Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-22
THE MEXICAN VETERANS.
The Annual Convention Of the Associa.
ton In This City.

THE MEXICAN VETERANS.
| ton In This City.
THE MEETING OPENED AT NOON ToDAY-oxN.
pENvKR's ADpRRss-rIoUREs FROM TIE sEcRE-
rARY's REPoRT-suRvIvoRs OF THE wAR-A
BANQUET roSIaHr.
Groups Of men whose hands and boards we're
silvered by time sat about in Edels hall this
morning chatting together and indulging in
"reminiscences Of war times. They were the
| members Of the National association of vet
Grams Of the Mexican war Of 1886, and
| today they met in their 18th annual reunion.
In spite q the length Of time that has
| elapsed since the members Of the association
closed their active careers as Mexican soldiers
many Of them displayed q commendable activ-
| ity Of body as we'll as of mind With the
majority, however, the fashion of carrying
canes prevailed, and good stout ones at that
ns the OF great aDss l in h
some youngsters among the number, or rather
those who we're regarded az such by some of
the gray-haired members. Among the boys
was Mr.. Joseph Mollere Of this city, who is
can war. He entered the service when he was
mere boy and now he is only little past
middle life and considers himself young man.
| THE OPENING PRooEEpNes.
Shortly after IL o'clock the president Of the
| association, j. w. Denver. and the secretary,
| A. n. Kenaday, mounted the platform and the
| vigorous application of the presidents cane on
the table brought the members Of the associa-
| ton ~ order.
welcome, in which he spoke of the dwindlin8
numbers Of the veterans as advancing years
| and infirmities carried them away. He hoped.
however, that the annual meetings would con-
| tinue to be held and the associations which had
| first brought them together would still be
cherished until the last member had answered
| the roll call.
This sentiment was greeted with applause
and then the president suggested that Gen.
Cakes and Maj. Melbourne be appointed to
call on the President of the United States and
ask him when it would be convenient for him
to receive the members of the association.
The committee was appointed and at once lett
the hall to perform this duty.
Committees on organizations and resolutions
were appointed, and while the committees
were out of the hall the secretary, Mr.. A. M.
kenaday, presented his annual report. 1t gave
an interesting statement of the number of sur
viyors OF the army, navy and marine corps
who served in the war with Mexico:
not be given exactly, but were based upon the
pension appropriations. Since January 20 1887,
the total OF applications of survivors and
widows aggregate 31,022, while the certificates
issued amount to 25,646, leaving 5,376 unsettled
claims.
OF this last number (5,376) a large proportion
may reasonably be set down as Implications,
the residue being suspended" cases, where
the claimants are less than sixty-two years of
age or have not pensionable degree of disa-
bility as required by the law and others await
ing further legislation, such as irregularly mus
tered volunteers, Transfers, and quartermas-
ter's employees.
During Gen. Blacks administration of the
pension Office about $4,000 cases were settled
within two years of the date OF passage of the
law. Nearly year has elapsed since the new
administration took up the cases. and about
l,452 certificates have been allowed which in
dictates very great reduction in the clerical
force of the ''old War division" At this rate
OF speed, If no more applications shall be filed
in the meantime, the residue of claims may be
settled in about four years, unless grim death
steps in and relieves the Office Of great part
of the labor.
Nearly two regiments Of clerks" the report
said. ARE employed by Uncle Sam in the pen.
sion bureau and with the exception of perhaps
three or four efficient examiners, who are as
signed to the old war cases. the great majority
are employed in rerating the pensions of the
young fellows who saved the country which
worth saving by adding q million square miles
to its dimensions"
MEMBERS PRESENT.
Among the members present were the follow
ing: Scott legion, Philadelphia-Casper Often
waller, Robt. c. Weer, Jas. B. Wilson, Geo.
II. Westacott, VIM. c. Haines, Francis ].
Keffer, John Kritser. Patrick Mcdonald.
From this city-A. j. Williams, Chas c. Smith,
F. b. Schaefer, Jas. s. Dawson, Samuel c. Reid,
Gen. E. G. Darlington, Thomas Shackelford,
DR.. c. De Montreville, Henry Zell, James H.
Stewart, Jesse L. Jarrett, VIM. f. Thomas,
Charles Vermillion, John L. Lynch, s. N. Hoyt,
VIM. II. Sibley, Alfred Fairal, A. ]. Hurdle,
Vim. j. Gary, Joshua Clark, George NJ Conn,
Ogle, Jos. Mollere. j. r. Howard, Thomas G.
Evans. George s. Fisher, VIM. C. Wheeler, Gen
James Oakes samuel McCurdy, r. NJ. A. Fem
wick, N. H. Robbins, Capt. VIM. Fletcher,
Frederick A. Klopfer.
THE BANQUET TONIGHT.
The annual session will close with a banquet,
which will be held this evening at Eders hall.
The following are assigned to respond to
toasts: Gen. T. T. Crirtenden, Gen. J. W.
Denver, Harvey Watterson, Silas Hare. Gen.
Stewart Van Vliet, Commodore o. c. Bodyee
and Col. s. G. Reid.
The committees not having returned speeches
were made in favor of more frequent meetings.
Gen. Darlington of this city in one of his char
acteristic speeches, marked by eiouuence and
humor, Endorsed this idea.
THE OLD OFFICERS REFLECTED.
The report Of the committee on permanent
organization favored the reelection of the
old officers and was adopted. Resolutions we're
reported expressive of the sense of loss felt by
tine members Of the association by the death OF
Representative Townsend of Illinois; thanking
Hon. Frank Lawler and others for their
efforts to procure the passage of
the increase. service pension bin; favoring
the erection Of memorial hall in this city aud
also equestrian statue to ex-President
Zachry Taylor; thanking the president and sec
Rotary of the association for their services.
The resolutions were adopted
Col. Sam Reid reminded the veterans of the
fact that today was the anniversary of the
battle of Buena Vista. He said that it was
appropriate on such an occasion to advocate
the erection of a statute to the memory OF the
hero OF that battle, Gen. Taylor.
TO BE RECEIVED BY THE PRESIDENT.
The committee appointed to call on the Pres
ident returned and reported that the President
would receive the members of the association
at o'clock this afternoon.
Ii was decided to hold the next annual meet
ing on February % in this city.
A recess was then taken until o'clock.
SELLING THE NEW STAMnS