Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-09-07
The Grand Army Of the Republic
Finishing It's Work
CAPT. ADAMS, OF MASSACHUSETTS,,
Elected Commander in Chlet'
Ivan N. Walker, of indianapolis,
Elected Senior Vice Command
er-Pittsburg is the Only City
Making a Fight for the Next
Encampment.

Woman's Relief Corps convention, and
Daughters OF the Regiment One OF
the most important reports made TO the
National Eucampment to-day was that
OF the special committee on legislation
by Chairman Kay. The purpose Of the
appointment Of the committee as stated
was to do something to secure the en-
forcement Of the two federal laws a.
most totally dlsrsgarded for many
wears, the first providing that those dis
charged from military or naval service
by reasons OF wounds or sickness In
Cured In the line Of duty, should have
the preference in appointment 70 pub
lie Office, aud the other one recommend
ing those honorably discharged by rea-
son OF the expiration Of their terms OF
service, or the close OF the war, to the
business men and firms or the country
for lucrative employment
On this subject the report says: Al
the time OF making our report 10 the
National Encampment at Washington,
d. c.. we succeeded In getting before
Congress a measure which II enacted
into 4 law would have effected sure
cure. This was reported to the Senate
WITH AN AMENDMENT
that destroyed It's value for the pur-
pose we had in view. Against this we
entered an earnest protest. IL was re-
ported 20 the House, however, with an
amendment making II stronger In the
way OF protection 10 the veteran than
the bill prepared by your committee,
and this we accepted. The report de-
tails the failure OF all these efforts, and
adds: Letters and kilograms to the
gentleman who introduced the Senate
bill aud 20 the chairman OF the commit
tee OF that body who had reported 1t
back, with an amendment" showing
chow not TO do IT." received no atten-
tiOn. Perhaps they are unworthy OF
a reply. The report after discuss
ing in detail the efforts to effect this
legislation concludes: The Grand Army
OF the ReDublic-uaited as one In a
common cauae- assisted by the Sons OF
OF Veterans, and all patriotic people,
must attack the citadel where the latter
day enemies are intrenched, charging
IL again and again and never cease
advancing charging and firing until
they have
WON THE VICTORY.
Your commission is pleased 10 an
nounce that with view 20 securing
early consideration II. r. 509S as
amended in committee, but which
failed In the Fiity-second Congress, II
has already been re-intrOduced In both
branches Of the Fiity-third Congress
now in special session.
Junior Vice Commander, Peter Il.
Ayers, read brief report giving an
account OF his visits TO the encamp-
ments OF the Departments OF the Po-
tomac, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsyl-
vania and New York, all Of which he
found wide awake aud flOurishing.
Commander-in-Chief Weissert then
delivered his annual address.
In an Introductory way the Com
mander reviewed the progress OF the
order during the past year and made
appropriate allusion to the deaths dur
ing that time Of two illustriOuS cOm-
rades-Rutherfor B. Hayes and Ben
iamin F. Butler.
Continuing ne said: While our leaders
are fast passing away there has been an
unusually large death loss among the
rank and file OF those who carried the
gun and knapsack during the late war,
ano post charters throughout the order
have been repeatedly draped with the
insignia of mourning. The loss oy
death in the Grand Army Of the Re-
public during the past year IS
seven thousand two hundred. This Is
IN excess OF any previous annual mortu-
ary return. Add TO the figures the es-
timated loss among veterans not mem
bsrs OF the order, amounting, by con-
serVative estimate, TO $500, we have
total loss by death among the Union
veterans OF 14,5OO. 10 the returns for
4 December, 1892, there was an Increase
OF 5000 over the June previous In good
standing, aud larger increase was con-
fdently looked Tor In June, but the de-
sired result was not obtained. After
most earnest efforts made by headQuar-
ters to increase the membership in
good standing, a loss from June,
1sg2. OF over 1000 must be re-
ported. The determination 10 weed out
All mem O6ES " uV eAo ~ AeSaiNe4if q eO"N
weight to the order together with the
presspre in financial matters through
out the country, from official reports is
largely the cause. / am pleased, how
ever. 10 be able TO report she delinquent
list for the same period reduced by al
most 1000. The total membership OF
the Grand Army OF the Republic Is 443,-
554. Of which 397,2 ,223 are in good stand
ing; suspended, 4l,661; by delinquent
reports, 4,67O. The gain by muster
during the past year is 24,494. Many
of the delinquent posts have reported
since the apartment returns were re-
ceiVed at headquarters aud suspended
are constantly being reinstated
The Commander said there are four
posts OF the G. A. r. In Canada, one In
the City OF Mexico, one In Honolulu
and he had received an application Tor
one at Lima, the republic OF Peru.
During the year just closed there
have been more calls for relief than In
wears past, and the same were literally
9tvep. The official reports show that
SIR. s45. SO was diSburssd oy the various
nosts on the work The Woman's Re
lief Corps have distributed for the re-
lief Of comrades, the familifs Of desti-
tnte comrades and the Edows and
shs sum OF S5s,620P7; amoF''
- posts duri7'g the y