Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-15
GRAND ARMY On PENSIONS.
Majority Report Of the COMMITTEES
Against Urging Legislation Defeated.


The Grand Army national encampment closed
its session at Music Hall yesterday evening" The
committee on resolutions we're divided on the
pension question and submitted two reporta
The majority report, presented by Past De-
partment Commander Palmer Of New York. de-
cided upon cessation Of effort in the matter
of pensions and advised that the organization
await trial Of the recent generous legislation
Of Congress. The minority report, offered BY
Governor Hovey of Indiana, advocated the per
diem service pension and reaffirmed the action
Of the national encampment held at Columbus,
Ohio, two years ago, which instructed the
national committee on pensions to urge upon
Congress the measure referred to. After an
eloquent discussion. in which Past Command
ers-in-chef Fairchild, Rea and Burdette, Com
rade Kitchen and others supported the major
ity report, and Gen. William ii. Gibson and T.
+. Mack of Ohio, Past Commander Richard W.
Blue of Kansas and Department Commander
Taylor of Indiana. sustained the report Of the
minority of the committee, the minority re-
port was adopted by vote of la to 100.
Ex-senator Warner Miller, who took no part
in the debate, but who voted for the majority
report said the smGllness of the vote, less than
one-third of the voting strength Of the en-
campment. would undoubtedly detract from
the effect which the result would have in Con-
gress and with the people at large. New York
and Illinois were divided. Ohio. Indiana and
Kansas stood solidly for @ service pension and
Pennsylvania went a unit the other way.
The resolution presented by the department
OF Massachusetts and solidly supported by the
Ohio delegation abolishing the night Of the $50
past department commanders to seats IN the
national encampment was reported adversely
by the committee on rules and regulations and
the committees report was adopted without a
division. The advocates OF the abolition OF the
'house OF lords say that they will bring up
| the question next year again and continue the
fight until they are successful. With about
fifty life members added to the national Gu
campment every year they assert that it is be-
coming less and less a representative body.
The contest for the offices of surgeon general
and chaplain-ln-cnief Was brought to a close by
the election Of B. +. Stephenson of Kentucky
as surgeon general and the Rev. Myron w.
Reed OF Colorado as chaplain-in-chief.
IssTALLING NEW OFFICERS.
The interesting ceremony of installing the
new officers was performed before adjourn
ment-Col. Wheelock G.. Veazey Of Vermont
succeeding Gen. Alger in the high and import
ant Office of command er-in-chief. and Richard
NJ. Tohin of Massachusetts and Geo. B. Dreamer
OF Maryland assuming the duties of senior and
junior vice commanders-in-chief. The new
commander-in-chiefa appointed as adjutant gen.
eral upon his staff C. Ii. Goulding of Vermont
and John Taylor as cuartermaster general
The staff OF the past commander-in-chief,G Gen.
Alger, some 200 of them being present. formed
| permanent social organization. Their annual
meetings are to be held at the time and place
OF each succeeding encampmept
One of the pleasing incidents of the morn
ing session was the presentation by Gen. Sher-
man, IN behalf of the national encampment, of
three handsome bronze pieces, consisting Of q
clock and two candelabra, to Past Commander
| ln-chief VIM. Warner OF Kansas. Both the pre-
| sentation and reception speeches were grace
fully said
The complimentary dinner given last night
at Mechanics Hall by the department of Mas
sachusetts to visiting Grand Army men and
the Women's Relief Corps WAS an immense affair
and was attended by about 1000 persons.
Tomorrow the Grand Army and Relief Corps
delegates have an excursion to Plymouth.
where a monster clam bake will be served. On
Saturday the encampment delegates are to go
out on the steamer New York to witness a sham
naval engagement by the United States fleet in
the harbor. The delegates of the Woman s
Relief Corps will be entertained at Nahant on
Saturday.