The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-05-11
GOING DOWN THE DECLINE
DEATH RAPIDLY THINNING THE
 RANKS or THE c. 4. R.
Fewer Veterans Attend the Annual En- campmemt at Hartford-Loss in Mem- bcrship the Past Year, 416 Com mander Simond's Report.

ucfshIp the Enst heufs tIo -tOm-
 mander simond's Report.
 Hartford. May 10.--The thirty-second annual encampment of the department of Connecticut, G. A. R., was held here to-day, the formal session opening at Unity hall at ? D. m. The council of administration met at the United States hotel this forenoon for the transaction of the business which had accumu ated for it's consideration.
 In number the veterans were natur- ally fewer than in previous encamp- ments and after the reports of officers, which showed net loss in the mem- bership of the vast year of over 100, the principal topic of discussion was the falling off in numbers.
 Department Commander William E. Simonds occupied the chair.
 The first business of the encampment was the presentation of the reports of the officers, abstracts of which follow:
 Commander Simon6a Address
 The following is an abstract of the address of Department Commander w. E. Smonds:
 "Thls department encampment is sad- 1y unique in one feature. It is the cus- tom to have present at these yearly gatherings the commander-in-c chief of the G. A. R., but for the first time in the history of our order death has struck down our leader in the mid-ca- reer of his official labors. He was worthy man, a brave soldier in the cause of liberty, and God will surely be good to him.
 That the G. A. R. had passed it's high water mark and was moving out with the ebbing tide, was apparent in our loss in membership reported one year ago. Then the loss was 235. This year it is 416. And each coming year will have like story to tell.'
 The address then deals in commen- datory manner with the subordinate branches of the order, referring in com plimentary terms to the Womans Re lief corps and the Sons of Veterans.
 On the subject of pensions the com mander said: Nothing has happened in pension matters to call for special mention, but steady efforts in certain directions should not cease. If the list of congressional pensions was purged and largely reduced; if there were brought about nearer approach to equality in the pensions of enlisted men and commissioned officers, and if pensions were denied to yeung wives of old slldiers, a great saving in national expenses would be affected"
 After referring in terms of the high est terms to the soldiers home at No rotor. the address concludes: Com +1 Iox i,ror 4 great order that is diminishing in num- bers, but you are proud as you have a good right to be, of the memories ] which throng your past, and you have that which makes you steadfast as you face the future, For the honor of be- f ing your commander I return you Heartfelt thanks No unpleasant and 4 untoward events remain CT ungrateful ! memories of the year just past. The field and staff officers have each and all grown clcsa and dear to me. bid . my successor welcome to the same kind | ness and forebearance I have exper- fenced from each and all of you"
 Assit. Adj. Gen. Thacher's Report.
 The report of Assistant Adjutant General John H. Thacher gives the fol- lowing statistics:
 Number of posts December 31, 1897, 69; number of posts December 31, 1898, 69; members in good standing Decem- Der 31, 1898, 5695; gain by muster, GA; gain by transfer, 62; gain by reinstate- ment, Ill: total gain, 337; loss by death, 15S; by honorable discharge, g: by transfer, 45 by suspension. 541; total loss, 753 Renairing in good standing, December 31, 1898, 5,279. Net loss for year. 416 Of this loss 15S are for deaths making actual loss to living 25S.
 Asst Guar. Gen. Morgans Report.
 The report of William K. Morgan, assistant quartermaster general, shows the years expenses to have been $1- 9S7. .23 the balance on hand being $1,- 539.5s. During the year there was paid out from the relief fund for relief $5,- 25OS1; from the post fund for the same purpose, S2,0767S; total for relief of s7, ,327.59.
 The committee on soldiers home re- ports: Present at home January 1, 189S 376; January 1, 1899, 403; present and
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