St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-06-28
GRAND ARnY ENGAGEMENT.
CONDENSED from Arthur r. Stones repor
in Burlington Free Press)

| encampment opened III Winusor nan
Montreal, at 10 o'clock Wednesday
morning. The following department
officers were present: Commander
Luther B. Harris, Post LOG. Lyndon
vile; Junior Vice Commander Warren
E. Bliss, Post 20, East Calais, all the
department staff and three members OF
the council of administration; 6. o.
Smith, Post As, Chelsea H. B. Farmer,
Post rs, Island Pond S. H. Wood,
Post 60, St. Adams.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Taylor
of Bellows Falls. The committee on
credentials had not completed their
report as delegates were arriving by
every train, but nearly 200 delegates
were present at the opening session.
Greetings were brought the visitors by
Commander Waugh of the British army
and navy veterans, late OF the royal
navy. H. W. Smelling, late of Her
Majesty's Goth Rifles, now secretary and
treasurer Of the army and navy veterans,
and H. c. ST. Pierre, Esq, Queens coun-
sci. representing Hancock Post, No los,
of Montreal. These speakers were well
received and gave short but hearty
greetings.
FOllO Wig lHcsG duuISSScS CdulC tuS
reports of the department officers.
Commander Harris report was re-
ferred to committee consisting of Pen
sion Agent Henry OF Concord, N. H.,
Postmaster Cannon OF Bellows Falls
and S. II. Wood of St. Adams. The
other reports were referred to Quarter
master General Gilmore of Fairlee, K.
Richmond Of Newport, Capt. E. L.
Hovey of st. Johnsbury.
Commander Harris also announced a
nominating committee and a committee
on resolutions consisting Of Congress
man Circuit, ex-Gov. Woodbury. and Col
lector Mansur of Island Pond.
Commander Harris paid his respects,
in his report, to Pension Commissioner
Evans and closed as follows:
st seems to me that the root OF the
evil is in the system of changing the
head Of the bureau with every admins
tration. II it were possible to get a
good man and then keep him, much good
would result The whole matter is to be
treated this department in a discour-
teous and unbusiness-like way. | know
of no reason for it except the fact that
in certain quarters they have been as
sailed by Grand Army men, | am not
aware that any comrade in this depart
ment has given the commissioner any
offense and at Cincinnati those of us
there did what wecould to get ruling
that the bitter personal abuse heaped
upon them was out Of order, but we
, failed. The condition of affairs and the
needless delays, especially with widow S
claims, is a disgrace to the business
ability of our government. | do not
( attribute the fault all to the present
commissioner, although he seems TO con-
) slider himself all there is to the law
2 making as well as the executive depart
ment OF the government. | believe the
remedy lies in taking the bureau out o.
> the realm of politics and putting it into
the realm of business. | believe that ir
t the realm of business the present com
= missioner could not retain Office an in
y stant."
+ The afternoon session opened with thu
reading of the following despatch
n Concord, N. H., June 81.
4 The Department of New Hampshire
y Daughters OF Veterans, extends fraterna
greetings.
5 MARY A. KEANAN,
IL Department President.
. Comrade Hugh Henry was assigned
to reply to these greetings. Followin;
n this came the presentation of the JUNO
V vice commander of New Hampshire.
l. The committee on Comrade Harris
n report endorsed the suggestions that tn
- Office of assistant adjutant general b
= made more permanent, recommends
- that the next legislature provide sal
H. place for keeping the records OF the d.
81 partment; believed that the Offices {
it quartermaster general and assistan
h. adjutant general could not be united
n. recommended that the next legislator
W appropriate $3.50 to pay for printing til
/. records of the proceedings as is done
- some of the other states.
- This committees report was adopte
- and it was voted not to change the tim
of the annual meeting of the encaml
ment.
Among the resolutions adopted wei
these:
he Resolved That we have faith that va
re- majority of the American people earnestl
er desire just and liberal pension laws and
W fair construction of the same,
III Resolved, That we rejoice at the rapid di
nd appearance of sectional feeling in all portion
al of our beloved CT untry, which has been au
81 mented of late by demands upon the pa
nc rotism of our people in the war with Spai
err when the boys in blue and grey and their d
nj scendants We'd with each other on land al
VI sea in upholding he honor of our republ
oil and maintaining the glory of our flag
ne Resolved. That this encampment halls wi
=, satisfaction the increasing frendlness
~ tween the two great Englsh-speaking N
Ill tons of the world, viz: America and En-
land, and expresses the hope that nothii
" fellowship of these two peoples nor of t.
ler progress of Anglo. Saxon civilization in t
ne earth.
,er The following resolution, offered
Ill ex Gov. Woodbury., was adopted by
rd rising vote:
re Resolved, That the representatives of t
20 department of Vermont, g. A, r., in an a
yer nua encampment assembled, heartily c
dorse the wise and patriotic course of Pre-
dent and Comrade Mckinley during the W
no with Spain, and subsequently, in dealing wi
or the difficult problems that have confront
~ his administration in the countries ov
W. which the sovereignty of Spain has been
M lnquished, The wisdom and courage d
n played by the president at all times are
=, assurance of an honorable and trumpha
ne issue from all present difficulties.
ch Resolved. That our admiration is exct
m. by the heroism displayed by our comrades
-; ~ arms during the war with Spain and sub
ISL quently in the Philippines, and we tend
The them our hearty and fraternal greetings
he The following officers were then electe
10, the assistant adjutant general castii
no. the ballot in each case:
J., a Department commander, Gen. F.
ing Butterfeld Derby Line.
oh. Senior vice commander, G. o. Smit
The Chelsea.