Evening journal., 1889-02-22
EMPIRE STATE VETERANS.
The Annual Encampment OF the G. A,
X. at Binghamton.

BNGHAMToN, N. ", Feb %. r. The
twenty third annual encanpment of the de
partment Of New York c. A. r. is in session
here, with headquarters at Hotel Bennett
This is the third eucampment Of the depart
ment held at Binghamton since the organi-
zation in 1867, and the comrades remember
with pleasure their welcome in the past by
the Broome county veterans. The first de
partment encampment held az Binghamton
was in 1870, when Comrade f. b. Lansing
Of Rankin Post No, 10, Brooklyn, was elected
commander and the second in 1881, when
Comrade Ahram Merritt was elected
Among the prominent Grand Army COM
rades Of Binghamton are ex-Leutenant Gov
einor Gen. John c. Robinson and Lieutenant
Governor Edward T. Jones. Gen. Robinson
was Binghamton boy, Of military family,
and at the outbreak of the war was in the
regular service and commanded at Fort Me
Henry, Baltimore, during the riot, April,
ls6l The fort was poorly equipped at the
time, but the young captain made the best
show that he could and deiied the mob, which
first tried intimidation and then assault.
captain john" as he was called at home,
held the fort, and la a few days recruiting
protection Of his guns
Gen. Jones was citizen Of Massachusetts
when the war came on, and led the Sixth Mas
sachusetts regiment through Baltimore, fight
ing the mob Gen Robinson lost his right
| leg at Spottsylvania and was placed ON the
retired list as major general some years after
the war. He has been highly honored by the
veterans. He served one term as department
commander and one as commander-in-chef
of the Grand Army, and also served as presi-
dent OF the Society of the Army of the Po-
tomac. Gems. Robinson and Jones were
among the earliest TO unite with Watrous
! post, and Comrade Jones sits in the encamp-
ment as a delegate from the post
Prominent among the measures before the
/ encampment are those for the relief of vet
Grams. The State Home for Disabled Vet
Grams at Bath, Steuben county, needs 10 be
enlarged. it is said This home was founded
by the Grand Army comrades, and at pres
ent two-thirds of the expense is paid by the
United States Another measure is the SER
vice pension question. New York has de
clared itself in the state encampment for
several years in favor Of a service pension.
At the last encampment held at Syracuse in
February, 1883, Past Commander Charles A.
Wells, delegate of Abraham Lincoln Post, No
l3, Of New York city, presented "A resolution
from his post offering 70 the encampment fol
action a graded service pension bin. The en-
campment indorsed the bin and instructed
the department delegates to the national en-
campment at Columbus to support the mea
sure Soon after the encampment at Syra
cuse a national association was formed by a
convention held at Irving hall, New York
March /, for the purpose Of agitating tn,
bill from Lincoln post. This bill, know
as the per diem rated service pen
sion bill, has been introduced in botl
houses of congress. Some of its feature
were embodied in the pension bills reporte,
70 the house at the last session by the com
mittee on pensions, and also in the bill adopte,
by the national encampment at Columbu
last September. The original bill from Lin
coin Post provides a monthly pension for al
veterans, at the rate Of one cent I
day for each day of service rendered
A soldier who served one year woulC
draw S365 month service pension
and the amount allowed for any term o
service under or over one year would be a
the same rate. This service pension 10 be il
addition to any pension allowed for disabilit,
incurred in the service The bill reported /,
congress by the house committee at the las
session provides that such pension be granite,
] ~ al httSi AAo Dn AtalAAAk Aht aye Nl %
years. The bill adopted at the national en-
campment at Columbus, and which the pen
sion committee of that body will bring befor
the present congress, asks for a pension of s
a month for all veterans, and an additiona
allowance of cent day for every dal
served above eight hundred. This is th
per diem bill as drafted by Lincoln post, bu
restricts the pension Of - minimum Tn
house committee bill is the original Iinooll
post bill, limited in application to veteran
} over 62 years Of age
During the year an act of the state legisla
ture, secured by the Grand Army, provide
that INDECENT soldiers and sailors of tn
Union service shall be assisted by the au
thorities upon the recommendation Of tn
relief committee Of post Of the G. A. r.
and superintendents of the poor are prohi
bited from sending such cases TO the aim
house except upon the Recommendation Of th
Grand Army. Another favorable act is tn
} bill providing meeting rooms for Gram
Army posts in the public buildings Of tn
; state. The headquarters of the departmen
are now located in state building at All
) bany, and the department commander ha
! begun the work Of gathering memorials AM
records of the war and OF the Grand Army t
! be filed with the archives Of the state.