The morning times., 1896-02-27

campfnent, Which is to meet at ST. Paul
next September, it was IL O'Clock and
many OF the veterans, a majority, in fact.
preferred to come again tonight to facing
the prospect OF a session liable TO continue
to the small hours OF the morn. so the
matter of naming delegates will be done
tonight.
When Commander Anderson called the
encampment TO order he confronted 400
attendants. or these 1853 were delegates,
and they had the front seats. Mr.. Anderson
announced that the first business would be
the election of Officers, of which that OF
commander would come first.
John McElroy and j. II. Hewlett had
previously been placed in nomination for
this place. But one ballot was taken, Mr..
McElroy receiving lis out OF the full
vote of the delegation. He was declared
elected.
For the three offices following the three
gentlemen whose names are attached Were
elected without opposition;
Senior vice commander, a. J. HuntooD;
medical director, DR.. y. T.. Johnson; chap
lain, Rev. Fl. s. Stevens. For junior vice
commander a ballot was necessary to de
eide whether j. +. Raub or T. 8 Kelly
should he elected. Raub, having received
80 votes to KclIy's 20, was declared
elected.
COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION.
A long list OF names represented those
put in nomination for the council OF admins
tration. The result showed that S. vs..
TuIcy, Judge I. G. Kimbaii, S. w Herbert,
Calvin Farnsworth, and Michael Mahaney
received najoritieS, and were duly an
nounced as elected.
Five delegates and five alternatcS are
10 be selected for the st. Paul enCanIpment
tonight.
While the tcllcrs We're busy with the
intricacics of the ballots, which were 10
decide who were To be the council OF adj
ministration, the committee OF revision OF
reports made the following announcements:
On the employment committees work
the recommendation was made that the
committee confinc its efforts 10 such G.
A r. men as are members OF the depart
ment, but in the cases of widows and
orphans OF soldiers no discrimination be
made.
The relief committees work was strongly
commended.
The report Of the assistant adiutant
general recommended the appointment Of
a special committee to cndeavor to have
several smaller posts of the District con-
solidate, and also the appointment OF au-
other special committee 10 bring ali the
posts in the department, except the five
outlying ones, which arc termed frontier
posts, into one home, with the depart
ment.
On the assistant quartermaster's report
it was recommended that hereafter the
expenditures on Memorial Day be not OF
such lavish character. on the same re-
port it was suggested that the parade
be shorter on the memorial occa sions
hereafter as the long trampS or the past
have severely taxed the strength OF the more
aged veterans.
PROTECTION OF PENSIONERS.
The most important report OF the evening
was that of special committee of which
Judge Kimball Is chairman. known as Ion
protection OF pensioners, which has the
difficult problem of devising means to
have pensioners save and not dissipate
their quarterly governmental allowances.
The committee. through the Secretary
OF the Interior, received reports from all
pension agencies in the country, which
are unanimous In the statement that the
| old soldiers become the victims of sharperS
| and more readily squander their pensions
| by drawing the money al the public agency.
approved plan Endorsed by Secretary
! Smith, of pa ying pensions by checks mailed
| to the homes of the pensioners, which
/ would in a manner keep them from being
| imposed upon.
| just at this stage the encampments
| did i graceful and gracious thing In
dividually and collectively there was a
storm of enthusiasm caused by the hearty
way the Secretary OF the Interior had
co-operated with the committee on the
protection of pensioners, and he was vo-
| ciferously cheered.
| This same committee has also taken
measures, referring especially to the Dis
trict of Columbia. to have an act passed
| by Congress providing cheap and sum-
mary process by which any judge of the
| supreme court of the District can appoint
a guardian for any incapable pensioner, it
being shown that the present law does not
meet all cases, as under it a man has
to be insane to be OF service.
A division was necessary to decide
| whether an adjournment should be taken
or to proceed with the election OF dele
gates, majorIty-a big one-being for
| adjournment.
THE NEW COMMANDER.
| John McElroy has been a resident OF
Washington for twelve years and all OF
that time he has been the managing editor
of the National Tribune. As many other
distinguished men have done he began
life as printers devil" Aside from the
time spent as a soldier he has been con-
nected in various capacities with newspaper
work ever since.
| He was born in Kentucky in 1916, and
when young went to st. Louis. where his
apprenticeship at the printing business
| began. After becoming n full-fledged
| printer he wandered about q good deal
working at his trade. and when the war
broke out was in Illinois, but returned to
st. Louis To join company OF home guards.
| He afterward went to Chicago and became
attached to the McCIernand battalion of
cavalry, which did distinguished service in
| the army of the Tennessee.
He remained in that division of the service
| until after the fall of Vicksburg when his
battalion was transferred TO the East Ten
nessee, in January, l 864. They were over
powered and captured at JoneSville, Va,
! in February, the same year, and he was
taken to Andersonvile prison, being in the
| first squad of men who were imprisoned in
| that stockade.
He was prisoner for fifteen months and
on his release went to Chicago the wai
| having ended, and became reporter work
ing on several of the papers there. He was
do, -<.ft