Evening journal., 1898-09-09
C. A. R. ENCAMPMENT
Proceedings Of the Session
Yesterday Afternoon.
SEXTON NEW COMMANDER IN CHIEF
Philadelphia Chosen as the Next Rem.
dezvous-Resolutions Upholdisg the
Pension system-Johnson Prob
able vice Commander.

CINCINNATI, Sept. 9.-The first busi-
lless in order at yesterday afternoons
session of the encampment was
lengthy report from the committee on
pensions. The report refutes the charge
hat the pension roll is a roll of dis
1onor II cited the fact that expensive
investigations had been undertaken by
he department, and after their close
Rhere had been not a single case of
raud discovered which could be traced
20 a member Of the Grand Army Of the
,Republic. The report went on TO say
,hat the roll was distinctly q roll of
yonor. 1t made a somewhat extended
comparison with the work accomplish
4 ld now and during the last administra-
"on of General Grant. This showed the
efficiency OF the department I'm the way
rf prompt disposal of claims had been
& lastly increased. The committee gave
a 'gures showing that the death rate was
78npidly increasing among pensioners.
he number dying each year now ex-
Al ,eeds 10000. 1t is estimated that the
tcrease in the number of deaths each
4 lear will be such that in 1920 the num-
81 l9r of pensioners will be reduced to
81 sttle over 250,000, and in 1910 the list
81 i'll be obliterated The report recon-
= fends that just and liberal provisions
IL hould be made for adjudicating the
aims now pending In the department
81 ,ld that no relaxation of efforts on the
hrt Of the Grand Army of the Republic
allowed to interfere with this duty.
philadelphia was chosen as the place
r the next encampment by a vote of
Ell g to 259 for Denver.
W sAlbert d. Shaw of Watertown, n. Y,
~ hd James A. Sexton Of Chicago were
@ 9minated for the position of command
in chief. On the roll call of states
xton received 424 votes TO Shaw's 241
lColonel James Sexton OF Chicago the
,w commander in chief Of the G. A. r.,
as born in Chicago Jan. 8, 1874. When
ncoln, in April 1861. issued his call
b $4,000 volunteers, Colonel Sexton en-
ted on April 10, 1861. as a private. He
IS then II years of age. After three
# onths' service he re-enlisted in the
W kty-seventh Illinois infantry, and was
mmissioned a first lieutenant. He
rs later transferred to the Seventy
bond Illinois and was made captain
Company ID. He served in Ransom's s
qgade. McArthur's division, Seven
enth army corps of the army of the
tnnessee and participated in its cam
igns, sieges and battles. AS a regi-
3 fntal commander he fought his regi-
INT in the battles Of Columbia Duck
er, Spring HILL Franklin and Nash
lie and throughout the Nashville cam
ign. In 1865 he was on the staff of
2jor General A. ]. Smith. the COM
lnder sf the Sixteenth army corps.
;7 d remained with Smith until the end
the war In the assault and cap
&c of the Spanish fort. Mobile. April
1' 1885, he had his left leg broken below
4 e knee, being struck by a piece OF
ell. He was wounded at the battle OF
anlklln and at Nashville. After the
T he remained two years in Alabama,
irking a plantation near Montgomery.
1867 he returned to Chicago and
" nded the firm Of ]. A. & T. S. Sexton.
n 1872, after the Chicago fire. this
n was succeeded by Cribben, Sexton
Co. President Harrison made him
stmsster Of Chicago in April, 1889. He
an active worker in the Grand Army,
Military Order of the Loyal Legion
other soldier and Grand Army So
lies. He is past commander of the
@ Dartment of Illinois, G.. A. r.
t the present time he is president Of
board Of trustees of the Illinois
te Soldiers and Sailors home, locat-
at Quincy. He has been a presiden-
elector a colonel in the Illinois ma
nal guard and has held several posi-
ns of honor and responsibility in the