The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-09-04
THE G. A. R. ENcAMPMENT.
Commander-in-Chie Warmers Adore.
Urges Service Penson I,ecisIatton


MILWAUKEE, Aug. 2s.-The twenty-third
national encampment was called to order by
Commander-in-chief Warner at 1915 o'clock
this morning. After prayer by Chaplain Whar-
ton OF the Wisconsin department and a brief
intermission TO allow late delegates to seat
themselves, Commander Warner began to read
his address. After eulogizng the q. A. r. at
length, the commander continued:
The growth Of our organization has been steady
and healthy. Strong a. II is IL has never been and
trust never will be, used for partisan purposes or
to crafty the personal amb lions OF any set
OF men. The greatest gain during the year has been
in the department Of Missouri. Eight departments
show gain In membership In good standing Of
1884, distributed as follows: Illinois 2S3: Iowa
l,4i3i Nebraska, i,709; Pennsylvania, l. 746; New
York, 1895; Ohio, 2,003 Wisconsin 2O28; Missouri,
1862 The net gain in membership during the year
lin good sianding) was n ,43i.
Commander Warner referred briefly 10 the
reports OF his stat officers, the decisions Of the
Judge advocate general the completion of a
history of the G.. a. r., the census of soldiers
and sailors and then took up the subject of the
nag and the public schools, commenting to
each department the patriotic practice of the
posts in the department of New York of pre-
senting on the 22d Of February, the American
nag to such public scools as are not yet in pos
session of one.
The matter of pensions was reserved by the
commander Tor the conclusion of his address.
He said:
The committee on pensions have been unable to
make any progress In securing favorable consdera-
ton by congress OF the pension bills recommended
by the Columbus encampment The reason for this
failure will be given by the committee, and know
that its members in no way to blame. The
question OF pension legislation will come before you
again for discussion and recommendation. 8 o
The G.. \. X. has exercised its full In nuence
in pension legislation, because OF the dvis-
Ion in It's ranks. The measures recommended by
the national encampment should not be antagon-
lied by conflicting measures urged by departments
OF posts. Unity OF action will secure satisfactory
results divided council will contribute to defeat
Our demands should be reasonable and consistent.
The last encqmpment, after much discussion, oy a
practically unanimous vote recommended to con-
gross service pension bill. and what Is known rs
the disability pension BILL the latter having received
the repeated approval OF previous encampm euts.
Ibis action was the result OF compromise and. in
my Judgment. was as wise IL just and con-
sentative. My experience in congress leads me TO
believe that You will greatly strengthen the hands
OF our friends in that body by demanding az Mil
lumbus
II we are true 10 ourselves before the next en-
campment every comrade disabled by age sickness
or accident and the widows and orphans OF veter-
ans. will be borne on the pension roll. We should
neither give sleep To our eyes slumber to
lids until justice Is done our comrades The service
pension bill will come. The day Is not far distant
when an honorable di charge from the Union army
or navy shall be all the evidence required
pension to its holder,
About two hundred regimental reunions were
held this afternoon. About 2j,U00 people
gathered at the national soldiers home for dis
abled veterans, where the men passed in review
before Gen. Sherman and party. Gen. Sher-
man was received with immense enthusiasm,
and made brief speech, which, as he says, is
the last he will ever make,
The annual reunion OF the veteran signal
corps was held here to-day, and elected j. b.
Foraker OF Ohio president; James H. Kelly of
Albany y. y, Louis X. FOrtescue OF Philadel-
phia, and j. X. Fitch OF Evanston, ILL.,, vice.
presidents; Capt Charles y. Marcy OF Boston
secretary; Eli II. Dowler OF PIttsburg quar-
termoster, and Prof j. Willard Brown OF Cam
bridge historian.
This afternoon, Boston was chosen as the
next place OF meeting Saratoga, indianapolis
and Washington were also nominated, but Bos-
ton received an overwhelming vote. Speeches
IN favor of Topeka aud Los Angeles were made
with view to future results.
The pension committee. composed OF George
T.. Morrill, John S. Kountz J. 7. II. Burst, X.
w. Blue aud Lueius Fairohld, submitted its
report After stating that owing to the short
session of congress following the last encamp-
ment very little in the line of practical results
had been accomplished, the report says:
Immediately alter the holiday session OF congress
the pension committee held a meeting in Chicago,
and from thence, by appointment, called upon the
president-clcct at his home IN indianapolis, having
very pleasant interview and receiving from him
the most cordial assurances oi bis warm interest In
the great question If pensions, and his earnest de-
sire for generous legislation in behalf Of the defend
OF the Union.
Following the practically unanimous expression
Of opinion by the last national encampment, your
committee prepared two pension bills. The disabil-
ity bill was brOadened in its provisions 10 In
cludc your dOrsencnt for pension the
widows OF all honorably discharged veterans
This bill, As thus enlarged, provides pension OF
So per month 10 ali hOnorabiy discharged soldiers
and sailors who are now, may hereafter, become
disabled. without requiring proof that such di,a-
in .he line OF their service, and as
in all other similar bills prepared
by the committee, without any requirements Of
dependence in relation 10 such disabled veterans,
thus relieving the bill entirely from the Objectionable
faint OF pauperiSmi pension for all dependent
parents from the time OF actual dependence whether
occurring 1T or subsequent 10 the sons enlistment;
increase OF pensions 10 minor children from s. TO s.
PER month aud pension for all widows, whether
the deceased hus and was not in receipt Of
pension The committee also prepared bill grant
ing pension each honorably discharged veteran
at the monthly rate OF one cent for each days
vice, with minimum limitation OF IS per month.
Bills containing ali If these provisions wero then
In various forms before the committees OF congress,
but Il was found, on consultation with members.
trey impossible in the then state OF public affairs 10
secure any favorable action thereon. Should the
encampment reafirm its opinions of one wear ago,
these bills ready Tor early presentation to both
branches OF congress az the opening Of tho session
MINIATURES. Wis, Aug 29-This has been
the great day of the encampment as regards the
crowds. The day trains brought in about 5000
additional visitors, mostly from Wisconsin and
Illinois, the great attraction being the night
naval battle in Milwaukee bay. Fully quarter
OF a million people occupied the beach and the
vast amphitheater on the hillside Of the lake
shore park was packed with grand army men
and their wives, the seats being reserved for
them. The battle was splendid spectacle,
being participated in By about sixty vessels,
besides a stationary mortar feet and about
5000 infantrymen and artillerymen, including
seven companies of the fourth battalion of
Wisconsin, the Chicago zouaves, the battery d
of Chicago Milwaukee first light battery and
several hundred sons of veterans. There were
fired 10000 rounds of musketry, 5000 shells,
1850 rockets and 10000 pounds OF fireworks
were exploded.
The plan Of the battle was an attack by a
hostile fleet and repulse by the shore batteries
supported by the infantry. The line of battle
fleet was led by the U. S. man-of-war Michigan
and the revenue cutters Andy Johnson and
Fessenden. The signal was given at s o'clock,
and, as if by magic, the whole bay was illumin-
ated and the spectators could then see the
animated movements of infantrymen, artillery
men and seamen as they got ready for the con-
fict Then darkness succeeded as the line of
the battle fleet gracefully unanswered, engsg
ing the shore batteries as they passed and the
latter returning the fire.
Ii is a splendid spectacle which the specta-
tors now see as the vessels pour in their port
fire and the land batteries respond. Guns,
mortarS and rocket guns discharged thoir mis-
siles and as the feet makes the circuit the
vessels continue 10 pour in their raking broad