The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1891-08-13
BUSINESS BEGUN.
THE LAWMAKERS or THE q. A.
r. IN SESSION AT DETROIT.

Washington Chosen as the Next Place OF
Enoampm emit oCaptaiu John Palmer.
of Albany, n. L. Elected Commander
in-chief- The Color Question = We
ans Relief Corps.
DETROIT, Aug. pleasure gives way
to business with the comrades OF the
Grand Army of the Republic who are
delegates to the national encampment.
and while the veterans upon whose
shoulders there is no official care are
enjoying themselves at brigade and
regimental reunions, and picnics and
river rides, the men who make and I'M
make the laws of the order are gathered
in Beecher's hall, with big sentries
guarding each of the doors. Quite
number of the delegates, including Past
Commander-in.c chief Wagner, of Phila
delphia, did not arrive in time for the
festivities of Tuesday, but there was a
full roster in the hall when at 1890 the
twenty-fifth annual session OF the
national encampment was called to
order by Commander-in-chief Veazey.
No time was lost In getting down to
business. The committee on creden-
tails, which had done its work in ad-
vance made brief report showing q
full representation and no contests.
Then the. command lin chief and Adju-
tant General Goulding submitted their
annual reports.
Some Recommendation. 4
The commander-in-chief advises that
the executive officers refrain from en-
dorsing appeals for contributions for
any purpose, however worthy, except
those expressly named in the objects Of
the order. Veterans are apt to be
strongly influenced by such endorse
ments. It is recommended that congress
be appealed to to provide for the main
tenance of the Mount McGregor cottage.
The O.. A. r. has been paying the ex-
penses because no one else assumed
them. The argument in favor of SER
vice pension legislation has been urged
upon congress without avail, but under
the disability pension law about 10000
pensions are being allowed per day and
is substantially cleared. The number
who thought the bill too liberal is rap
idly diminishing as the act becomes
better understood.
The commander-in-chief recommends
the legislation giving preference in the
civil service apart from discharge or
disability. A.
Adjutant Goulding's Figures.
Adjutant General Goulding's report
for the year ending July 30. shows
- -, H. A x 10
partments, with 7,409 posts and 39S, OCT
been $3.50 deaths this year, as against
5,479 in $780, The total apparent MEM
bership Az, 307, suspensions, delinquen-
cies and transfers bringing the number
down to 398,06 The adjutant general
believes that if the departments select
the best men for adjutants and quarter
masters, and adopt longer tenures of
Office the order can be greatly strength
ened and the membership raised to
6O0,000 or 700, 600 within five years, as
there are over / 200, 900 old soldiers now
living.
Reports otouartermaster and Inspector.
In his annual report Quartermaster
General John Taylor gave the receipts
for the fiscal years as $50, 100; expendi-
lures, $37, 1896; balance, $4,804. The
assets of the organization he gave as
$24, I'll.
Inspector GeneraKJ. w. Burst in his
report complained of the inadequate
facilities afforded his department to
perform its duties because of the
changes in the dates for inspection con-
stantly made by the national encamp-
ment. He had been able to secure
reports of inspection from only part
of the posts, but such as had been in
spected were in good condition.
Surgeon Generals Report.
B. f. Stevens, surgeon general, re-
ported the number of deaths in the
order, as far as reported during the
year, to be 3,157, among them being
those eminent comrades, William
Tecumseh Sherman, Admiral David D.
Porter. and Generals Charles Devens,
E. F. Noyes, John w. Fuller, John Nc
Neill. The pensions paid were re-
ported as follows:
Pensioners on the rolls May 81, 1891:
Army invalids, S415,615; widows, 1885,
1859; navy invalids, 8 ,439; widows, 233.
To pay these pensioners will cost during
the present fiscal year about $1l6,-
GOO 900.
After the reading of reports and APP
pointment of committees the convention
took recess till 8 p. m.