The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-09-20
DYING OFF.
Reports Show that Death Is Decreasing
the Ranks OF the Grand Army.

Reports Show that Death Is Decreasing
the Ranks OF the Grand Army.
After the business SEES ion of the en-
campment had been called to order
Wednesday the de .egates were well
coined on behalf OF the itizen S exec
utive board by Chairman Daniel c..
Ripley and also by w. G. Quincy,
Chairman of the Committee on Invita-
tiOns and Reception. Gov Patti
son welcomed them IN beha f of the
State of Pennsylvania, wAie Mayor
McKenna, of Pittsburg, and Mayor
Kennedy. of Allegheny. performed the
same pleasant duty on behalf of their
respective cities. Major Burchfield
then presented the Communicating
chief with a gavel of great historic
interest. 1t is made OF wood from Fort
Sumter. AppomattoX, Gettysburg, and
Libby Prison, and is bound with metal
from the historic cannon. 1t is thus
symbolic OF the opening and the clCs-
ing of the war.
Commander-in-chief Adams in his
address spoke at length on the subject
of pensions, stating that, WI lie it was
a question of a great interest and he
"disliked to consider money matters in
connection with our services to the
government, the disabled condition of
q large number OF u comrades forces
it upon us" lie continued:
Ky u vote Of he last encampment, a test
case vas ordered to be made in the United
States courts. and rs that one already be-
gun by Judge Long covered all the points,
1t was settled that no other should be In
stituted. In reply to the message Of the
President. which stated "that thousands
Of hbOrhOods had their WE'LL known
pension Frauds" the pension department.
OF the order has hunted down all reported
cases Very few frauds we're discovered.
and when found were not cases where SOL
diers had defrau ed the government bus
whore some dishonest agent had worked a
poor. ignorant widow. and put the money
thus obtained In his pocket
The membership of the order, he
said, is as follows:
One year ago there were in good stand
ing 397. 223 There have been gained dur
ing the year: BY muster-in. IL. 1872: by
transfer, 9, 1854; by reinstatement, 1896:
by reinstatement from delinquent rel ortS,
asia Total gain. 80. 661. Aggregate.
49,. sS4.
There have been lost: By death. 1888;
by honorable discharge, 1855; by transfer,
7.132; by sus pension. "a. sos: by dishonor-
able discharge. 1874; by delinquent reports.
l8.67l. Total loss, 81, SOL Number re-
naming In good standing June 30, 1894,
800, 083.
these figures show that the G. A. r. has
reached the beginning OF the end. and each
succeeding year will show Il gradual de-
crease In our membership The Ions Con
tinued depression In business has caused
many suspensions. and these we hope to
regain when prosperity returns, but it will
be impossible for US 10 recruit our ranks
as fast as our members are mustered out
by death.
During the year the Grand Army has
mt fnr0nffan the nFaaf xvnek ~ nhanItu
and has expended $2o3. $50 for relief.
While 1t has lost in membership, the inter-
est In the order has not abated, but has
grown stronger. The little bronze button
was never worn with more pride than 1t 10
to-day. and the enthusiasm of comrades
In Grand Army work Is every where ap-
parent.
The organization has SIC. 900 invested
in United States bonds, 1 Dor cents,
duo in 1877.
The next national encampment will
be held at Louisville.