Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-06
deliberate consideration and best Judgment
in its disposition.
PENSION LEGISLATION.
The Commander then discussed the
mansion nnestinn. and said.

pension question, and said:
The subject of pensions was taken up by
the Fifty-tirst Congress at its session, and,
after patient investigation by the Pension
Committees Of both Houses, bill was
agreed upon, passed, and finally approved
by the President on the 9th day OF June,
1890. II is known as the disability bill. 1t
repealed none of the previous enactment
ments, but was supplementary thereto.
The last National Encampment passed
resolutions thanking Congress and the
President for this law, and favoring SER
vice pension legislation.
Before the assembling Of the second ses-
sion of the same Congress, on the first
Monday of December, 1890, appointed the
usual Pension Committee of i've comrades
TO present to Congress and the President
the views of the National Encampment as
expressed in said resolutions upon the
policy of legislation that should be adopted.
They consisted of Comrades n. w. Blue,
OF Kansas; L. T...Dickinson, of Illinois; Al
vim =. Hovey. of Indiana; Warner Miller,
of New York, and Seldom Connor, Of
Maine. The chairman, Comrade Blue,
came to Washington during the second
session of the last Congress. and, upon his
invitation, went with him to see the Com
missioner Of Pensions and the President
TO advise with them generally upon the
subject of pension legislation. We also ap-
peared before the Joint committees of the
House and Senate, and Comrade Blue Wig
orously presented to them the arguments
in favor of a service pension. The COM
mittee listened patiently, but said that the
whole subject had been eXhaustively con-
sidered at the previous session, with the
result above stated, and that it would be
impossible to obtain a reconsideration De-
fore the efficacy and operation OF the last
enactment had been tested. Under 1t, for
some months past, pensions have been al
lowed at the rate of more than 1,OOO per
day, and it is expected that this average
will be maintained until the docket OF ap-
plications is substantially cleared.
"It would be out of place here for me to
enter upon a discussion of the controverted
question as to whether the policy OF legls-
lation adopted is the wisest and best. L
think that all will agree that If the present
enactment is not the wisest, it is liberal,
and that the number who at first thougnt
it too extravagant is rapidly diminishing
as the provisions of the act becomes better
understood The comparative statement
made by Comrade Tracy, the Secretary OF
the Navy, in a recent address, showing the
amount paid for pensions and for interest,"
on the bonded debt of the Government be-
tween 1853 and 1892, and that the interest,"
account exceeds the pension amount, mas
been great relevation.
The Commander then referred briefly
to miscellaneous matters, such as the
care of monuments, national ceme-
teries, ETC., observance OF Memorial
Day, urged all veterans to join the G'
A. r.
THE ADJUTANT GENERALS REPORT.
Adiutant Gen. ]. II. Goulding's report
for the year ending June 30, 1891, shows
that there are in the order 45 depart
ments, with 7,4O9 posts and 39S,O67
comrades in good standing. The sum
expended in charities during the yeal
was S333. .6a9, against S217, 957 the prev
ions wear. There have been $3.50 death:
this year, against 5,479 in 1890. Int
| - -. 49, - Ill 49, - ans
1 fers bring the number down to 39S, ,607
The Adjutant General believes that II
departments select the best men for ad-
jutants and quartermasters, and adopt
longer tenureS of Office, the order car
be greatly strengthened, and the mem
bership raised to 100000 or 100000
within FIVE years, as there are 100000
/ old soldiers now living. The Ques'
tion of sinking fund to meet the
emergencies Of old age, with its dimin'
! ishing membership and dues, is worthy
OF consideration. 1t is recommended
| that National Encampments be held not
earlier in the year than August 20, to
allow more time for making up the Ma
tional reports after department. reports
are received.
Quartermaster-G General John Taylor
reported the receipts for the fiscal year
as $50, 100; expenditures, S37, ,296; bal
ance, 1904. The assets OF the organ
ization he gave as S24,711.
The Surgeon-General reported the
number of deaths in the order as far as
reported during the year to be 3,157.
A letter from Commissioner Raum
was read, concerning the number OF pen
sioners on the rolls. The total, includ-
ing the Mexican war and the war OF
1912, is $50, 394. To pay these pensioners
will cost, during the present year,
about S116,OOO,OO0.
SURPRISED SOME OF THE VETS.
The declaration Of the Commander-in-
Chief, in favor of departments OF the o..
A. r. for negro veterans, created de-
cided sensation. 1t was hardly expect
ed that he would so openly favor the
separation of the races. The Louisiana
and Mississippi whites were overJoyed
at his decisive recommendations.
The indications are that the trouble
over the colored faction will be amic-
ably adjusted. The committee appoint
ed by the Commander-in-Ch has COM
Dleted its report in favor Of giving the
colored posts of the South separate
Jurisdiction, allowing them to choose
their own officers and transact their own
business. This simply means the crea-
alton of a provisional department, with
its own commander for the States OF
Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Georgia,
Alabama. Florida and South Carolina.
The delegations from Louisiana and Mis-
sissippi are fayorably disposed to this
compromise and Gen. Ladd, OF Georgia,
will move the adoption OF the report.
The colored delegates are slow to ex-
press themselves regarding the PROPOSE
tion, but it is thought they will accept
IL as the best solution OF the difficulty
that has been offered. They will, how
ever. insist on the question being finally
settled by this Encampment.
The visiting veterans upon whose
shoulders there is no official care en-
loved themselves to-day at brigade and
regimental reunions, picnics and excur-
sions on the river.
Something Of novelty in the way OF
entertainments for the veterans was
provided by the city authorities to-day,
in the shape of monster picnic at Beiie
Isle Park, which was participated In oy
over 10, 900 comrades and their friends;
A bounteous lunch preceded the formal
exercises. Mayor Pingree welcomed
the visitors aud ex-senator Thomas W.