The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-02-21
MINNESOTA

| and who represented himself TO James Shield
Post, las. Department of Wisconsin. as mem
| Der OF Acker Post 81. st. Paul, and received
aid on account Of said representation; he is
| frsnd.
The 22i Of February, Washington's Birthday
is recognized by the Grand Army Of the Re
public as q holiday. The Department Com
mander recommends that the day be observed
by the Posts of the Department in suitable
! form. Meetings should be held. with addresse:
! upon the life and character of Washington. and
such other exercises participated in by comrades
and the young people as will keep alive in the
hearts OF all a sense of gratitude and veneration
for him who was first in war. first in peace
and first in the hearts of bis countrymen."
The 18th annual Encampment of this De-
psr'ment will be held in Ford's Music Hall,
corner Sixth and ST. Peter streets ST. Paul, on
Wednesday and Thursday. Feb. q and Is. The
Encampment will be called to order at 10
o'clock on Wednesday morning. Feb. q. De-
partment Headquarters will be at Windsor
Hotel during the Encampment. The Council OF
Administration viii convene ut the Windsor
Hotel in ST. Paul at 10 o'clock Tuesday morn
ing, Feb. 26. Commander.in- Chief Lawler and
some OF his staff will be in attendance.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Department Encampment, held at
Nashua, was grand success, and the attend
ance was quite large. Department Commander
David r. Pierce in his annual report, stated
that the gain IN membership for 1894 has been
213; lapses by suspensions, transfers. discharges
ETC., $50; making net loss to the Order in the
State of 267 members. The total number Of
members in good standing Dec. 81, 1893, was
1868; on Dec. 81, 1894 1896; remaining sus-
pended the same date, $50. The principal loss
comes from suspension, there being an excess of
2l2 over 1893.
The returns from "a Posts regarding finances
show the balance in Post funds to be $13 263 90;
in relief funds, S. 1881; furniture, guns, etc,
s26966.5S; real estate, 500 472.9 IS; total. $685.
1888; loss during the year from 1893 s., 903 SO;
amount expended for relief during the year,
S27O5.24. The aggregate receipts of the De-
partment during the year were. $3,96625; ex-
penditures during the year. 81 1863. 80; balance
on hand Feb S. 1895, $1,000 Sc. The expenses
for the year 1893 amounted to So 346. Is q gain
of S3S2.76 over last year.
or the Soldiers Home, he said: "By the
last report OF the Board of Managers we find
that 1l9 men in all have been inmates, and IS
have constant home in the institution. am
convinced by extended and careful observation
that the New Hampshire State Home has no
superiors, and that the Homes in other States
would do well to initiate the wise and liberal
policy which governs this benefcent institu-
tion."
On the subject of pensions, the report says:
Il am one Of the class who believe that the
Government has made liberal provision for the
disabled veterans, and that the occasion of the
complaint has been the policy pursued in the
execution of pension laws There has been
evinced a morbid earnestness to discover frauds
in the Pension Office. and this desire has been
carried to such an extent that the just claims
of needy veterans have been elbowed 10 one
side, that no energies might be diverted from
- -
tary of the Interior and his subordinate the
Commissioner of Pensions.
1t is not too much to say that the result
of al the efforts which have been directed to
the discovery of the numerous and stupendous
frauds about which we have heard so much,
shows the number Of fraudulent eases TO have
been remarkably few and Insignificant, and
that when found they not cases where
soldiers had attempted to defraud the Govern
ment, but were cases in which both soldier and
Government hsd been duped by some unscru-
pulous claim agent.
"In the light of these facts, developed by the
Government itself, believe il not too much to
demand that the Interior Department, and
more particularly the Pension Office, be adj
in accordance with the liberal policy
by the law of 1890, and that in
creased activity in the adjustment of claims
will alone relieve the Administration from the
charge so frequently and SO generally believed,
that the Administration is not friendly to the
soldier"
The Commander closed with an expression OF
thanks for aid and assistance received from
comrades and officials
A Campfire was held on the evening of the
5th in honor of Commander-in-C Chief Lawler.
Gov. Charles A. Busiel welcomed Commander
in-Chief Lawler on the part of the State, and
Mayor Joseph w. Howard on behalf of the
city. Col. Frank J. Noyes, Of Nashua, well
coined him on the part of the New Hampshire
Departm ent. and at the close called for three
cheers in honor of Commander LAWYER, and
they were Justify given.
Charles BuZZell, of Lacona was elected Com
mander. Other officers elected were: S. VIC.
l.. w. Aldrich. Keene; J. V. c., James Minot,
Concord. y. H.; Chap. Cbas i. Pink ham, Wolf.
boro; Medical Director, Edgar i. Carr. Pitts.
field. Delegates elected were: Edward
Z. Parker, Nashua; John Dane, Nashua; Al
tcrpstes, VI. b. Plnmmer, Laconia; F. L. Avery.
Pennington J. w. Meers, Manchester: John
K. Law, New London; W. C. Coburn, Hayer-
hill. The officers were installed by Past Com
mander VI. NJ. Cullis of Portsmouth. 1t was
voted TO send $500 TO suffering Posts in Ne
braska and TO redistriet the Stale for the cleo
tion OF delegates.
NEW JERSEY
The annual Encampment OF tho New JERSEY
Department closed Feb. 6 with the election of
officers. All the honors went 10 North Jersey
except that of Junior Wee Department Com.
nander. The officers chosen are as follows
Department Commander, Henry S. White, Red
Bank; Senior Vice Department Commander, E.
F. Brainard, Newark; Junior Vice Department
Geo. Z. Martin, Camden Chap,
Chas Z. Hill, Red Bank: Medical Director. III
;. Crane, Newark. Council Of Administration,
A. A. Meseroll, Trenton George w. Price, New
Frank B. Riden, Newark John
Lawrence, New Brunswick, and Robert John. |
son, Newark. II. Z. Terhnne, of Red Bank,
was appointed Assistant Adj utaDt- General, and |
E. V. Ripards, of Trenton, Assistant Quarter
master General
OHTO.-
The Department Commander desires TO call |
attention Of all Post Commanders and COM |
-ades 10 the efforts now being made in several /
Departments TO further the cause of most |
wise and patriotic movement; viz, that of |
u Hilary instruction in public schools. The |
Strand Army wishes this TO become part of /
BUR common school education. II is fitting /