The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-14
GROWTH OF THE G. A. R.
A SYNOPSIS OF THE REPORT TO
THE CONVENTION.

AS TO the Mem nO9rSn1p-The Order
in Healthy Financial Condition.
BOSTON, Aug. 13.-The convention of the
twenty fourth national encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic came to order
i'll Music Hail at IL o'clock this morning.
Prayer was offered by Past Chief Chaplain
A. NJ. Foster.
Commander-in-C Chief Gen. Alger then de-
livered his annual address, from which the
following extract is made:
CoMRADEs-Fortunate for US we are
permitted TO gather here in this historic
city, justly named the "Cradle OF Liberty
to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of
the surrender of the armed forces against
this government TO the Union army. We
also celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary
OF the actual freedom of all races within our
borders. Near here was "fired the shot
heard round the world" and were fought
the first battles Of the revolution. How many
patriots In latter days have been inspired to
perform heroic deeds by the example of those
patriots who first declared this land should
be free, and have tried to emulate their
examples, the scores OF fields that have
tested the courage of these generations,
whose representatives are gathered here to-
day, will answer. To name one or a dozen
same act of injustice as would the record
ing of the deeds Of a single man, emitting
others. 1t is sufficient for us to know that
when called men were found for every
place.
While we lament the loss Of nearly all Of
our old commanders, it is a source Of great
consolation and pleasure to know that one
of those great leaders Of men is still spared
to us aud is in our midst to-day. Upon him
90 al A, ,4f
gratitude. Let us hope and pray that he
may long be permitted to remain here, our
leader, our commander, our idol and our
comrade. God bless you, Gen. Sherman |
Our love for you is beyond words.
The condition of the organization, l am
happy to report, is, with few exceptions,
excellent. There have been, | regret to
say, some disagreements in the department
of Louisiana and Mississippi drawn upon
the color line. the details Of which will be
found In the records Of the judge advocate
general
1t is the same question that to-day is dis
turbing many localities in the southern part
of this country, and which will require
patience and concessions from all parties to
settle. 1t is perplexing one. but | trust
time, with the good intentions of all peace
and liberty loving citizens, will bring such
moderation of counsel that in the near
future all may share the rights granted by
our laws, and that harmony will prevail
everywhere.
1t has been my determination TO recog.
nize as a comrade the equal rights of every
man, no matter what his color or nation
ality, provided he has the two qualifications
service and an honorable discharge. In this
great struggle of life the strong should aid
the weak. it ennobles the former and helps
to elevate the latter. A synopsis of the
opinions of the judge advocate general,
those approved and those disapproved, will
be found in the report Of the adjutant gen
eral.
THE MEMBERSHIP.
The official reports presented to the
twenty-third national encampment, dated
June 30, 1889, gave the number of com
rades in good aud regular standipg, 1882, ,6l7.
Total members then suspended and delin-
quent, 2S ,o88, making total membership
as borne on the rolls at that date of 410, ,6s6.
June 30, 1890
The total number Of comrades In good
and regular standing was. ........ 427 ,9S1
Total membership borne on rolls ... .45S, 800
Number of posts reported June 30, 1889. GIL
Number of posts reported June so, 1890. 7,175
Number of deaths during the year. ...... 5,416
Number Of new departments ..........
Including the provisional department of
Indian Territory and Oklahoma.
| am constrained TO say do not believe
the number of deaths reported as above is
even approximately correct. Not, however,
on account Of any fault of the posts, but as
lmrades grow feeble they neglect their
posts, are dropped from the rolls, when in
fact their health is such they are unable to
attend and thus many die who are not re-
ported.
The increase in membership of the differ
ent departments and relative percentages
are given in the annexed table. OF course.
the new departments of North Dakota, In
dian Territory and Oklahoma took Their
memberships from the departments Of Da-
ko,a, Kansas and Texas, and allowance
will be made for the changes made thereby
in numbers of those departments.
While our hunters make up a vast army,
it is confidently believed that not one-half
of those who are eligible belong to this
organization. Many live remote from posts;
many are physically unable to attend, and
many, through lack Of means, do not feel
that they can pay the expenses incident to
membership.
recommend that, as far as practicable,
posts carry upon their rolls all worthy
members whom they know to be financially
unable TO pay these expenses. OF course,
all who are able to and do not pay their
dues should be dropped, but great charity
should be exercised in the cases of those who
are not.
| wish to urge upon comrades the import
ance of securing, at the earliest possible
moment the individual record of the SER
vices of the enlisted mon. The history of
the war will never be written until it in
cludes such record. Let them be deposited
with their posts and they will be preserved.
PENSIONS.
The subject of pensions has been, as all
are aware, the all-absorbing one of the year.
During the early days Of the present con-
gress 1t became evident to the pension com
mittee, whose report is before you, that the
Service bill, so much desired, could not be
enacted into a law, many members of both
branches of congress declaring that they
could not vote for an amount that, taken
with the regular expenditures of the gov
ernment, would exceed its revenues. | am
aware that many are disappointed, but the
committee has been powerless TO accom-
plish more than has already been done. 1t
is now believed that the expenditures in
pensions, under existing laws. will ex-
ceed $50, ,000, 900 annually. More
than 100000 applications have been
made to the commissioner of pensions
under the new disability law, and he in
forms me that applications are coming in
at the rate of about 10000 per day. Large
as this sum is, II is great qualification to
know that it is distributed among our own
people. Four times year this money goes
to all parts OF the country. There is not a
community which does not feel its influence
aud 20 which it is not help. Ii pays the