The National tribune., 1888-09-20

firil,l ven the great fraternity Of which YOU
the honored head 4 have been amply rewarded Tor
every sacrifice and for every service which have
rendered or may he able TO render in the future.
Respectfully, In T., c. and l.,
AGjutant General.
THE. PRESIDENT SENDS HIS REGRETS.
The Adiutaut-Gene read the following
telegram FROM the President:
EXECUTIVE MANSION. WAsuISGToE. Sept II, 1855
GEN. JoHN r.. RIA: An invitation 10 the I'm
carlDmcut of the GAR was received some time
ago from Columbus. and laid aside by my SecTe-
tsrv for response. Now. when the perplexitles of
thousands of calls upon my attention compel me 10
respond by telegraph, am sorry to discover that
the invitation j. temporarily mi-iaId. 80 can dc
10 better i5san 10 send you this explanation with
the assurance thaI fully appreciate the courtesy
Of The invitation, and regret that my duties here
prevent my attendance. GRoNEE ILl-NE L-AND.
This was received with ezclamations and
some Misses. A c8mrade moved that 1t be re-
feIrcd to the Committee on Pensions. Gen.
Wagner. Of Pennsylvania, rose and said:
For the purpose Of keeping the record
straight ] would ask IL the Ccmmander-in-
Chief sent the invitation spoken Of"
The CommandeT-in-Chief was not able to
make himself heard and 50 the Adjutant-Gen-
eTal replied;
Tie Commander-in- Chief directs me to say
that he has invited no one. The invitation
proceeded from the Local Committee"
The whole EncampmeHt broke out into en-
thusastic applause, which wound up with some
c8mrade iuCuirInE:
VI hats the matter with Bea ?"
At which scores Of voices responded;
Hes all right.
When there was a new outburst Of cheering.
APPOINTMENT or COMMITTEES.
The following committees were appointed:
On Address Of communicating Chief Josiah
Given, Iowa; T. g. Rutherford, Michigan; Iheo.
W. Bean. Pennsylvania; Fred l.. Smith, Vermont
G. O. Edwards. Minnesota.
on Credeulials-Dauiel Fish Administered:
III. J.. THOMPSON, Illinois; a c. Aunroe, Massa-
cl1Aetts: Thomas Taylor, California; George c.
Cinty, Wisconsin.
On Rules and Reguiations-samuei Harper,
Pennsylvania; ii. q. Rogers, Wisconsin; H. :.
Detrick. Illinois J. ii. Ihacker, Connecticut; 7.
8. Carlson Nebraska.
On Report Of Adjutaut- General-Iz T. Gray, Wis
cousjn: John Cameron, District OF Columbia; @.
II Coulter. Kansas VIM. Todd, New York; Josiah
Eolbrook, OHIO.
Lang, Maryland T. G. MilEken, Maine
GOV. AHGER.
The Adjutant-General reported that there
was a telegram for Comrade Russell A. Alger,
and when he came forward 10 receive it, he was
greeted with loud applause.
WosIAS's RELIEF CORPS.
Van AusdaIe, Indiana, moved that COM
nittee Of Eve be appointed to visit the ConTen-
ton Of the WR.C. and bear tie greetings and
congratulations Of the National EBcampnent
Comades Van Ausdaie, Evans, Allen, Avery
and Eggleston were appointed such committee
Gen. Wagner, Pealsy lvania from the com
mittee appointed at the last Encampment tC
prepare suitable testimonial to Past Com.
manderin- CHEF EaiTebiid, reported that a fine
portrait Of that gentleman had beer painted
which would be presented tomorrow.
Recess iii 2 O'Clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Senior Vice Chief Cole in The
Chair.
EEPoETs OF COMMITTEES.
Gen. George s. Merrill, Chairman OF the Ma
tional Pension Committee. read the following
report in a clear, distinct voice:
To the National Encampmeat, Grand Army Of th'
Republic:
Tie Committee on Pensions, appointed unde
Eesoi nilon % Use National EgcaupIuent, respect
fully submits tie following report
During tie year tlsc committee has held SIX meet
ings. f1ur 81 tAem ID Washington.
EaF.y III the session Of Congress the COMMITTEES
secured hearing before the Pension Committee
q TIE senate and House and urged the passage o
the several measures Endorsed t the last session
q the Aaslouai I-tcampmeui, IS follows:
First. Jhe Disability BIB. proposed by this com
miliee and Endorsed Nllh practical uuauiInity bl
the E1cllbers Posts and National E-Ucataptuctt {,
The Grand army - Tie Eepu5-ic, granting pen
bioIs 10 ali veterans now disabled or iu need Il
mothers and fathers from date Of dependence
right. alld an increase for minor children.
second bill granting pension to al widows c
veterans.
Third. The bill FOR increase q pensions for la
Eeyefer disabilities substantially as presented b.
roe Manned Veterans League.
Fourh- Ail d the special recommendations il
HE report hy Pension Commissioner Black 10
Included in Tie foregoing.
fsh. Pensions 10 ali disabled survivors Of rebs
prisons.
john A. Logan - has been granted 70 THE wido'
q Gen George H. 2 Thomas, and tie widow Of Ger
Mluteid = Eancge1.
Seventh. A reeBact1 nent Of The arrears law.
E.glth. An increase Of 81 pensions noW al!Owc
o. q less rale. ~ 81 per moulh.
Tie senate Committee promptly reported bill
substantially tlIa Endorsed by you, but In the hop
cf overcoming the freely and vigorously expre-se
autaEDui@1u ~ AMY other form 10y tire Chairman
tine HDu-e Committee. clause insisting upS
present dependence Or disabled veterans We
1nsercl against TIE protest 81 your committee
This 1l. FEas ~ once passed by Tie senate, and
the House referred 20 tAe Committee on IuvaIi
Pensions.
Tie recommendation in favor of q special per
sion 10 Mrs Mary 8. Logan ga5ly 5ac..u4e SAW au
81 addition the following bills have been passed
both Eonses.
CREATING arrears Of pensions to widows Of vete
Els ifom deatl % husband.
Increasing Lle rate 3Or total or partial deafness.
Extending -ac time lu which officers records c1
be amended, and within which claims may be- Tie
f0r horses l0st in l1e service.
De senate also, % addition to the Disability ri
Iassec tfe following, which have not received 60
ALTERATION % .Hc House:
Increase f0I loss u bOlb hands from So 70 500
Fizing fbe r4tc for total Hc HlCssuess at 81
ABcFVa-e3Cr tLe loss u au eye frolg s. 20 e.
by every means Do it, power, through ollic
Presentation. la appeals bg our comrades from .
seest9ns q lie country. yCur committee urG
favorable aud early action, especially upon q
disability blll- t-iat Tie report from Tire House Cot
E-t+ee rl-Elt secure place upon tine 5egfsiatI
calendar. algIl-ug hope u consideration duri
the session.
Eour committee urged This bill IN the name
the elillTe membership ii the Grand Army Of
Republic, showing a. tile Committee OF the Hou
that 81 lIsteFgr differences % opinion existed auo
tfle veterans as % other pension questions no
ever far short tlls came. however more broad
some wished % hu5ll pension foundations, one a
al Wefc cordially, harmon lslslys enthusiastic
t0F this SINAI. measure 81 relief. ILwgula have G.
less than twentieth OF tie al eyed surplus
disposition VI IS tch puzzles Ill lawmakers. q
Eas the one CHING upon which every coniEadc "a
agreed. 10 pension measure ever came before CO
ErIss w3ta sgCH 3u Endorsement.
Weeks and months ST thc session passed with
action by the ccmllIttec-one man blocked
way.
III last Eicn the session WAS more than half So
Elg tle calendar Of The Reuse was piled bcyo
possibility q clearance. tic Chairman II the ca
nlittcc consented 10 report Aud such q rep,
Iflc unanimous voice 50 tlfe veterans was q s
Garded. ltsc 10000 members uf the Grand ar
told that even 1u So small and simple Il uiC
urc q relief ileg were not possessed 81 SUITES
tntelt geucc 70 know what they did wish OF to 10
HstatlctO conn pass it- The bid reported was T..
gre narrow. plcay uIl -sE affair, attempting TO
cclge 10y applying ile per aicm principle. not
tile broad and comprehensive scope Of lis nor
promoters, but as limiting qualifying and divid
BN and pennies. pensions for tire utterly