, the committee thought it out