Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-09-13
AN EXECUTIVE MEETING.
The G. A. II. Officers Begin tho Business
OF the Observation-Disclosures Orer
ME-. CIeveland,s Motto of Eeeret.

inc Il. a. H. Ohicers Begin the business
OF the Observation-Disclosures Orer
Mr.. Cleveland's MOTTO of Regret.
COLUMBUS, o., Sept 13.-At an executive
session Of the Grand Army Of the Republic
council, held with closed doors in the morn
ing, Commander In Chief Rea submitted the
annual report on tho condition Of the organ
ization. 1t was a lengthy document, and
showed that the present Membership was
80, gS6, gain since the encampment Of a
year ago of IS, 2S0, although nearly 5000
comrades he'd died. The largest percentage
Of gain was in Kentucky Commander Rea
commented upon the failure Of congress to
pass the pension bill recommended by the
late encampment An invitation from the
Ohio centennial to accept lis hospitality was
accepted unanimously A telegram from
President Cleveland, addressed to the Grand
Army, was read, which said that owing 10
pressing public business Of the hour it would
be Impossible for him to be present He
apologized for not answering more promptly,
saying the invitation had been mslaid. and
thanked the organization.
The Grand Army encampment Of 1889 will
be held in Milwaukee. This was decided
upon by the National encampment late in
the afternoon, the vote being unanimous.
indianapolis, and Atlanta, Ga, made eight
for the honor, but finally withdrew. Before
the encampment adjourned Gen. N. NJ. Cur
It's, of New York; Gen Goodman, Califor-
mia; Gen. j. G. Iinehan, New Hampshire;
Judge Veisey, Vermont; Congressman
Warner, Missouri, and II. NJ Dutfield, De
troit were placed in nomination for the posi-
ton Of commander in chief Warner Miller
placed Curtis in nomination in an eloquent
speech.
1t was II o'clock when Commander in
Chief Rea called the encampment to order in
the Metropolitan Opera house. In accord
anca with precedent only delegates were
admitted.
Voluminous reports we're submitted by
the adjutant general Judge advocate and
quartermaster general. The report Of the
committee on pensions, submitted by George
s. Merrill, gave rise to q prolonged and mi.
mated debate. Il excited their action in Sc
gard to national pension legislation, and
spoke in exceedingly bitter terms Of the fail
ure of the disability bin. The report was
opposed by delegates from Kansas, Texas
and other states who urged the Endorsement
of a service pension bill This was opposed
in several vigorous speeches by delegates
from Pennsylvania, New York and Illinois,
and finally the report % the comittee rein
doring the INDECENT bill was adopted
There was an exciting scene during the
afternoon session of the encampment While
the pension was under discussion a number Of
papers were handed up to the chairman TO be
read Among them was dispatch from
President Cleveland acknowledging the re-
ceipt Of an invitation to attend tho encanlp-
ment, and explaining that it had been mis-
laid by his secretary and forgotten in the
press Of business. For this and bis inability
TO be present he expressed his regrets. The
reading Of the dispatch, according TO come OF
| the delegates, was followed by Misses, groans
and cheers, aud for fifteen minutes the en-
campment was in an uproar Half dozen
motions were made from as many parts Of this
room 70 lay the dispatch on the table and to
refer II to tho committee on pensions. Several
delegates demanded Vociferously the name OF
the officer or cornrade who had taken it upon
himself TO extend the invitation, and Gen
Keller, in an excited manner asked Com
mander Rea II he was responsible for the
action. He responded promptly in the mega
tive, adding that he had no authority TO in
vite the president. Some Of the delegates
took advantage OF the circumstance TO max,
a general onslaught on the presidents pension
policy and his vetoes. Finally all the motioni
were declared out of order and the regular
business was proceeded with.
Last night it was developed that the invi
tation had been extended by the local com
mittee TO which body tho reply was addressed
and that it had gotten into the hands Of tn.
adiutant general OF the national encampmen
10y an error in the exchange Of papers.