The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-07
GETTING TO BUSINESS
GRAND ARMY VETERANS HAVE
CONCLUDED THEIR J0LLIFICA-
TION FEATURE OF MEETING
WORK HAS FINALLY BEGUN

Selection of Officers, Reading of Re-
of Meeting the Important Bus
mess Before the Organization
Work of the Women's Relief
Corps Reported.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 6.-Grand
Army veterans got down to bust
ness today. The national encamp-
ment 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 3i4 delegates from the various
| states and territories, $50 department Of
| icers, Ill national officers and past COM
manders-in-c and $500 past depart
ment commanders the total voting
strength being 1852.
The address of Senior Vice Command
er-in-Chief w. c. Johnson of Cincinnati
opened with a memorial tribute to COM
mander-in-Chi James A. Sexton. Past
Commander-in-Chief Rev. Thomas Z.
| Warner and George K. Mallory menu
Der of the national council of administra-
ton, all of whom died during the year
| With regard to the Sons Of Veterans, he
said:
Commanders-in-chief in the past have
embodied in their reports many encour-
! aging words for this organization 1t mas
now successfully passed through the dlf-
fculties incident to young organizations
| and fairly settled down upon more SOL
| i'd basis, with a more substantial ana re-
! liable membership. Having gone safely
through the formation crisis and tested
well It's basis, methods and principles, 1t
! is in most excellent shape for healthy,
| prosperous growth. It's object Is noble
| one. Into whose hands could we more
safely place the sacred trust OF carrying
| forward those great principles OF patriot
! ism, loyalty, love Of country and ner
hallowed Institutions (Which we fought
| for and cherish so dearly) than into the
| hands and keeping OF our sons ana
daughters. AS a help to our order in its
declining years. they are devoted and
their assistance invaluable. 1t seems clear
| to me that we should foster and en-
| courage close relations with this splendid
| young organization.
| I cannot commend too highly the etfi-
ctent work and invaluable assistance rem
| dered to our order by that magnificent
auxiliary organization, the Woman's Re,
| lief corps. When we fully comprehend
| the full scope of the usefulness and char
| liable work performed by this loyal, de-
| voted, self-sacridcing band of noble Wom-
en-, in their varied fields of labor, and
what has been and is being accomplished
through their patriotic efforts, we can
but express our gratitude and apprecia-
ton in highest needs of praise.
| Another organization Of excellent de-
| voted women who have aided materially
| in the charitable work Of our order is
| that of the ladies Of the G. A. r., who
| have in many places rendered valuable
services, and deserve our sincere thanks.
| The question of pensions, always one of
| vital interest to a large. percentage of
| the membership Of our order, presents it
| self to this encampment with perhaps
deeper significance than ever before, the
far-reaching dissatisfaction and disafrec-
ton as to the administration of this i'm
portant department Of the government,
had, during the past year, found express
sion through resolutions adopted by many
posts, reunions and state .encampments,
most bitterly condemntng the present ad-
ministration Of the pension office
In view of the prevailing discomfort that
reached me from so many different parts
of the country, and the gravity Of the
situation as presented. gave the ques-
ton much consideration, and after cor
respondence with the chairman of the
pension committee, decided that it would
be wise to have the pension committee of
the G. A. r. meet in Washington, for the
purpose of securing information, ascer--
tanning as far as possible the grounds OF
the complaints contained in the hundreds
/ Of letters filed with the committee, and
such other knowledge as could thus be-
secured that would enable the committee
TO prepare ana present to LIllS 6nCd1np-
ment complete report, based upon facts
and conditions 1as they found them to
exist.
The old soldiers ask only, that there be
fair dealing and a just and fair construc-
ton Of the laws, as intended by those
who enacted them, and upon this basis
there should be no question, no interpre-
tatton or construction of the laws, that
deprives them to the benefits thus pro-
vided. The amount paid for pensions is
large, but not beyond the ability Of the
government to pay, nor does it outreach
the obligation or gratitude Of the Amer
lean people to those to whom 1t is paid.
WOMAN's RELIEF CORPS.
Then followed reading of reports.
Interesting reports were submitted at
the meeting Of the Women's Relief
Corps
The report Of Mrs Matte Jameson
Tippett, of Illinois, national secretary for
| the year ending June 80, 1896, shows a
membership in good standing Of 115,734
with SO departments and 60 detached
corps. At the present time there are IS
| departments and g. detached corps, with
membership in good standing Of lie, 426.
The report shows that $59,27951 was con-
tributed from the various departments
to the emergency fund for the soldiers
| Of the Spanish war. Massachusetts and
| Ohio headed the list with $10802 and $10-
| 74 respectively.
The report of Mrs. Isabel E. Bagley,
national treasurer, shows total receipts
$4,000 to the general fund during the
| year. and a balance Of $141E. The re-
ceipts for the home fund amounted to
| S11 $685. with a balance on hand Of $3.50
! The report Of Mrs. c. J. Cummings,
national instituting and installing officer,
shows that there have been II new corps