The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-08-06
The COLOR LINE
Sharply Drawn in the Reports Made
to the Veterans.
COmmander-in.Ohief Veazey PaVers the
Proposed Departments.
The Judge Advocate General Raises
Some Objections.
DOiDgs Of the Second Day Of the
Grand Army Reunion.

IN Lne mamm0tn nan tnat naQ Deen set apar
for the business deliberations of the veter
ans. All that art and cultured taste could d,
to make the building attractive, had beer
exerted In the decorations which adorned
the interior in emblematic order.
At the head of the hall. over the platform
was large G. A. r. badge, fanked on eithel
side by American flags, and in the rear the
grand seal of the United States. also set be-
tween flags. From the ceiling hung clusters
of the flags of all the republics in the world
The side walls were draped with cream-col
ored bunting, and the windows bore lambre
quins Of silk and lace.
All around the balconies hung valances OF
garnet silk plush. embroidered with silk
gold and arasene and tapestry fringe. The
plush was studded with numerous suits OF
nickelplated, ancient armor, surrounded
with groups of American flags Of the army
and navy. and by American shields, with
silver wreaths of laurel.
On the two band stands were suspended
blue silk banners, known as the presidential
banners, being the special emblems of honor
hung out on visit from the President of the
United States.
The sides of the trusses of the building
and the walls below the balconies were hung
with cream-col0red bunting. on which were
placed the seals of all the states and terrific
rles, each surrounded by silk flags and gilt
eagles.
At other appropriate points were numer-
GUS flags and other decorations. AT the bot
tom of each truss were clusters of incandes-
cent lamps, which, when lighted, will give
rare effect TO the interior.
Despite the immensity of the hall, it was
crowded to its utmost seating capacity by
the multitudes Of veterans, attracted by the
m0meDtous questions to be settled at this en-
camDment of the order
1t was fully understood that the race ques-
tlon might be precipitated in the delibera-
tions at any moment. and become the SUBJ
ject Of acrimonious discussion; and this i'm
pending problem, together with the project
ed revision of the constitution, combined to
heighten the general interest In the proceed
ings.
A few minutes before the hour of opening
General Veazey and his staff entered the
hall, and were escorted to the grand stand
The appearance Of the commander-in-chief
was the signal for generous applause, and
minute later the bands burst forth in an in
spring military air, in harmony with the
mortal scene.
Rapping the assemblage to order, the COM
mander-in-chief announced the formal open
Ing OF the 25th annual encampment of the
q. A. r., and directed the adjutant general
TO call the roll Of departments. Every state
and territory In the Union was represented,
and the roll showed the fullest attendance of
Commander-in-Chief Veazey then deliv-
cred his annual address, of which the follow
ing Is an abstract:
Commander veazey's Address.
General Veazey, after brilliant opening re-
ferred to the death of Senior Vice Commander
in Chief Richard F. Tobin, Past Commander in
Chief Charles Devens, General Sherman, Ad-
miral Porter, and Ex-Vice President Hamlin.
The female support of our order, both in
character and magnitude, is too familiar to re-
quire explanation. They bring supplies to the
relief fund, and aid most effectually in bring
ing recruits into the POST they generally assist
the Posts in their entertainments; they sustain
them nobly in the observance of Memorial
Day; they are invaluable when sickness and
death invade the household of the comrade.
They are indeed our auxiliary and are entitled
to our gratitude.
The Sons of Veterans received special recog-
milton at the 23d National Encampment.
have endeavored to give it cordial support on
this account. and also because l believe in its
present and prospective usefulness. 1t has had
rapid growth within the past year; more
than 10000 have been mustered since June
80, 1890. Thirty-two States and Territories
have been organized as Divisions with more
than twenty hundred subordinate Camps
same disturbances in the Department of Lou
isiana and Mississippi that had troubled my
predecessors. The difficulties there had exist
ed ever since Posts to IL, inclusive, of that
Department were chartered and organized.
This was in 1889. The charge has always
been from different sources that the organiza-
ton of these Posts was so tainted with irreg-
ularities as to be utterly destructive of their
legal existence. Our rules and regulations
provide plain procedure for Department to
pursue in order to test the validity of such
charges. AS the Department of Louisiana and
Mississippi has never, so far as 1 am informed,
resorted to that procedure, l have held, in
dealing with those Posts, that they must be
regarded as having legal existence until 9TH
erwise regularly adjudicated.
From various sources of information that
have been accessible to me, l believe that a
large majority of both white and colored COM
rades in the department of Louisiana and
Mississippi are strong in the conviction that il
would be for the best interests of all individu-
ally and of their posts and Of the order to have
a separate department in Louisiana and some
of the other Gulf States, made up of such posts
as may apply to come into it, and having con-
current jurisdiction with the departments al
ready established in such States; concurrent
II
posts. but each department having exclusive
jurisdiction over the posts which it may receive
My best judgment, after year of painstak-
ing investigation, is that it would be wise to
confer the authority upon my successor tc
create such a department. He may neither
find it necessary nor think it best to exercise
the power, if conferred. l am sure he will SEE
objections to it, but he may also find it the bes
and perhaps the only shield for the full protec-
ton of the colored comrades. trust need
not say that no difference has obtained a.
national headquarters in recognition and treat
ment of Posts or Comrades whether white OIL
colored.
The official reports show that our order, dur
ing the year now closing, has literally met thu
demand upon the relief fund. The amount
paid from the fund alone is 1888, ,699.S5. 1t il
estimated that nearly or quite as much more
has been paid by individual comrades, and moi
appearing in official reports. In addition, the
amount paid for relief of the distressed COM
rades by the Woman's Relief Corps, during
the same period, as officially reported, and moi
including cases of personal aid not SO appear
ing, is $l52,7l0.80. Reports have not reached
me from other auxiliary organizations, such al
Sons of Veterans, Ladies of the g. A. R., etc
The figures given above show large increase
over Tue uLlUuut Va my PAc'AoAo ySoA'
The subject of pensions was taken up by thu
5lst Congress at its first session and, afte
patient investigation by the pension commit.
tees of both Houses, bill was agreed upon
passed, and finally approved by the Presiden
on the 9th day Of June, 1890. 1t is knowr
as the disability bill. 1t repealed none of th
previous enactments, but was supplementary
thereto. The last National Encampmen
passed resolutions thanking Congress and tn
President for this law, but fayoring servic
pension legislation.
Before the assembling of the second session
of the same Congress on the first Monday o
December, 1890, appointed the usual pen
sion committee of five comrades to present t
Congress and the President the views of tn
National Encampment as expressed in saiC
resolutions upon the policy of legislation tha
should be adopted. They consisted OF Com
rades II. w. Blue of Kansas, l.. I. Dickson o
Illinois, Alvin P. Hovey of Indiana, Warne
Miller of New York and Selden Connor o
Maine. The chairman, Comrade Blue
came to Washington during the secon,
session of the last Congress and
upon his invitation, went with him to see tn