The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-30
ADDRESSES TO VETERANS
Business Session of the G. A. r.
Largely Attended.
Commnnder-in-Chie shnw Advo-
Gates Conservatism In Regard to
REPORTS Submitted - The South
crn school Histories Condemned.

CHICAGO, Aug. 29.-At the meeting a7d
reunion of the C. A. r., held in Studs
bakers Hall today, vast crowds of veterans
were present So great was the crush that
men armed with bayonets had to stand at
the doors and keep back the veterans. /
the speeches were applauded with inteLse
ardor.
After the meeting went into executive
session Commander-in-C Chief Shaw gave his
annual address, in which he referred to the
incident in the Dewey Day parade in New
York City, when the G. A. R. refused to
march because assigned a rear position in
the parade. He spoke OF the affair in part
as follows:
Your commander-in n-chief fully en-
dorsed the action of Department Com
mander Kay and desires to thank the
comrades for their object lesson of loyalty
TO the Grand Army, and to the dignity
and honor OF the saviors OF the Republic.
Unless survivors of the great war rlarch
at the front in all such pageantries they
should not consent to appear in line. No
sophism to troops carrying arms can
have force in the light of the glorious ser
vices of the veterans OF the Union, so far
as place in the line is concerned"
Many statistics were given regarding the
pension situation. They showed that e91,-
5l9 pensioners were on the rolls on July
/, 1Ssa and that 49, ,33S new names were
added during the year ending July 1. 1900,
making total of 1886 Se3. During the
year there were 43, ,334 names dropped from
leaving the roll a: present e93.529. This
is net gain of 20 ole during the last year.
At present there are 43l,104 claims pend
ing.
General Shaw continued the subject of
pensions by advocating court of appeals
and deprecating the present criticism and
trouble over the Pension Bureau. On the
subject he said in part:
1T is a source of great regret that the
Pension Department is widely criticised by
q large number of worthy applicants for
pensions, under the belief that their claims
are not treated in liberal and just way
under the present administration of the
pension laws. Such a state of feeling is
greatly to be deplcTed. for it gives rise
to irritaticns Of al unfortunate and un-
happy sort
Your eommander-in-chief believes that
the passage of the proposed Pension Court
OF Appeals bill would bring harmony. and
settle once for all. the vexing questions
and irritations now so pronounced in the
the Pension Office through its wise proyi-
sions for interpreting the pension laws and
ability to speedily clear the appeal cases
now burdening the files of the Department
of the Interior
The report of A6it Gen. Thomas ]. Stew
art stated that the total membership of the
G. A r. in good standing June S0 1899.
was 6,905 posts. with a membership OF
2S7 sSl, while on June 80, 1900. it was
6,77s posts, with a membership of 276,6S2.
The report of the adjutant general shows
Illinois TO be fourth in the list Of States
from the point OF numbers of veterans.
The four largest departments are as fol-
lows: New York, 32.106; Pennsylvania,
s,sls. Ohio. 23.s97; Illinois, 23.e37.
The highWater mark OF membership was
reached in 1890, with 40a. .4S9 member-.
The present members number 275,6 $50.
During the last year s129 9,279.26 was eE-
pended for the relief of-yeterans-
The report OF Surgeon General william
H. Baker contained a number Of interest
ing statistics showing the rate at which
the cid soldiers are being gathered to The
great majority. During the past year
1857 deaths occurred, 1863 Of them from
wounds received while in service. and 1895
from disease contracted in service.
A report which is OF particular impor
tance to the old soldier, as it has been
fought constantly in annual meetings for
years, was the report of the committee on
school histories. The report was a com
prehensive one in which the alleged vi
cious and false teachings in Southern school
histories were cited, reviewed, and con-
demned.
There is no opposition for the office OF
commander in-chief and ex-Judge Ras-
seuer, of ST. Louis. will undoubtedly be
elected by acelamation.
A fght is on between Denver and Salt
Lake City for the next encsmpment. Dem
yer entertained the veterans once and
wants to do so again. Salt Lake City has
not had the honor but desires It.