The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-07
Next Encampment at
Chicago.
5. V. Com. Johnson Elected
COmmander-in-Chie

Philadelphia, September 6.--The real
business of the Grand Army gathering
began today with the ASSEMBLING of the
National Encampment in the Grand Or-
sra house.
The National Encampment met in ex-
ecutiye sssionat IL o'clock. The delegates
did not hold the customary open meeting
owing to the large amount Of business to
be transacted The ennampment is made
uT~bf s44 delegates from the various
states and territories, 1s0 Departments
officers. Ill national officers and past
commander in chief, and 6s2 past de-
paitment commanders, the total voting
strength he.ag t.252
The report OF Alonzo Williams of Prov
idenes. X. l., Inspector fslaal, gave the
loss by death as 1924. which added TO
losses through other causes made the to-
tai loss 1850. The number of members
in good standing June 80, 1899 was
2s7.ss1.
The most important event Of the morn
ing session was the election of Senior
Vice. s-Commanderr johnson as command
er-in-chief until the end Of this encamp-
ment Daniel Ross Of Wilmington, Dell,
was elected to the office OF senior vice
commander, succeeding Col. johnson.
The first business after recess was the
selection of a place for the next encamp-
ment, and Chicago was chosen by acclam-
alton. The report of the committee on
pensions was then read and a motion was
made to refer 1t to the committee on reso-
lutions. This created much discussion,
many delegates fnyoring the immediate
adoption Of "a resolution covering the evils
mentioned in the report. The Michigan
delegates objected to the report on the
ground that 1t failed to specify what the
Grand Army wanted. They were sun
ported by the Indiana, Kansas and New
York delegates. After discussion last
ing nearly four hours the report was re-
ferred hack to the committee on pensions
with instructions that 1t be presented at
tomorrow's session embodying recommen-
dations and resolutions. The report win
be printed tonight and distributed among
the delegates.
Until then it will be withheld from
publication.
The complaint of the veterans az CON-
cined In the pension committees report
Is that the law governing the granting
of pensions is misoonstrued by the pen
sion examiner.
The report Is not critical. but Ia said to
contain statement of facts as they exist
In the pension department.
The encampment adjourned at $50
o'clock to meet tomorrow moraing.
The GREATEST secrecy Is being main
tained in regard to the report of the COM
mittee on pensions. It is known, how
ever, that the report begins with an OK
haustive review of the history of pension
legislation and the causes leading up to
the present pension system and methods.
The report is signed by h. d. Brown,
chairman, Louisville; John Palmer, AL
bany, N. r; ]. W. Burst, Sycamore, H.,
and q. Q. Adams of Boston. II. Il. Case.
the other member of the committee, did
not sign the report. It was said that he
had sent minority report, but this
could not be confirmed. The debate ovsr
ths report was getting very warm in the
encampment today when the whcla mat
ter was referred back OF the committee
on specific resolutions to cover certain
points.
Gen. Sickles of New York, counselled
moderation in the matter A deIegats
from Kansas caused considerable nproar
by introducing aresolution that the en-
eampment respectfully requests the Presi-
dent to Temove the pension con mission
er at once. This brought score Of yeter-
ans to their feet, all of whom wanted 10
speak. but motion to rs-commit was
adopted and quick adjournment re-
lieyed the situation.
The delegates are moving slowIy in tho
Iaatter and generally they do not desi-