River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-09-14
FINISH THEIR WORK.
Col. shaw Elected COMMANDMENTS
Chief mt the Final Session
of the G. Al

Philadelphia, Sept. s.-The thirty
third national encampment OF the
Grand Army of the Republic came to
an end Thursday night The election
of commander-in-chief, which, it was
supposed, would be settled only after
warm contest, was conducted and car
ried out in the most peaceable manner
imaginable. Col. Albert d. Shaw, of
WATERFOWL, n. ", was unanimously
elected TO the highest office of the or
ganization, after Judge Leo Rassieur,
of st. Louis, had declined to be a candi-
date.
Irving Robbins, of indianapolis, was
elected senior commander in chief, and
NJ. Minton, of Louisville, Ky, was
chosen Junior vice commander. Will
liam ii. Baker, of Lynn, Mass, was
elected surgeon general.
Jacob i. Grimm, of Maryland, was
elected chaplain in chief.
The report of the pensions committee
which was Wednesday recommitted
with instructions to the committee to
embody therein the desires of the en-
campment relative TO the pension laws,
L
accompanied by resolutions drafted by
the committee and the encampment at
once adopted them unanimously
They were as follows:
Your committee on pensions respect
fully presents this supplemental report
pursuant to the instructions of the en-
campment
I'VE respectfully direct attention to sec
ton Al of the revised statutes of the
United States which reads as follows: 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 pre-
ecribed by the president
Resolved, That this encampment re-
spectfully represents to the president it's
earnest conviction that rule 225, now I'M
practical effect in the adjudication OF
claims for pensions, under section 2, of
the act of June q, $780, in the pension bu-
reau, works grave injustice to worthy ex-
soldiers and ex-sailors, and we express the
hope that you will find it consistent with
your duties as an executive officer TO
abrogate this rule and reestablish the prin-
ciple as defined in rule 164. Under the
operation of rule 1884, formulated and put
into effect soon after the passage of this
act, unquestionably responsive to public
sentiment and based upon sound legal
propositions, in a word the simple ex-
preston 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 promulga-
ton.
Resolved. This encampment respectful
ly represents that the practice in the pen
sion bureau in barring widow claimants
who have an income of 500 year is not
warranted by the terms of the law and we
warmly indorse the recommendation of the
commissioners Of pensions to successive
secretaries of the interior that the limita-
ton be increased to $3.50 a year.
Resolved. That the commander-in-chief
appoint a committee of five comrades to
present to the president a certified copy
Of the action of this national encampment,
with an expression of our earnest desire
for justice only to our disabled comrades
and the widows and orphans of our dead
under the letter and spirit of the law.
Resolved, That this committee is here
by authorized and directed in the event
that it is determined that relief may not
be accorded by the administrative officers
of the government to present to congress a
request for the amendment of the law in
such form as to make certain the true in
tent of the statute, as we believe it can be
construed as herein presented"
Philadelphia, Sept. 9. - The veterans
who attended the encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic Friday
afternoon witnessed naval review held
on the Delaware river. The ships re-
viewed were those of the North Allan
tic squadron, composed of the flagship
New York, cruiser Brooklyn, battle
ships Indiana, Massachusetts and
Texas.
The official reviewing party was COM
posed of Gov. Stone and staff, of Penn
sylvania; Mayor Ashbridge, of this
city; Capt. James Ii. Sands, United
States navy; Senator Penrose, James
Latta and Maj. Richard S. Collum, of the
G. a. r.
After the review was over Gov. Stone
and his staff were taken on board the
New York, where Admiral Sampson ten
tered them an informal reception.
Camp James A. Sexton, in Fairmont
park, in which nearly 10000 veterans
had been sheltered during the encamp-
ment, came to an end at four o'clock
Friday afternoon.