Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-01

Department Commander Sample OF
Pennsylvania Gives His Views.

Pennsylvania Gives His Views.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, March 1.-The
twenty-eighth annual encampment of the
G. A. R., Department of Pennsylvania was
called to order by Department Commander
Thos. G. Sample of Pttsburg in the Acad-
envy of Music this morning. About loo
delegates were in attendance
Edwin Walton of this city, a member of
the reception committee, introduced Mayor
Stewart. who delivered the address Of well
come.
Commander Sample replied for the G. A. r.
Edward j. McDermott of Louisville, Ky,
was then introduced. Supplemental to his
address Mr.. McDermott presented the De-
partment OF Pennsylvania with an oak CAV
el which was made by an Ohio soldier of
wood taken from a tree near the home Of
Abraham Lincoln. Mr.. McDermott said
that he was here representative of the
Commercial Club of Louisville to invite the
q. AR. men to hold their next annual en-
campment in that city. No encampment
had ever been held south of Mason ard
DiXons line, and Louisville was DESTROYS
of entertaining the boys in blue
Commander Sample thanked Mr. McDer-
mott on behalf of the GAL r., and said that
II 1t was decided to hold the next encamp-
ment in the south he felt sure thai I'or,is-
vile would be selected
on the question of pensions Commander
Sample in his annual address said;
NO consistent member of the Grand
Army of the Republic desires an illegal
pension to be paid, and believe every com
rade stands ready to assist the government
to purge the roll of every fraudulent mem
slOner, II there are any, but we should also
demand that NJ names shall be stricken
from the rolls simply to reduce the amount
OF money to be paid by the government
pensioner having proven his right to be
on the roll once, II should require some-
thing more than an anonymous commun Ca =
ton TO take him from the roll Neither
should he be Inundated by being compelled
to submit to an investigation or exanina
tioI by men who served in the rebel army
am OF the opinion that all this hue and
cry against the pensioners has been causa5
by a class of men who have no sympa thy
for the ex-j'nion soldier and as proof Of
that statement | am advised by a member
OF Congress that there are now in the field
los more special examiners than there were
in February. 1898. and 81 per cent of them
have been appointed from the states that
were in rebellion. Let the comrades stand
up. and in a manly digniied manner pro-
tect the rights of the men who made II
possible for us TO have government to-
day"
The report Of the assistant quartermaster
general shows there are -, 124 comrades in
good standing, slight gain IN membership.
During the year the sum of SIS, GS2 was OK
pended for relief Of needy veterans There
are Cpl posts in Pennsylvania
The candidates for department command
er are VIM Em5lay, past commander of
Schuyler Post, this city. and James 3. Dem
worth. past commander of Reno Post.
Williamsport. vote will be taken this
evening.
The Philadelphia and Tittsburg delegates
have pledged their support to Embley and IL
is conceded that he will be chosen depar
ment commander. The sessions are secret