New-York tribune., 1900-08-30
BUSINESS OF G. A. r.
ANNUAL ENCAMPMENT HEARS REPORT
OF IN-CHIEF-SoME
POINTS ON PENSIONS.

Chicago Aug 2s-Ths was, for the Grand Army
Of the Republic as an organization, strictly a oay
OF business For those members VINO were not
burdened with the responsibilities attending the
position of delegate TO the Convention OF the
Grand Army II was a day for anything and every
thing save business. From morning until night the
convention labored at its work in Studebaker ran,
listening TO numerous reports from officers and
committees while the vast majority OF the ola SOL
5iers went to the parks took boat rides upon the
lake and those who had not seen blood enough In
their younger days accepted an invitation from te
packers TO visit stock yards. where they oeheo
more slaughter than had taken place at the oioooy
angle" at Spottsylvania and in the bloody lane A'
Antetam combined.
The convention opened at 1890 o'clock. and from
the start business pushed with energy. Inc
opening session entirely of a social chaIac'ei
and was open to the public The afternoon "ee'
ing was Of an executive character. The meeuhg
was opened with prayer by Chaplain Gr1mme'
Mayor Harrison formally welcomed the soIole[s 10
Chicago. commandments sha" rep'eu
Mayor Harrison for the members of his orsahlZA-
lion expressing the thanks OF the Grand Army ior
the hospitality shown them -.
7 NJ Longenecker. commander OF the bePai'-
rnent of Illinois greeted the visiting veterans oi
FahaIf of the soldiers of Illinois. General Louis
Wagner responded for the members of the Grana
Army General Shaw then read ms ahhual &C
port which was in part as follows:
your administration from the first regarded me
pension 9ueeon5 as Gne Sropsht 6r the best
yasoqrcfs of the order 1t believed that unless
Ise I ast spd Of ane r. io in year would
be grave doubts whether these eoua af ' gratifca-
taine6 It is source OF gredL - $500 To
tnn m he able 10 state that the amendmenI;S ;, 70
the pension Jaw naDousiy nj passed by Congress and
that every speech made was IN 80 ayecI,tion
u, Is 2rsant pension laws little further in way e 0r
pension legislation vii! be neeeSsi sayiors of the
Nation the fulhment of the pledgea5 le +her all in
1,aorIe gr behalf of those who peTieo 5iIeI 1 "
-. cOFT hair
Statistics embodied in the address showed mat
the total number of pensioners on July l. lS'V wa"
eq3 52e an increase OF 2O.o1o for the year 49,,
The Cornmander-in-Chief said IN regaIu ~ 'NO
pronosed Pension Court Of Appeals;
From a careful consideration of the whole sup sup
let TouT Commander-in-Chief feels that the early
1,assaRe of this Pension Court of Appeals p ~ouu t
relieve pubic from vast amount m ,iants On
writing and prompt justice TO all appncaaos+
for q pension. and place the PENSION OeP@I -
on basis OF legal adjudication OF pension cases a.
once generally satisfactory and commandingly just
TO al interests concerned
The suggestion was made in the address that the
permanent Memorial Day be changed from May 80
TO the last Sunday in May in view Of the tendency
to make the present holiday for sports.
In his concluding remarks General Shaw said:
The experience of the year now about to end leads
impress upon our Grand Army the urgent
administration has devotedy worked to accomplish
what was possible for the interests OF our oraer IN
the way OF legislation, through oneness or pur-
pose focused upon the amendments to the act of
June 1890 The happy passage or this most I'M
portant measure was the result or the EFFORTS put
forth under conditions which, when they fully
and enthusiasm of every comrade This was
brought about by impressing the country and Ma
envtIng less Prs6e1 res iIIa U' i ve @ mt,n
the outset OF efforts assured of his abiding
record az private soi6er and as cnieiS ISL S
officer in the great war left no doubt as TO his de-
voted comradeshtp and tender memories for all
waT youth hAe himself stood behind the guns in their
Following the address Of General Shaw came a
long list Of reports submitted by minor officials
ana the various committees Of the organization.
ne reports read those of the Executive Com
mitee, Council Of Administration Adtutant-C;eneraI
Stewart, Quarternaster-General Atkinson Surgeon
General Baker, Chaplain-in-Chief Grimm, Judge
AdVocate-GeneraI Torrance. Senior Vice-Com-
nianoer-in-Chief Robbins. Junior Vice-C Commander
in-Chief Ainton Custodian Hocomb INSPECTOR
General Cummins Committee on Legislation Of
veterans in Public Service, and of the Committed
on Pension Legislation.
According TO the report of the Adjutant-General
the membership on June 30, 1900 was 1862 The
net loss for the year from all causes was II 31e
In this is included 1870 comrades who died since
the last encampment. The number of posts is 677S
rst bn she faSen 9 met net in the the
Sotnnnlttee There was not in the report a specific
declaration or recommendation upon any subject
The report was ordered printed, and viii be the
E sEpSclal oroer OF business tomorrow morning 9
The committee which had taken the annual mes
80 ra,or.5 5 SndW under considera-
me exception OF that relating to the change of the
date OF Memorial Day from May so to the last
Sunday In May On this the COMMITTEES reported
adversely. and their report adopted by the
convention. - 0
1t is expected now that the work of the en-
campInent Wlu be over by tomorrow nonn unless
there should be a proratced debate over the report
OF the Pension Committee, and this is not consid-
ered probable. No opposition has developed TO
Judge Hassieur, Of st. Louis in his candidacy for
me pace OF Conmander-tn-Chief and it is prac-
tlcalIy certain that he will be elected on the first
vote. There has been very little talk regarding
nly two MIA
Denver and Salt Lake having been mentioned
me chler feature of the programme tomorrow
OUTSIDE OF the business meeting be sham
bstLie IN Washington Park, in which detachments
OF the local militia VIII take part