The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-08-06

of pension legislation. We also appeared be-
fore the Joint committees Of the House and
Senate. and Comrade Blue vigorously present.
cd m them the arguments IN favor of service
nension. The committee listened patiently
but said that the whole subject had been ex-
baustiyely considered at the previous session
with the result above stated, and that it would
be impossible to obtain reconsideration be-
fore the efficacy and operation of the last enact
ment had been tested. Under it, for some
months past, pensions have been allowed at the
ra.e of more than 1000 per day, and it is ex-
nected that this average will be maintained
until the docket of applications is substantially
cleared.
It would be out of place here for me to enter
upon discussion of the controverted question
as to whether the policy Of legislation adopted
is the wisest and best. think
that all agree that if the pres
ent enactment is not the wisest, it is liberal
and that the number who at first thought il
too extrayagant is rapidly diminishing as the
provisions Of the act become better understood
The comparative statement made by Comrade
Tracy, the secretary of the navy in recent
address showing the amount paid for pensions
and for interest on the bonded debt of the gov
ernment between 1868 and 1892, and that the
has been great revelation.
I think that he, in that address, grandly
expressed the general sense OF the people when
he said: "While l believe that we should not
be carried away, even by generous sentiment
to liberality beyond our means, for one can
not refuse my assent to the principle which
our pension legislation has ens5sei into law,
that no man who risked his life in defense of
the Union should ever want for bread"
l he Eada In Ca
1854, limits preference to appointments to civil
Office in the case of Union veterans, "to per-
sons discharged from the military or naval
service by reason of disability resulting from
| wounds or sickness incurred in the line of du-
| ty." This utterly ignores the idea Of service
constituting any ground of preference. The
statute, in letter and spirit, in this respect vo-
lates all public utterance and pledge from 81
to 80, and is contrary to the resolutions of all
| political parties since then. 1t is believed to
be contrary to the understanding and intention
OF the Congress that passed it. 1t is an offence
| to the conscience of the American people. 1t
| is wrong or else the people have been wrong
for quarter of a century.
advise that this encampment renew the
effort OF year ago to produce an amendmen
| OF the Statutes to the effect that honorable
service shall count for something in appoint
ments. when all other things are equal.
Adjutant General J. H. Goulding made his
annual report to-day. He states that on Au-
gust IA, 1890, there were borne upon the rolls
of the order A departments with 71S5 posts
and S9794l comrades in good standing. The
consolidated report of the adjutant general for
the period ending June 80, 1891, as far as the
returns have been received not all yet being
IN, shows in good standing: As departments
with 400 posts and $685. OCT comrades in good
standing.
The sum expended in charity as reported for
the year ending June 80, $780, was $217,057.-
54, relieving 2l,694 persons; for the year end
ing June 80, 1891, 1888, ,699.S5.
The total number of deaths reported for the
year ending June 80, $780, was 5479, for the
year ending June 80, 1891, was $3.50.
Adding to the total members in good stand
ing the l2,7ll members remaining suspended
and the 29,S99 members by delinquent reports,
together with 4l39 out on transfer, the total
membership, borne on the rolls is 444, ,307.
The adjutant general says
"Ihe order showed steady, healthy growth
and increase up to and including December
81, 1890, the net gains to that time for the
two remaining quarters of 1890 being 1888 |
members.
"The returns for the period received at the
time of printing this report for June 80, 1891,
exhibit en- apparent net loss of ii. 1922 which |
is manifestly not correct showing. Indeed, |
it is known that there has been a large gain, |
but the time has been too limited to get the |
reports from all posts since the close of the |
semi annual period.
"The result of the working of the semi an
nual system of reports adopted at Boston at the
Gath National Encampment and going into
effect December, 3lst, 1890, has thus far in
my judgment been demoralizing and has not in
any way resulted in good to the order.
HIhlS order is not its summit in mint of
members if some of the evils l have limited at |
are remeded. 1t can and should be made to |
reach a membership OF 600, 900 or 700, 900, but |
this must be done within five years if ever. l |
believe with work and proper organization it |
is quite possible, there being over 100000 |
old soldiers now living"
The EdJutant Generals Report.
The following is an abstract of the report |
of Adjutant General ]. FL. Goulding:
On August IA, 1890, there we're borne upon |
the rolls Al departments, with 719J posts and |
39!, ,94l comrades in good standing. The con- |
solidated report Of the adjutant general for |
the period ending June 80. 1891, as far as the |
returns have been recei we'd, not all yet being |
In, shows in good standing: 40 departments |
with 7409 posts and 398,067 comrades. The |
sum expended in charity as reported for the |
year ending June 30, 1890, was S2i7, ,95754, |
relieving 21.634 persons: for the year ending |
June 30, 1891, 1888 699S5. The total number |
of deaths reported for the year ending June |
80, 1890, was 5499, and for the year ending |
June 30, 1891, was $3.50, the actual number |
doubtless being much greater. For the past |
IA years. the gains in membership have been |
as follows: 1877, 280; 1873, 1887 1879, Is. .736;
1850, IL, ,sS2; 1881. q, ,222; 1882, 4S.S45; 1883.
80 745; 1884, 57772; 1885. 21,619: 1886, 2S, ,7S4;
11,515
The Department of Indian Territory and |
Oklahoma has been divided into two depart |
ments, that Of the Iudian Territory and that |
OF Oklahoma.
The adjutant general is of the opinion that |
the Grand Army is not at its summit in point |
Oh members II some OF the evils limited at |
are remedied. 1t can and should be made to |
reach membership of Coz, 900 or zoo, 900, but |
this must be done within five years If ever. |
He believes with work and proper organiza- |
.lon, oo1 aoa ~ Is qaite possible, there being over
l,zUO,O00 old soldiers now living.
The Woman's Relief Corps continues to |
flourish. Already 1t comprises twenty-nine |
permanent and six provisional departments, |
anu at tne meeting this week President Mary |
four new provisional departments, the states
thus recognized ibeing Montana, West Vir-
| ginia, Arkansas and Virginia. The tOtal
membership Is now 10000. The charity
work last year aggregated $3.50. land yet
| the organization has over SI6S. 600 in its
CORPS ana national treasures, and the de-
partmelt treasurer's report will probably
swell this sum to over 100000.
Opposed TO a Double organlz ati5n.
The report of the Judge Advocate General
was presented. 1t derives its chief interest
from his decision on the vexed race question.
AS his conclusions differ from the recon-
mendations Of the Commander-in-C Chief. the
| dispute Is further complicated. The decision
Is as follows; "The question proposed il
whether there can lawfully be two depart
ments covering the same territory at the
same time; for instance, a department made
| up OF white posts and another of black posts
| or, one Of foreign born and another of native
born. think the question must be answered
In the negative. First, the idea is CONTRARY
to the usage and universal understanding Of
the order hitherto. Second, the rules and
regulations, chapter ], article 3, section i.
| provide for a precinct organization to be
| designated by names or numbers, which is
| an indication that there may be several posts
in the same place; but section of the same
| article provides for state ORGANIZATIONS to be
| known as The department of name of state
| or territory of the Grand Army of the Re-
| public No other name or designation was
contemplated or provided for. III a second
state organization should be formed In anv
| state 1t would have the same name precise.
i