The Portland daily press., 1901-02-20
Hot Contest For the
Commandership.
Delegates Entertained BY Burn
side r. c. Last Night.

Lewiston, February 19.-The saith
annual encampment of the Maine G.. A.
r., met at IL o'clock this forenoon at
| Auburn Hall, Auburn, with over four
hundred members of the order in atten-
dance, one of the largest gatherings In
the history of the encampment In recent
years.
On Monday evening the council of adj
min,stration metat tho headquarters at
Hotel Atwood and transacted prelimi-
nary business.
Important meetings of the committees
of both the Women's state relief corps
and the Department of Maine National
Relief Corps were held, the former at
Auburn and the latter in Lewiston.
The commander of the National En-
campment of the Grand Army Col. Leo
Rosseau, of st. Louis arrived on Monday
evening and will remain during the ses-
sions A vast amount of electione eering
for the office of Department Commander
is being done with some five or six can
didates in the field.
The encampment met at II o'clock to-
day.
1t was voted to hold the election of de-
partment commander at II a. M, Wed
nesday. 1t was voted that all nomina-
ing speeches be limited to five minutes
time.
At t11.30 Department Co mmander Seth
I. Snipe of Bath delivered his annual re-
port, which is given in part, as follows;
Comrades, one year ago we met in the
beautiful city of Portland where we re-
ceivsd a cordial greeting and soldiers
welcome, while the entertainment pro-
vided for our pleasure has seldom been
eouaIIed and never surpassed In the his
tory OF the organiza in. this depart
ment. The march of another year is end
ed ana we pitch our tents for the an
nual encampment In this fair city OF
the banks of the Anuroscoggin, where
our comrades are as loyal to the order
as any In the land, and where the first
principal OF our order-fraternity-will
he extended to us in the same fraternnl
spirit as 1t has been in the past.
The custom OF observing the Sunday
preceding Memorial day as Memorial
Sunday is q most excellent one, and
hope 1t Emay ever continue to prepare
our minds for a better observance OF
the day SO dear to the heart OF every oom-
rade. memorial day was observed In this
department., believe, more generally
than ever before. The interest in the
exercises Is increasing among the peo-
pie. While we regret that 1t is observed
by many enly in games and diversions
of one sort or anothsr, yet l have firm
belief that whsn the last Grand Army
man is mustered out there will be those
who VIII continue the beautiful custom
of placing flowers above our resting place.
The National Encampment held In
Chicago last August was interesting and
instructive as all these meetings are.
Maine was honored the third time by
have a vice oommander-in-chief elected
at the National Encampment, and feel
confident the comrades OF this depart
ment are grateful to the delegates for
the part they took in securing the cleo
| tIon of L. q. Milliken to this position.
The subject Of pensions Is one that has
caused much discussion IN many of the
national and department encampments.
Doubtless We can all recall some old
soldier who is getting no pension or one
much below what we consider MIN
entitled to but we must acknowledge
that the government has provided liberal
Iy for the defenders In this direction, and
we might add that this has been accom-
plished largely through the efforts OF the
Grand Army. On July /, 1900. the roll
mum bered 993, 500. an increase OF 20, 0l0
for the year. The amount expended Tor
the year was $l3S, 4os, lT2.64. The dis
bursements for pensions from July l,
1855 to June 80 1900, was 81, 6s9. 1913, 147.2s.
and the added expense for medical ex-
animation, salaries and other expenses OF
the bureau and agencies, brings the total
for the maintenance of the service TO
g., 6l2, S29, 800. 50. When we remember
these figures and the large amount
which Is annually appropriated and dis
bursed for the state pensions, we cannot
say that republics are ungratetul.
This was followed by the report of AS
sistant Adjutant General James L. Mer-
rick, of Watervife.
The number OF members In good
standing December 81, 1899. was 7.06ii
and during the following year there was