The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-04
And Reports of Adjutant-General r.
vim ROBBINS and Other Officers
of the Organization.
MEMBERSHIP IS DECREASING
Loss BY DEATH IN THE YEAR END
ING JUNE 30 WAS 1898.
Buffalo to Be Next Meeting Place of
the mpment-Omcers Chosen
by Daughters of Veterans.

O'Clock this morning when Gen. E. &. Ma
son, president of the citizens committee in
charge of the encampment. called the big
audience in the Auditorium to order. and
after a few words of welcome introduced
Mayor Moran. who is himself veteran,
and the formal address of welcome on be-
half of the city was delivered by the chief
executive. Past Department Commander
Fastle, who represented the case of st.
Paul to the Louisville encampment fol-
lowed in brief address regarding the
promises and their fulfillment for this
years encampment. Previous TO coming to
order an Indiana delegation presented Com
mander-in-chief Walker with a handsome
floral shield Admiral Meade occupied a
prominent place in the New York delega-
ton Among the prominent ex-command-
ers-in-chief present were Robert 3. Beatty,
of Pennsylvania: A. c. Weissert, of Wis
cousin John M. Palmer. of New York;
John s. Kounts, of Ohio, and John P. Rea,
of Minnesota.
After the doors had been closed in execu-
tive session the opening ritual was gone
through with and the committees appoint
ed. The reports of officers were then pre-
sented and read.
Commander Walkers Address.
Following are the main portions of the
address delivered by COMMUNICATIVE
Walker:
"Comrades-Last year the twenty-ninth
national encampment met for the first time
south of the beautiful river. in the city of
Louisville. The hospitality of the people of
Kentucky unbounded, and we can
never forget the cordial reception extend
ed to us on that occasion 1t is a land of
brave, generous-hearted, hospitable men
and women. l send them your cordial
Jed prosperity in their old Kentucky home
sincerely congratulate you upon the fact
that our peaceful progress has led US by
pleasant paths to the Northern border, and
pitch the tents of the thirtieth national
encampment in this beautiful city of the
Northwest on the banks of the Father of
Waters where, with united voice, we sa-
lutte again our dear country and its flag,
and bless the God of our fathers that it was
the battle for it's unity. and to preserve SO
many of us to be partakers of its later
glories
Army of the Republic is 1885, 4O6, of which
34o6l0 are in good standing and 42,511 are
carried on the suspended list for nonpay-
ment of dues. a decrease in this list during
the past year of 1859. The gain by mus
ter during the year was 10 467 In this re-
vania shows loss of 1858 members that
has been enormously carried on the rolls
last report The total loss during the year
was 11,40S,. of which number 1928 by
death, which is a decrease OF rs from last
year. When we take into account the
great business depression of the year, the
lack of employment, and the fact that so
many or the veterans are possessed of such
a small portion of this worlds goods and
the further fact that, owing to age and
infirmities, many have been unable to at
tend post meetings, and have failed to pay
their dues, our membership has held its
own remarkably well.
THE report of the quartermaster general
SHOWS our finances to be in good condition,
and that there has been a reduction in ex-
of the encampment in fitting up rooms for
our archives and custodian's salary, and
In prosecuting the Long pension case
The correspondence between Mr. c. A.
Dana, of New York and the Commander
in-chief regarding the proposed blue and
gray parade in New York city was given
in detail. While Colonel Walker refused
to indorse the proposition as the head of
the Grand Army the correspondence is fol-
lowed by this comment:
THE innumerable letters and resolutions
that came to headquarters strongly ndi-
Gated that the position taken was upheld
TO an overwhelming extent by the
lghtened ant patriotic sentiment and the
project Of tie proposed parade was aban-
dcned. To the men who fought on the
side of the South and who got through
fighting at Appomattox, and who stand
and its institutions. extend q soldier s
hand. We have recently mingled with
them and shared their boundless hospital
ity at Louisville and Chickamauga The
fraternal feeling between the North and
South has been steadily growing for a
of the late war will soon be as completely
obiiterated as were the angry passions of
our English ancestors in the great civil
conflict, known as the War of the Roses d"
PENSIONS AND PAYMENTS.
In regard to pensions, the commander
said:
Early in the session of Congress | asked
our pension committee to meet me in
Washington. where we had a consultation
with the Congressional pension committee
md ont Nr fa6 hAf nntin H..
once taken to stop the Illegal suspending
and sand ba gging of pensioners that was
going all over the country. The Con-
gressional committee expressed a willing
ness to aid in the matter and all bills then
before Congress We're taken up, carefully
considered. and such measures of relief as
embodied in house o Bin No 5@s Known ne as
the Picker Bill Our committee made no
recommendation as to sections 1 and IA of
said bill There has been some criticism as
to the advisabiity of these two sections
but the other measures of relief embodied
in the bill, We're of such vital Importance to
al pensioners and must prove so benefi-
cial in the administration of pension laws
that ! deemed it my duty to urge it's inn
mediate passage, which did. both to men,
bers of Congress. and TO the Speaker of the
House, to whom | made a personal appeal
As you are aware. the measure passed the
pending in the Senate. When this bill be-
comes the law, as ! believe it will at the
next session Of Congress, the unrest and
anxiety among deserving pensioners Will
cease, as no pension can then be discontin-
ued except for fraud clerical error or mis-
take of fact We are unaiterably opposed
10 all frauds. and or course want clerical
errors and mistakes corrected whenever
found. This law, when enacted. will guar
antee to the DenSioner that security and
peace of mind which should come 10 him
in his declining years.
The payment of all pensions by check
through the mails was also urged upon the
Congressional committee. The measure
was introduced by Mr.. Overstreet OF In
diana and has become a law The salutarv
result. after two pension payments under
it, have, ] think, proven the wisdom of its
. enactment, in saving 10 pensioners and
their families money from pensions hereto
fore lost through temptations and weak
ness.
I'm discussing this matter. the question
comes forcihly to me- the payment OF pen
sions from the several agencies by mail
having proven Il success why cannot ali
pensions he paid and mailed directly from
the Interior or Pension Department nj
washington. and by SO doing save two
thirds OF the expense incurred in
keeping up pension agencies in nearly eY-
cry important State? II would require but
a few hours longer TO receive a check
through the mail from Washington than II
does from the local agency, and would
save a vast sum of money that could he
applied TO pension payments. as an ex-
Auditor Of the Urea sury. through whose Of
flee pension payments are made, and who
was one of the most competent men who
ever filled the office. informed me when
consulted about the matter that with nfty
additional clerks in his department. he
could readily have paid every pensioner on