The National tribune., 1894-03-15
Several resolutions were adopted by the En-

| member of our Order to report. without fear or
| favor, any and ali violations within their knowl-
| edge of the pension laws of the Government to
their Post Commander, and we request all cllizens
| who may possess any knowledge OF fraud as
charged to report the same to the Post nearest 10
their homes.
MASSACHUSETTS,
An interesting lecture was given by Col. t.
W. HigginsoD, in Odd Fellows Hall, North
Cambridge, the other evening, for the benefit OF
Beck Post, S. The subject was: The Fugl-
tive slave period in Massachusetts,"
A Union Campfire and banquet was held by
Veteran Post. Reading; Grant Post, Melrose !;
J. P Gould Post, Stoneham; Bell Post, Boston,
and Warren Post. Wakefield, in the rooms of
GAR, at Wakefield, the other evening.
The GAR. Club held meeting at the United
| States Hotel on March 5.
MINNES OTA.-
The comrades took possession of Minneapolis
| on the morning of Feb. ~, and all day long
they could be seen standing in groups discuss
| ing the candidates and subjects OF interest
which were to be brought before the Encamp-
ment on the following day. The Delegates
were on the ground in large number, despite
the hard times which it was predicted would
keep many of them away and the Encampment
was one of the most successful in the history of
the Order in this State.
The Encampment was called to Order by
Commander John Day Smith at 10 o'clock on
Feb b. After prayer by the Chaplain, the
Commander presented his annual address, CIV
ing in detail the condition of the Department.
He said that the number of comrades in good
standing was S,037, or net gain of 81 during
the past year. There have been five new Posts
organized under his administration, with a
membership of 81. He spoke of the inspections
of Posts, the suspension of comrades for the
non-payment of dues. the proper observance of
Memorial Day, the Woman's Relief Corps and
the noble work that is being done by them. the
National Encampment held at Indianapolis,
the Minnesota Soldiers Home, the per capita
tax, and other matters of interest. He then
took up the pension question at great length.
He said, among other things:
when we met one year ago the Encamp-
ment passed resolution opposing the threat
ened repeal of the act of Congress approved
June 81. 1890 known as the Disability Pension
Act Well, it has not been repealed, but it is
very evident that something is wrong. Under
that law as it had formerly been construed and
administered the disabled comrade had found
substantial relief. But the truth of history
compels me to state that the present Admins
tration has assumed hostile attitude toward
the old soldier In its judgment the time has
evidently come to use the apothecarys scales
to measure the rewards of the men who saved
the country Under the pretext of purifying
the penson-roll covert attack is being made
upon the whole pension system. 1t is sought to
accomplish by administration what cannot be
done by legislation"
At the session of the Encampment on Feb.
IA an expression of approval of the Command
er's address on pensions was adopted in rising
vote. The resolution adopted demanded that
no backward step be taken in pension legisla-
ton, and that the laws enacted be administered
with the same unstinted and patriotic spirit
that characterized the pensioners in the hour of
their country's peril and need. Pension law
should be literally, not strictly, construed by
patriotic officers of patriotic people. The
Pension Department should demand specifca-
tons of all charges of fraudulent pensioners.
Comrades of the GAR. want no one on the
rolls who is lot entitled to be there. They have
ever been ready to, and to-day ready to,
assist in removing any such from that roll of
honor.
Comrade S. R. Van SAINT was elected Depart
ment Commander, A. II. Reed, Senior Vice.
Commander; T. w. McCay, Junior Vice. Com
mander; H. c. Bible, Chaplain, and L. NJ
Tucker, Medical Director.
The Encsmpment entered protest against
the discrimination in the employment of old
soldiers at Washington, and ordered copy Of
the resolution sent to each Senator and Repre-
sentative from Minnesota.
The last act of the Encampment was to adopt
| by rising vote a resolution thanking Past
Commander John Day Smith for his efforts
during the past year.
| MISSOURI
Washington's birthday was appropriately
celebrated by Abraham Lincoln Post, 5,
Moberly, and the W.RC. auxiliary to it. An
excellent program was rendered. The Womans
! Relief Corps had no time to enjoy or take
! part In the entertainment. They had been
busy all the evening at the Campfire preparing
the rations for the comrades and for their
| friends, who had come TO partake OF the coffee
and the edibles.
|
TIE 18th annual Encampment of the Depart
ment in Lincoln from Feb. I9 to 90 will long
be remembered In the history of the Order in
! Nebraska as one of the most harmonious ever
| held.
! The second days session opened with Com
| mander Church in the chair. Hon. G. Howe
| had no opposition for the Office of Department
! Commander. When he was nominated several
| comrades arose TO second, but Commander
| Church seconded the nomination on behalf OF
every Post in the State, and Comrade Howe
was chosen by reclamation. Capt G. Z. Adams
was chosen Senior Vice Commander; James
Barnes, Junior Vice Commander; Rev. S. n.
Martin, Chaplain, and BENZ. Way, Medical
Director.
The installation ceremonies took place in
Representative Hall on the evening Of Feb.
90 Each officer was cheered when he was
| called out to take the oath of Office
A resolution introduced by Gen. A. V.
! Cole, stating that they considered the appoint
ment Of Hoke Smith as Secretary of the Inte-
| rior an insult to the Union soldier and a direct
| slap in the face of every soldier who fought for
| the Union. The resolution was unanimously
| adopted.
The committee reported that they were not
in favor of admitting the S. of V. to member.
! ship in the GAR.
COmrade {. NJ. Parker, Commander of Far
| ragut Post, %, Lincoln, who has been a resi-
dent Of that city for the past "a years and an
active member since the organization of the
| Post which is one of the largest in the State
having at the present time 37S mem bers in good
standing, and situated ia County containing
800 comrades drawing pensions, reported, after
most vigiiant scrutiny and investigation
that he had failed to find single case where q
breath of suspicion rested upon cOmrade foi
having secured his pension through fraudulent
or dishonest means
A beautiful flag was presented to Farragu
Post on the evening Of Feb o. This flag wa
the gift of Corp'l Rhil Camp and Mary Logar
Tent Daughters of Veterans. The presentation
speech was made by George p. Gates, of the
Camp.
Commander Howe has appointed his stat
as follows: A. A-G., A. NJ. Trimble; A. Q. NJ.
4. n. Shaw; A. I.-G., E. NJ. Davies; J. A.-G.
! i. +. Powers; c. II. o.. a. II. Brown; s. A. G.
G. II. Jewett.
OHIO
Rings Post, 637. West Unity. celebrated Feb
22 by holding an open afternoon meeting il
their hall. Speeches, songs, and sketches O
. army life made up the program. In the even
ing the largest church in the village was fille'