The Anaconda standard., 1899-09-07
CHICAGO IS THE CHOICE
For the Next snt of
the G. A. r.
PENSION SERVICE REPORT
Veterans Complain That the Law Is Mis-
construed by the Examiner-A
Split in the Naval As
Sociation.

Hess OIL the Grand Army gathering be-
gan to-day with the assembling of the
national encampment in the Grand
opera house The contest for com
mander lies between Colonel Albert d.
Shaw of New York and Judge Leo
Rossieur of Missouri. In addition to
the national encampment the following
auxiliary associations began meetings
to-day: Naval veterans. Womens Re-
lief corps, Ladies of the G. A. r., Union
Ex-Prisoners of War, Ladies Auxiliary
Naval veterans. National Army Nurses
association and Daughters of Veterans
In addition there We're many corps re-
union during the day and night. The
show feature was the parade of the
union ex-prisoners of war.
The report of Thomas ]. Stewart
adjutant general, was: The total mem
bership of the Grand Army of the Re
public in good standing June 30 1898.
was 7,2l3 posts with a membership of
3O5,603 On December 81, 1898, Ills posts
and a membership of 29S, 747 and on
June 30, 1899, 6,96J posts with a mem
bership of 2S7,9 Expended in relief
during the year. $780, 955.64. The year
1890 was the high-water mark in mem
bership (409, ,99S); every year since then
has shown decrease. One year ago
he reported a decrease of $346 SO in per
capita tax received as compared with
the previous year. This year there is a
decrease of $431.41 over last year: the
year ending June 80. 1898, is $2,242.22
The adjutant general includes in his
report a comparative table of receipts
and expenditures from 1890 to 1899 in
elusive, showing a gradual decrease in
both these items.
The report of the quartermaster gen
eral, Frederick w. Sphinx of Chicago
shows the funds on hand on October Z.
1898, amounted to s9260.4S. Receipts
since then have been 17.04S.20, making
a total of $26, ,3O66S, Expenditures have
amounted to S14636.23, leaving a bal
ance of $1l,672.45.
In his report Senior Vice Command
er-in-Chief w. c. Johnson of Cincin-
natl says: Il cannot commend too
highly the efficient work and inval-
liable assistance rendered to our order
by that magnificent auxiliary organiza-
tion the Women's Relief corps. During
the past year the national treasurer of
the w. R. c., Mrs. Bagley, forwarded
to our national headquarters the mu-
nificent sum of s1.025.50 as a contribu-
ton from the W. r. c. to the Southern
Memorial day fund. Besides their great
charitable work they are teachers of
patriotism and loyalty to flag and
country of the highest order. as dem
onstrated by their spendid work in our
public schools. ] herewith give state
ment taken from the report of the ma
tional secretary's report for the present
year: Number of members June 80,
1899. 13l,sSo; number of corps, Sl56:
amount of money expended for relief
present year, s60,60S62: amount turned
over to posts, $3S, ,111.47; expended for
Memorial day in southern department.
sl,O2S5 Sc: expended for W. r. C, home,
SS,74977: making a total of over SlS,COO
expended for the year and making
grand total expended for relief since its
organization to June 80, 1899, of $l73,-
991.71."
The surgeon general. Albert Pierce,
reported that during the past Is months
II ,OS3 deaths had occurred in the Grand
Army. There are, the report states,
1872 deserving sick and manned sol
diers not receiving pensions. In gov
ernment and state homes for soldiers
and sailors there are 6,491 inmates and
"a old sailors and old soldiers are in
aims houses.
In his report Daniel G. Lucas. chap
lain-in chief, states that there were
6,6S2 soldiers graves unmarked, He
recommends that as the government
furnishes headstones the neglected
graves should receive attention.
Senior Vice Commander Johnson was
elected to serve the uneXpired term of
the late Colonel Sexton.
Commander Johnson will continue in
office until the end of the encamp-
ment.
Cant. Daniel Ross of Wilmington,
Del, Junior vice commander, was ele-
waited to the Office of senior vice COM
mander, succeeding Colonel Johnson.
During the noon recess the Pennsyl-
vania delegation met in caucus and
voted unanimously to support Sheppard
| for the office of commander chief.
mi. j
| date for office to the convention. This
action was taken for the purpose of
breaking up the practice of conceding
! to the state in which the enCampment
| is held the office of senior vice COM
! mander-in- chief.
| Immediately after his election Com
mander-in-Chief Johnson was the recip-
| lent of a diamond badge, the gift of
his chief of staff, Col William Smith,
| and aides.
The first business after recess was
the selection of place for the next en-
campment, and Chicago was chosen by
accfamation.
The report of the committee on pen
| sions was then read and a motion was
made to refer it to the committee on
resolutions. This created much discus
sion, many of the delegates favorinS
| the immediate adoption of a rule COW
ering the subjects mentioned in the re-
| port. The Michigan delegation was the
| first to object to the report on the
| ground that it failed to specify what
| the Grand Army wanted. They were
supported by Indiana, Kansas and New
! York After a discussion. lasting near
! ly four hours, the report was referred
| back to the committee on pensions with
! instructions that 1t be presented at to-
| morrow's session embodying resolu-
| tions and recommendations. The re-
Il 1fgrt,. tktNAx
among the delegates. Until then it will
be withheld from publication. The
complaint of the veterans as contained
| in the pension committees report, is
that the law granting pensions is mis-
construed by the pension examiner
| The report is not critical, but is said
| to contain a statement of facts as they
exist in the pension department. The
encampment adjourned at $50 O'CLOCK
to meet tomorrow at a. m.
W0MAN'S RELIEF CORPS.