The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-08-05
c. A. R. ENCAMPMENT.
The Negro Question Creates Consid-
cradle Excitement Among the
Vets
Want an Appropriation for the Pres
ervation of Gen. Grants Mt.
McGregOr Cottage

- IJETROfT.'r aug o. he CWenLy-IlILn
annual encampment of the G. A. r.,
met in formal session this morning. All
that art and cultured taste could do to
make the Mammoth building attractive
was exerted in the decoration which
adorned the interior in nemblematicor order.
Despite the immensely of the hall lit
was crowded to the utmost. Every state
and territory in the Union was repre-
sented and the roll showed the fullest
attendance of delegates in the history
of the organization.
In the opening address Commander
in-chief Veasey, in touching on the
''negro question" as affecting-the G. "A.
R., reviewed the difficulties which ex-
listed over colored posts in the depart
ment of Louisiana and Mississippi ever
since they organized in 1859. He said:
''The charge has been from different
sources that the organizations OF these
posts, are so tainted with irregularities as
to be utterly destructive of their legal
existence. Our rules and regulations
provide plain procedure for the
department to pursue in order to
test the validity of such charges.
AS the department of Louisiana and Mis-
sissippi never, so tar as am informed, /,
resorted to that procedure, have held
in dealing with those posts that they
must be regarded as having legal exist
ance until otherwise regularly adjudi-
Gated. From various sources of infor-
nation accessi BILE to me, / believe tile
large majority of both white and colorea
comrades in the department of Louisi-
ana and Mississippi to be strong in con-
viction it would be for the best interests
of all to have seperate departments in
Louisiana, and some of the other Gulf
states, made up of such posts as may ap-
ply to come into it, and having concurrent
! jurisdiction with departments already
established in such states"
Referring to Mt. McGregor cottage,
where General Grant died, Gen. Veasey
recommended the encampment to take
action to secure from the government an
appropriation for the maintenance of the
property and its preservation in the
! same condition it was at the, demise oi
General Grant. In regard to the disa-
billty pension bill passed by the last
congress, General Veasey said If it is not
the wisest, it is certainly the most
liberal measure The coInmander-in-
chief urged the eneampment to renew
it's effort to procure an amendment tC
the revised statues which would give
preference to appointments to clvi
office in case the Union veterans declara
ton that the commander-in- chief favors
the establishment of department il
the q. A. r. for negro veterans, created
a decided sensation. The whites o
Louisiana and Mississippi were over
joyed at his recommendations.
The report of the judge-advocate the
general derives its chief interest from
his decision on the Vexed race question
AS his conclusions differ from the rec
J concentrations of the commander-in
chief the dispute is only further com
J plicated. The decision is as follows
The question proposed is whether ther,
can lawfully be two departments cover
ing the same territory at the same time
as for instance one department made W
of white posts and the other of blacl
! posts, or of foreign born and another o
, native born. think the equestion mus
, be answered in the negative. The rule
and regulations do not provide for. no
warrant the esta blishment of but on,
department in our state or territory
The report of the surgeon general wa
chiefly Interesting in the statement j
contains from Pension Commissions
Raum, that the amount of $116, 200 ,00
) has been expended for pensions during
: the fiscal year.
The adjutant-general's report for tn
period ending June 80. 1891, as far a
returns received, show in good standing
45 departments, with 149 posts an,
398, ,067 Comrades" in good standing
, +.