Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-09

your encampment will soon pass away to
the homes from which it was recruited.
This morning you meet in business ses-
sions, and it affords me great pleasure to
present to you, commander-in- chief, my su-
perior officer, this gavel for use during your
sessions and as a permanent gift to the
Grand Army of the Republic. The ash used
for it's head came from the field Of Gettys-
burg, while the pine handle Is tribute
from the battlefield of Appomattox-two
great historic spots in the life Of our re-
public"
With these words Mr. Warner handed
Gen. Torrance a very handsome gavel,
which the latter accepted with bow. The
chairman then continued by urging those
delegates who had suffered through Wash
ington's inadequate terminal facilities to
support the city in its effort to obtain a
railroad station reasonably adapted to the
needs of the nations capital, and by an
nouncing an Invitation from Mrs. John A.
Logan that the delegates visit and inspect
her museum of war relics.
Gen. Torrance formally opened the en-
campment at 1870 o'clock and Immediately
presented Dr. Starkey. When the invoca-
tion had been pronounced the whole gath
ering stood and joined so heartily in sing
ing America that the windows shook and
the strains of the hymn were heard a full
block away.
Indorse the President.
The resolutions concerning the attitude
were then introduced by Gen. Edgar Allen
of Richmond. past junior vice commander
in-chief. These set forth that the conven-
ton, while still mourning the loss Of Presi-
dent Mckinley, rejoices in the career of
President Roosevelt as a successor to the
beloved William Mckinley: who is heartily
in sympathy with all that tends to the
preservation Of the memories of the veter-
ans glorious past; that he recognizes con-
spicuously In his administration the obli-
cations of the country to the veterans who
fought for the preservation of the Union,
and that while he cannot be of the -cenven-
ton, he Is allied to it's members by ties of
comradeship WlIch he won on later fields
of American valor." 1t Is consequently de-
pIored that the President could not Join in
the exercises of the encampment assem-
bled, that the whole body of G. A. r. vet
Grams was cheered by his presence on the
line of march yesterday, and announced
that the encampment thereby expresses Its
earnest solicitude that the President might
be speedily restored to perfect health 'and
his wOnted activity for the public good
These resolutions We're adopted unani-
mously.
The convention then heard the report of
the ecommander-in-chief, which is reproduced
in full elsewhere In The Star. In conse-
quence of General Torrance's slight ind!spo-
sition the hall was kept as quiet as possible
but the reading of the report evoked fire.
quent applause, nevertheless. 1t was re-
lerred TO Spec!al committee, winch IN
cluded the following wellknown Grand
Army figures: General S. s. Burdette, for
mer commander-in-chief;G General Daniel Z.
Sickles, u S. A GetireD; General Gran
vile NJ Dodge, at one time division com-
mander of the Army of the Tennessee
General T G.. Lawler of Illinois and Cen
eral A. T Bliss.
A Total Strength Of 269, ,551.
Gen. fowler read his report as adjutant
nounced. The following information was
included:
1.-THE total membership of the Grand
Army of the Republic in good standing
June 80, 1901, as shown by the report of
my predecessor, was 269, ,5O7, plus two er-
rors discovered by the assistant adjutant
general of the departments of North Da-
kota and Utah. aggregating forty-four MEM
bers, made the total membership at that
date 269 SOL. Posts aggregating 667S
1t Is indeed encouraging that notWith-
standing the inevitable increase in the loss
by death the gains by muster in and REIN
statement overcome 1t. There are still liy-
Ing over 100000 of the men who were a
part of that grand army of the sixties, and
of that number less than 5000 are over
sixty-two years of age. This suggests to
me to say that if proper energy were put
forth the Grand Army of the Republic
ought to Increase In numbers instead of de-
crease.
The death loss for the year as shown by
the report is S.2J8 The percentage based
on the number of members in good stand
ing at the beginning of the year is 3.OS, as
against 1902 per cent for the preceding
year.
THE total receipts from all sources to the
| time of closing the accounts was SIG 927 90.
The total expenditures for all items of ex-
| pense. l. e., salaries. travelling expenses,
! printing, postage, stationery, etc, was $40,
| 52l- ~. OF this amount s., 7SS.25 was paid
| for items of expense incurred by and un-
der the administration of your Immediate
| predecessor Past Commander-in-Chief Leo
Rassieur.'
Commissioner Ware Commended.
The two reports on pensions were then In
| order and were submitted. The first Is
| merely restatement OF the matter con-
| tanned in the report sent to the President
| and traces the action Of the special COM
mittee on pensions in dealing with the con-
| ditions set forth in the latter document
| Much space Is given to answering attacks
| on the American pension system, suggest
| Ing legislation which will amplify present
pension laws and reviewing the conduct OF
pension business under the administration