The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-08

New York Man Elected Head OF the
Grand Army.

Philadelphia, September 7.--Shortly az
ter the opening Of todsy's session Of tn.
national encampment of this Grand Army
Of the Republic. Judge Leo Rassieur Of
st. Louis, Missouri. withdrew his name
as n oandidnts for the office Of com.
mander-in-ehief Judge Rassieur. In a
speech that aroused unbounded enthu-
siAsm among the delegates. declined "a
oppose Col. Albert ID. Shaw ofsswater-
town, N. Y, and requested that the vote
of the encampment be given to Col
Shaw.
Judge Rassieur was cheered to the echo
and cries Of "Rsssieur for 1907 were
heard In all parts of the Grand Opera
house.
The enoampment elected Col Shaw by
aeclsmation. At this puint the business
Of tie encampment was Interrupted By
the arrival OF delegations representing
the woman's relief corps, the army NURSES
and Sons of Veterans, and brief recep.
tion was held.
After the visiting delegations had left
the election Of the remaining officers was
taken-up.
Irving Robbins of indianapolis was
elected senior -in-chief;
M. Minton OF Louisville. KY, junior
vice -comman der; Vim II. Baker OF Lynn,
Mass. surgeon general; Jacob L. Grimm
of Maryland, chaplain-in-chief
The report OF the pensions comm ittes
which was yesterday recommitted with
Instructions to the committee of laws, was
again presented. The report was accom-
panied by the resolutions drafted by the
committee and the encsmpment at once
adopted them unanimously.
They called attention TO the fact that
the commissioner Of pension is required
to perform his duties under direction of
the President, represent that rule 225
works gross injustice to soldiers, ask
that 1t be ahrogated and ruls 1874 substi
tuted.
They request that the income which bars
widows claimants be increase from SOC
to $3.50 year.
The committee Is authorized, II relief
cannot be obtained, from the administra-
ton officers Of the government, to ask
Congress to amend the law.
The report was signed by X. b. Brown,
j. W, Brust, John Palmer and CharIes
Clark Adams. The COMMITTEES as suggest
cd In tbs report was appointed consisting
Of the four signers Of the report, togsth-
or with Gen. Daniel E. Sickles of New
York.
The committee on resolutions maze two
reports, q majority and minority report.
The important point embodied In the
reports YVES that referring to the exami-
nation of the soldiers widows who APP
piled for pensions. The majority stated
the widows were asked IL their lives had
teen virtuous after the death OF their
husbands The report suggested that sucb
question be condemned. The minority
report said that IL questions Of that ma
ture were rsked this method of examina-
ton should be condemned by the Grand
Army uf the hepublic.
Delegate Benieke went to the telephone
and asked Pension Commissioner Evans
III 1t was a fact that this question was
asked Mr.. Evans replied that where
charges were made against applicants
they were requi red to answer questions
relating to the charges. Otherwise no
questions of the nature mentioned was
Corporal Tanner was one Of the maiori-
ty Of the committee. He made an addrt IS
scoring the practice alleged TO have been
adopted by the pension bureau. After
much heated discussi n the reports were
referred TO the committee on pensions
LaUer in the afternoon a motion was made
to return TO the Sogth flags captured
during the war This was killed as was
also motion to admit Sons Of Veterans
rs members OF the Grand Army>of the
Republic. Shortly before the adjourn
ment Adiutant Thomas j. Stewart of
Pennsylvania was re-appointed.
The newly elected officers were in
stalled, Gen. Louis Wagner of this city,
past eommander-in-chief, conducting the
ceremonies, after which the encampment
adjourned, sine die
The illumination of the North Atlantic
squadron and the campfire of the union
ex-prisonsrs of war occurred Tonight
There we're numerous reunions held.
The departments of the various states
this evening appointed their representa-
tives TO the national council of adminis-
tration. The council includes: Maine.
E. A. Buth.
nh