Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-10
GEN. 7. ). STEWART
Continued from page ~

anu tue 1>duleS OF tne ". "A. II. ne
also made an appeal for the proper
recognition of the Sons of Veterans.
He devoted considerable space to
consideration of the status of the Con-
federate soldier. repeating in spirit his
plea Of a month ago for the manifesto
ton of good will and brotherly kind
ness toward the late adversaries of the
members of the Grand Army. In con-
clusion he said:
THE G. A. II. has nothing to fear.
II is not trammelled by political creeds
nor embarrassed by sectarian contro-
versies. and in the discharge of my
duty neither my heart nor my judg
ment would consent to return to you
the great commission committed to my
trust one year ago without voicing the
noble sentiments which / knew ami
mate all your hearts, and l rest conf
dent in the belief that no influences of
conditions, North or South, can sue
cessfully construct or maintain sec
tional that will prevent manifestation
of the most kindly feeling and cordial
good will, in act as well as by speech,
between the surviving veterans of those
who wore the blue and gray
Official reports We're made by the
senior vice commander, the junior vice
commander. the surgeon general, chap
lain in chief. adjutant general. quar-
termaster general, inspector general
and judge advocate general.
In his report Surgeon General w. X.
Thrall of Cincinnati, recommends that
the Office of surgeon general be made
honorary and that the mOrtuary and
health features which the surgeon gen
eral is expected to supply be furnished
by the adjutant general. This recon-
mendation is made, Mr.. Thrall says.
because of the impossibility of getting
complete statistics from the depart
ment medical directors. He makes no
further report.
Chaplain-in-Chief T. X. Boyle of
Pittsburg, also speaks of the futile at
teinpts he has made to secure statistics
of attendance on Memorial day SER
vices.
In his report Inspector General w.
A. Wetherbee of Boston, says: Il ma
that our weakest departments, as wen
as our weakest posts. are those when
do not have Woman's Relief corps
connected with them. 1 most earnestly
recommend that every post that Is not
so blessed take steps at once for tht
formation Of a corps. The smaller ana
more remotely situated the post. the
more need of Il corps
Ouartermaster General Charles BHr-
rows of Rutherford, N. j., furn,sheu
details of the financial affairs Oh the
order. showing an increase or funds Oh
hand over last year.
The report of Adjutant General 5. IL.
fowler of Minneapolis, shows that on the
goth of June last, the muster roll OF the
Grand ARMY contained 263. 745 names OIL
members in good standing. and that there
were G5l1 posts. The figures as TO mem
bership show n net loss since the pr
ceedinc year of 5S0i. The high-water
mark of membership was attained IN lo91.
when it was 4o9.4S9. There has been
gradual decline since that date
..-Chere are still living over %U,Vo OF inc
men who were part of the army Oh me
sixties and of that number less than 49,
coo are over 62 years OF age. -,
Among other official documents was TIE
report of the committee appointed last
wear to investigate the administration OF
Commissioner Fl. Clay Evans. and to then
bring the results of the Investigation 10
the attention of the President. Inc re-
port says: The dead line or Dr., place OF
execution of the veterans claim was
found i'm the medical division OF the pu-
reau. where unlimited discretion seems 10
ne vested to ignore the reports ana rat
ings of examining surgeons ana 10 miili-
nize teh soldiers disabilities
The report closes as follows
I'VE respectfully submit that II cannot
reasonably be expected that the pension
laws will be fairly construed ana justly
administered in accordance with their
spirit and intendment by those VINO treat
every applicant for pension with distrust
regard his attorney as a fraud ana Drahu
the examining surgeons as incompetent
and dishonest.
I'VE content that such an attitude on
the part of those entrusted with the
breaking of the alabaster box OF the ma
tion's love disqualifies them to admins
ter so sacred a trust.
"Hailing from widely separated states
and familiar with the views OF our COM
rates. we deem it duty in making
this speech to declare that among the
survivors of the War of the Rebellion
there is an irremovable belief and convic-
ton that the present commissioner OF
pensions is not disposed to administer the
duties of his office in that spirit or equity
and justice to applicants for pensions
which they have right to expect. ana
while we are actuated by no feeling Oh
unkindness toward the honorable com,
missioner OF pensions, we are conVinceu
that Justice to the soldier is Impossible
L of attainment under the present aumln-
istration of the pension bureau
The report is dated March = last.
The greater part of the afternoon SEES
sion was devoted to the election OF ma
tional officers the result being as follows:
COMMUNICATIVE chief, Gen. THOMAS J.
Stewart of Pennsylvania; vice commana-
er-in-chief, Secretary of State WIN. M.