The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-08-06

Il
therefore ordered careful inspection by
the inspector-generaL This was done, but
further charges and countercharges. ana
facts continued to reach me. and ordered
a second inspection, and detailed Comrade
Austin. of Ohio. to accompany and assist
the inspector general therein. This second
inspection was made early IN June of this
year and report thereof ls-on file. i have
reason to believe that Comrades Burst and
Austin made most careful Investigation
of all matter In that department.. Their
recommendation, in brief. is that this en-
campment authorize the creation of n sepa-
rate department. covering the same terrific
ry as several of the existing departments In
tho South. This is supported by memorials
addressed to the comDander-in-chlef by
posts. 9. II. 1S. IA. 16 and z. being SIX OF the
posts in the department. whose membership
is composed of colored comrades. Protests
against such action have come from CON-
rades of several posts. and these are on
fle."
ADVISES A DIVISION.
From various sources of information
that have been accessible to me, l believe
that large majority Of both white and
colored comrades in the Depar tment OF
Louisiana and Mississippi are strong in the
conviction that it would be for the inter-
ests of all for these posts of the order TO
have q separate department. IN Louisiana
and some of the other gulf States, made up
of such posts as may apply to come into it.
this having concurrent jurisdiction with
the departments already established In
such States, concurrent In respect TO the
chartering and mastering of posts.
but each department having exclusive
jurisdiction over the posts which lt
may receive. My best Judgment, after o
year of painstakIng investigation. Is that
it would be wise to confer the authority
upon ing successor to create such o DEPART
ment. He may neither find it necessary
nor think it best to exercise the power,
il conferred. i am sure he will see Obieo-
tions to it. but he may also find it the best
and perhaps the only shield tor the full
protection of the colOred comrades. l truss
need not say that no difference has OBJ
tanned ut national headquarters In recog.
milton and treatment of posts or comrades.
whether white or colOred. When the de-
partment refused to receive reports or dues
from any of these posts, i have allowed
them to be sent directly to the Adjutant-
general to be held until opportunity. was
afforded for full investigation upOn hear.
ing and adjustment of the differences in
the department / think those posts should
have the full benefit or such reports and
dues as though they had been received
regularly by the department.. This pre-
sentation of the situation in that depart
ment is meaRer, and is intended to be only
| sufficient to bring the subject to the atten-
| tion of the encampment. have no desire
| to urge other than such as will be for the
| best Interests of the order aud at the Same
| time protect the rights of all comrades. IL
| cannot be expected that any plan will meet
| the approval of all the com rades directly
interested. regard the subject rs one of
| first Importance. and invoke yOur deliber-
| ate consideration and best Judgment in its
| disposition.
during the year now closing the G.. A.
| r. paid out from it's relief fund the sum of
| 1895, 699.S5. During the same period the
| Woman's Relief Corps paid to distressed
| comrades the sum of 1852. 1850. These hg-
| ures show large increase over the amount
4 NJ m n
relief paid out by the G.. A. r.. not includ.
ing auxiliary bodies. since 1870. 10 g.. SOC. 600"
| MOUNT M'GREGoR COTTAGE.
| In referring to Mount McGregor cottage.
| where General Grant died, General Veszey
recommended that this encampment take
| action to secure from the governments IN
| appropriation for the maintenance of the
| property. which it Is designed 70 preserve
| in the same condition as lt was on the de-
| mise of General Grant The expense is
| about $500 year. Failing an appropriation
| by Ongress, 1t Is suggested that trust
| fund be established or the maintenance of
| the cottage be assured by charging fee to
| visitors. The question of ating me-
mortal hall at Decatur, Ill. W as brought mp
| as fol lows:
FAC the twenty fourth National Encamp-
| ment O proposition to erect q memorial
hall at Decatur, ILL.,. the birth place of our
| order. was approved. and the Commander
|
tee to take action pursuant to the resolu-
tlOns then adopted. This committee, con-
sisting of comrades Richard j. Oglesby, of
| Illinois, George A. Marden. of Massachu-
setts, and Joseph w. ONeall. of Ohio. has
rendered no report to me, but will report,
as understand, to this encampment and
therein present at length what has been
done by them and the comrades and people
of Decatur. / stated in circular letter No.
| 6 the great necessity that o depository for
| the records and all the material which
constitutes the history of the Grand
Army of the Republic should be speedily
provided. The silver anniversary of the
order was splendidly observed at Decatur,
and the committee and people of that city
| have preased upon the comrades the great
propriety of testifyiDg their appreciation
and love Of the order by contributions for
| the erection of the proposed hall. ] advise
that the subject be taken up by this en-
campment, and action be- taken in respect
to this project already so well started and
SO far advanced.
DISABILITY PENSION BILL.
1.-THE subject of pensions was taken up
by the Fifty first Congress at its first ses.
sion, and. after patient investigation by
the pension committees of both houses, q
bill was agreed upon, passed. and finally
approved by the President on the 9th day
of June, 1890. 1t is known as the disabil.
ity bill. 1t repealed none of the prev ious
enactments, but was supplementary there.
to. The last national encampment passed
resolutions thanking Congress and
the President Tor this law. but
| favoring service pension legislation.
Before the assembling of the second session
of the same Congress On the first Monday
of December. 1890, appointed the usual
pension committee of five comrades to pre-
sent to Congress and the President the
views of the National Encampment as ex-
pressed in said resolutions upon the policy
nf al <hok ha I'D I'D
They consisted Of Comrades r; w. Blue. OF
Kansas; l.. T. Dickson, oh Illinois; Alvin
=. Hovey, Of Indiana: Warner Miller. OF
New York. and Seldom Connor. of Maine.
The chairman, COinrade Blue, came to
Washington during the second session OF
the last Congress, and. upon his invitation
/ went with him to see the Commissioner OF
Pensions and the President. to advise with
them generally upon the subject of pen
sion legislation. We also appeared before
the JOINT committees of the House
and Senate. and Comrade Blue vigorously
presented to them the arguments in favor
of q service pension. The committee
listened patiently, but aid that the whole
subject had been ext lively considered
at the previous session with the result
above stated, and that it would be i'm
possible to obtain o recOnsid Grafton before
the efficacy and operation, of the last
enactment had been tested. Under it, fol
some months past, pensions have been al
lowed at the rate OF moro than ono thou.
sand per day, and 1t is expected that this
average will bemaintained until the docket
of applications 10 substantially cleared.
1T would be out of place here for me q
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