The Lamar register., 1902-10-15
VETERANS AT WASHINGTON.
National Eneampment G. A. r. Hears
Reports and Elects Officers.

Washington. d. c.. Oct. 1.-THE
election of officers of the National En-
campment. G. A. r.. began Thursday
and was finished yesterday. Aside
from the election of officers the most
interesting feature of the encampment
was the report of the pension commit
tee of the G. A. r. This committee Sc
verely scored the medical division of
the Pension Bureau, declaring that 1t
was division where were executed
the claims of veterans seeking pen
sions. 1t accused the personnel OF the
division of approaching the reports or
the examining surgeons throughout the
country with suspicion and distrust and
as made in bad faith. 1t denounced the
report that extensive frauds were prac-
ticed in pension claims as absolutely
baseless.
The annual address of Commander
in-Chief Torrance was read and fire.
quently interrupted with applause. He
began with touching allusion to Pres
ident Mckinley and advocated the en-
actment of laws which would make 1t
certain punishment for any person as
saultng the chief executive. Touching
upon the investigation charges against
former Pension Commissioner Evans,
he said one of the most gratifying re-
suits of the investigation was to find
that no ground existed for the whole
sale charges of fraud so often made
against pensioners. As to the charge
that the pension roll contained names
of more Union soldiers than there are
survivors of the Civil War. even, To-
rance pointed out that there are more
than 100000 survivors whose names do
not appear on the roll. and he advocat-
ed legislation in their behalf.
He paid high tribute to the work
of the women's auxiliary organizations
and appealed for proper recognition or
the Sons of Veterans. He devoted con-
siderable space to the consideration OF
the status of ex-Confederate soldiers.
repeating in spirit his plea OF a month
ago for the manifestation of good Will
and brotherly kindness toward our late
adversaries.
The report of the adjutant general
shows that June Both last the G. A. R.
roll contained 263 ,745 members in good
standing, loss since the preceding
year of 1904 and death loss of S.299.
He said there are still living over 9OO.-
600 men who took part in the Civil
War, less than rs 900 of whom are over
62 years of age.
There was a sharp contest over the
election OF q commandments, Dut
it was concluded by the first ballot.
-Four candidates were placed in nomin-
alton: General Stewart of Pennsylva-
mia, General John C. Black of Illinois,
General Daniel E. Sicliles of New York.
and General McElroy of the. District or
Columbia.
The following officers were elected:
Commander-in-Chief General Thos.
J. Stewart of Pennsylvania; vice COM
mander-in-chief. william NJ. olin of
Massachusetts; junior vice commander
in-chief, James NJ. Averill of Georgia.
A resolution was adopted by the en-
campment endorsing the report of the
pensions committee. as was also res
olution requesting the commissioner of
pensions to reinstate Pension Examiner
Charles Hanback, who was dismissed
by Commissioner Evans.
The movement for the erection at
st. Louis of a monument to the mem
ory of General Franz Siegel and for
memorial bridge across the Potomac at
Washington were indorsed. as was also
the proposition to erect at st. Louis
building to be used by all fraternities,
in connection with the Exposition in
that city.