The Somerset reporter., 1899-09-14
The National Encainpment
q, A, II.

The contest for National commander.
iH.chief resulted in the election Of the
acting commander. 10 chief for the bal
ance OF the session, and on Thursday
year, viz
Col A. D. Shaw, New York, com.
mander-n-chief; Irving Robbins Of In
dianapolis, senior vice commander.in.
chief; Nj. Minton OF Louisville, Ky,
junior vice commander; VIM. II. Baker
of Lynn, Mass, surgeon general; Jocob
l.. Grimm of Maryland, chaplain-n-
chief
Gen. Thos. J. Stewart of Pennsylva-
MIA, was reappointed adintant general.
The report of the pension committee,
reeommitted, Wednesday, was reported.
Thursday, and adopted rs follows:
1--WE respectfully direct attention to
Section 472 of the Revised Statutes OF
the United States, which reads as fol-
lows: THE commissioner of pensions
shall perform. under the direction OF the
secretary of the interior. such duties In
the execution of pension and bounty
laws as may be prescribed by the Presi-
dent
"Resolved. That this encampment re-
spectfully represents TO the President its
earnest conviction that rule 225. now in
practical effect In the adjudication Of
claims for pension. under section of
the act of June 81, 1890, in the pension
bureau. works grave injustice to worthy
ex-soldiers, and we express the hope
that YOU will find 1t consistent with
your duties as au executive officer TO
abrogate this rule and re establish the
principle as defined in rule lG4. Under
the operation of rule 1854. formulated
and put into effect soon after the pas
sage of this act, unquestionablv respon-
sive to public sentiment and based upon
sound legal propositions, in word, the
simple expression of the letter and
spirit OF the law. 100000 names were
added to the pension roll OF the republic
and to which no objection was heard for
years after its PRONUNCIATION.
"Resolved. That this encampment
respectfully represents that the practice
in the pension bureau in barring widow
claimants who have an income of S96 a
year is not warranted by the terms of
the law, and we warmly endorse the
recommendation of the commissioners
Of pensions to successive secretaries of
the interior that the Limitation be in
creased to $3.50 year.
The convention of Naval Veterans
elected the following officers:
Commodore commanding. George l..
Seavev OF Chicago; fleet captain and
chief of staff. [. B. Bakr, Boston; COM
mander, James A. Miller. Athens. o. f;
lieutenant commander. John o. Shaw,
Bath, Me-. lieutenant. Samuel B. Dixon,
Detroit. Mich; master, Charles l..
Weeden, New Bedford. Mass; ensign,
John n. Deharrv, Philadelphia; sur
geon. J. l.. Crilley, Cincinnati; pavmas-
ter. f. F. Duntin, Providence, R. l.;
engineer, f. A. Bozcley. Providence,
r. |. chaplain, A. S. McWilliams, De-
troit, Mich; Judge advocate, c. F.
Gooding, Chicago. The following APP,
pointmants we're made: Secretary,
Frederick f. Haskins, Brooklyn, N. Y. ;
hoatswain, Louis Bennett, Baltimore
historian. VIM. Simms. Philadelphia.
The total membership of the Grand
Army of the Republic in good standing
June 30. 1898. was 1913 posts. with a
memher ship of 305 COB; on Dec. 81,
1898. 717S posts, with a membership of
298 TAI, and on June 30, 1899 6905
posts, with a membership of 2S7, 1881.
Expended in relief during the year,
$780, 955.64. The year 1890 was the high
water mark in membership (409,489)
Every year since then has shown q de-
crease, and 1t is not likely that any year
in the future will show a gain over
loccao