Iron County register., 1899-09-14
NATIONAL ENCAMPhENI.
The Business of the National En-
campment. G. A. r.. in Pro-
gress at P hiladelphia.
SYNOPSIS OF THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The Next Encampment to Be Held in Chi
cago-Other Meetings Held-Work of
the Woman's Relief Corps Outlined
by the Reports Presented by the Vari-
Gus Omcers.

the woman's Relief Corps Outlined
by the Reports Presented by the Vari-
Oncers.
Philadelphia, Sept. 6.-The real bCsi-
hess of the Grand Army gathering be-
gan to-day with the assembling of the
national encampment in The Grand
opera house. Reports showing the con-
dition of the organization were made
BY several officers, and a number of
committees submitted recommended
tions.
The most important action of the
day was the election of Senior Vice
Commander johnson as commander
in-chief, to serve out the unexpired
term of the late Col. Sexton. Com
mander johnson will continue in Of
flee until the end of this encauip-
ment. This renders him ineligible to
candidacy for the full term, and he
will be given the title of past cOul-
manGer-in-chief. Immediately after
his election Commander-in-Ch;e John
son was the recipient of a diamond
badge, the gift of his chief of staff,
Col. w. L. SElith. and aids.
The national encampment met in
executive session at Ii o'clock. The
delegates did not hold the customary
open meeting, owing to the large
amount of business to be transacted.
The encampment is made up of 34l
delegates from the various states and
territories, $50 department officers,
Ill national officers and past COM
manders-in-chief and SS2 post depart
ment commanders, the total voting
strength being 1,252.
The address of Senior Vice Com
mander-in-Chief w. c. Johnson, of Gin
einnati, opens with a memorial trih-
ute to Commander-in-Chief James y.
Sexton, Past Chaplain-in-Chief Rev.
Thomas c. Warner and George X. Nal
lory, a member of the national council
of administration, all of whom died
during the year. The facts presented
in the various reports are reviewed
and conclude as follows:
Having learned that there was Il
number of members of the Grand
Army of the Republic, as well as those
eligible to membership, located in Por
g. Rico, Cuba and the Philippine Is
lands, and with a belief that the insti-
tuting of Grand Army of the Republic
post in those islands would materially
aid in the dissemination of patriotic
sentiments, and instilling into the
minds of their citizens American ideas
of love of country and flag, [ began Il
correspondence some three months ago
with members of our order residing ut
different points on these islands, and
while nothing definite has as yet been
accomplished, still there is some en-
couragement, and l would recommend
that the incoming commander-in-
chief continue the effort, believing
there will be ultimate success and
much good accomplished as result"
Reports of Committees.
Report of Thomas j. Steward, adju.
.ant general, said:
The total membership of the Grand
Army of the Republic in good standing
June 80, 1898, was 1918 posts, with a
membership of 3O5, 1903; on December
II, 1895, 7,17s posts, with Il member
ship of 9S,747, and on June 80, 1899,
6,965 posts, with membership of 2S-.-
PSI. Expended in relief during the
year, S16O,955.64.
The year 1890 was the high-water
mark in membership (4O9, ,4S9). Every
year since then has shown Il decrease.
and it is not likely that any year IN
the future will show gain over
losses. although enough comrades and
shit mates of the army and navy of
the civil war period yet remain to
make such a thing possible. Each
year shows an increasing death rate
among the membership. Surely the
Grand Army of the Republic is march
ing into the shadows"
The report of Judge Advocate Cen
cral Eli Horrance,. of Minneapolis,
,;eals with q number of cases that were
submitted to him for decision, the most
important one being the deadlock fol-
lowing the death of Commander-in-
Chief James A. Sexton. With regard
to this case, the judge advocate says:
For the first time in the history of
our order the commander-in-chiefd died
while in office, and by reason thereof
perplexing questions of important im
port were presented to me for solution.
and their careful consideration led me
90 the only conclusion 1 could con-
Scientiously reach without reSorting
40 what is known as judicial legisla-
tion.'
IF it is deemed advisable that the
vice commanders should succeed in or
der of seniority to the office of COM
ularder-in-chief, the rules and reguIa-
tons can easily be amended. and ap,
words used declaring that they shall
so succeed in the event of his death.
resignation or removal
The report of Quartermaster-Gener
al Fred w. Sphinx, of Chicago. shows
the following financial condition of
the organization: Receipts, $26, 6,SOS.6s;
expenditures, S14.636.23; balance or
hand. S11,672.45. The assets of the or
sanization are S13, ,04O.59, and, in addi,
tioIi. it has $4,000 invested in United
States per cent. bonds.
The surgeon general, Albert e.
Pierce, reported that during the past
eighteen months 11,OS3 deaths had oc-
CURED in the Grand Army. There
are, the report states. 1,672 deserving
sick and manned soldiers not receiv
ing pensions. In government auG
state homes for soldiers and sailors
there are 6.341 inmates, and 81 old sail
ors and old soldiers are in almshodses.
In his report, Daniel r. Lucas, chap
lain-in-chief, states that there are g.
6s2 soldiers graves unmarked. He rec
ommends that, as the government fur
nishes headstones, the neglected
graves should receive attention.