The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-09-16
IN address OF welcome, eulogizing the
women and their work.

ber, all fairly well attended. There
were sucli distinguished speakers as
Harrison, Mckinley, Noble, Rusk and
Gen. w. H. Gibson, Of Ohio. Harrison's
old regiment, the Seventh, with bril-
gade associates, held forth a Masonic
hall in the morning. The hall was
crowded to its utmost. The association
elected Gen. Harrison president.
One of the most important reports
made to the national encampment was
that of the special committee on legis-
lation by Chairman Kay. The purpose
of the appointment of the committee,
1t is stated, was to do something to Sc
cure the enforcement of the two fed
eral laws, almost totally disregarded
for many years, the first providing that
those discharged from military or naval
service by reason of wounds or sick
ness incurred in the line of duty should
have preference in appointment to
public offices and the other one recon-
mending those honorably discharged
by reason of expiration of their terms
OF service or the close Of the war to
the business men and firms of the
country for lucrative employment.
The report and address of Command
er-in-Chief Weissert was delivered in
the afternoon. In an Introductory way
he reviewed the progress oe the order
during the past year and made appro-
pirate allusion to the death during that
time of two illustrious comrades, Ruth
erford B. Hayes and Benjamin +. But
Ter. Continuing, he said:
"While our leaders are fast passing
o.
large death loss amongst the rank and
file of those who carried the gun and
knapsack during the late war, and post
charters throughout the order have
been repeatedly draped with the insig-
mia of mourning. The loss by death in
the G. a. r. during the past year is
1000. This is in excess Of any previous
annual mortuary return. Add to tho
figures the estimated loss among veter-
ans not members of the order, amount
ing by a conservative estimate to $500,
we have total loss by death among
the Union veterans of 14,5OO. In the
return for December, 1892, there was an
increase of 5000 over the June pre-
vious in good standing and larger in
crease was confidently looked for in
June, but the desired result was not
obtained After most earnest efforts
made by headquarters to increase the
membership in good standing, q loss
from June, 1892, of over 1000 must be
reported. The determination to weed
out all members who are practically a
dead weight to the order, together
with the pressure in financial matters
throughout the country, from official
reports are largely the cause
'"The total mem bership of the Grand
Army of the Republic is 1885 of
which 397,223 are in good standing,
suspended 41,661, by delinquent reports
4,670. The gain by muster during the
past year is 24,054."
On the subject of pensions the COM
mander said that they are the results
of war and that it was supposed that
when all the requirements had been
complied with and certificate issued,
the pensioner was not subject to the
"whims and caprice of officials" but
recently scores of veterans, many suf-
fering from wounds or disease incurred
while in the service of their country,
"have b.en cut off from the pension
roll without first making proper inves-
tigation."
The commander said there were four
posts of the G. A. R. in Canada, one in
the City OF Mexico, one in Honolulu
and he had received an application for
one at Lima, in the republic of Peru.
During the year just closed there have
been more calls for relief than in years
past and the same was literally given.
The officialreportss show that SIT, ,S25. 81
was disbursed by the various posts in
the work. The Woman's Relief corps
have distributed for the relief of com.
rades, the families of destitute com.
randes and the widows and orphans the
sum of $5s, s,620.37; amount turned over
to posts during the year s34, 400. 80;
amount for Memorial day s14, 1881. SO,
making total amount expended for
relief since organization of $s42, 929. 90.
They have total membership of 1884,
1856, an increase over last year of over
1890.
The annual report of Adjutant Gen
eral Gray is probably the most inter.
esting, from the Grand Army point OF
view. He shows that the present en-.
campment is composed of 1,1s7 mem.
bers. The returns for June, 1898, gave
, u heiuDcfeAlp Al &oOu StduuIuB Ot O0t =
22s. The number of posts is 1925; de.
partments, 45. In addition to the mem.
bership in good standing, there are
returned delinquent 1870, and remain.
ing suspended, 41,661. The delinquents
are such as are in good standing, have
paid dues, and but for the neglect OF
post officers would be so returned.
There has been a net loss of member.
ship in the past year of 1857. During
the year there were 7,002 deaths in
the order-larger than in any previous
year. From June 80, 1899, to June 80
1893, under the column expended in
charity" there was reported s17s,'
1. S45.52, Since these records have been
5 kept there has been reported under
this head $2,50O,O0O.
D The report of the quar- termaster gen.
} eral, John Taylor, shows receipts oi
) S21, $40 and expenses $9,652; balance in
! the treasury, s12, 1877. There remains in
, the Grant monument fund ss,75S. Ar
itemized statement of contributions to
) the following is given and summary
> Of amounts contributed in different
states also the number of flags issued
{ and where issued. The totals are
Total of contributions to flag fund
I el,376. O8; number of flags issued, 81, ,25s