Huntsville gazette., 1892-09-24
traveled nearly forty thousand miles IN

I, Travelled nearly forty UHOtisetIu - iiAiieo -
. attending to the duties OF ms once. ne
had been aided in his difficult TASK OF gov
erning nearly half a million men ana
the settling Of various disputed questions
| by the efficient and generous support
given him by the members OF ms staII.
| Everywhere he had found the greatest
/, interest and enthusiasm for the WelIafe
of the order A statement was made py
, Commander Palmer in regard 70 the
| differences existing in the department or
| Louisiana and Mississippi between the
shite and colored posts. and his action
| in the matter which was taken he SAID,
without either feeling, fear or preJu-
eice:
The department has been reorganized
and was represented today IN thenadonal
encampment by full delegation, who
speak for all the comrades III the depart
ment, regardless of color or nationality,
| with the gratifying assurance that there
are no contests except the contest to see
who can best serve the interests OF the
order.
References were made to the benefl-
cent work done by the loyal women for
the needy veterans and their families. to
the sons of veteran organizations, which
cordial support of every member of the
Grand Army of the Republic, to Memo
rial Day and its beautiful and touching
ceremony.
In speaking of pensions he declared
that the disability bill of June 27, 1890,
was so magnificent in its scope, provid-
ing pensions to all honorably discharged
soldiers suffering from mental or physi-
can disabilities, and recognizing the SER
vice Of class who, by lapse Of time, We're
unable to furnish the testimony of their
comrades as to the origin of their disa
bilities, requiring only the certificate of
Of a physician and the examination by
pension board that no additional legis-
lation was sought by the last national
encampment. The pension committee
had endeavored to have corrected GER
tain inequalities in the ratings which
We're not commensurate with existing
disabilities from which many comrades
are suffering.
General Palmer referred to the steps
taken to hasten the completion of the
Grant tomb. In reference to the Grant
cottage now in the possession of the @.
A. R., he stated that patriotic citizen
had offered five thousand dollars towards
permanent fund for the care Of this his
toric building. 1t was urged that the
committee appointed toprotect the rights
of the war veterans to government
employ in preference to others be
continual; and that the G. A. R.
cordially support the project to have the
national school demonstration at the
Worlds Fair, under the direct patron
age of the order. Commander Palmer
closed by saying: As | lay down the
trust SO unanimously conferred upon me
at Detroit, | desire to extend to mem
bers of my staff my grateful acknowl-
edgements for the cordial support given
me during my term of Office.
To them | am deeply indebted for the
measure of success which marks the adj
ministration of the affairs committed to
my charge, and l want to extend to all
my comrades my heartfelt thanks for
the kindness | have received at their
hands everywhere. | have had but one
object in view to discharge lAe duties Of
the Office with all the ability and fidelity
God has given me.
If | have succeeded in meeting your
expectations, and have merited the
confidence reposed in me, shall feel
amply rewarded for the year of time
and energy | have devoted to your in
teress, and as l return to the
ranks to mingle with you, my COM
rades, in the work that is still before us,
it will be my ambition at all times to do
my full share for the future progress and
prosperity of our grand order.