Evening star., 1902-02-20
Condition Imposed by G. A. B.
Committee.
CONFER WITH CITIZENS
FREE SLEEPING QUARTERS FOR
10000 VETERANS WANTED.
Opposition by Those Raising the En-
campment Fund = Satisfactory
Compromise Expected.

The executive committee Of the National
Grand Army Of the Republic and COM
mittee which represented the Business
Mems Association of this city sat together
in conference this morning over the forth
coming national encampment Of the Grand
Army. The matter under discussion was
condition announced by the executive COM
mittee that free sleeping quarters be pro-
vided by the city in which the encamp-
ment is held for not less than 10000 men.
This condition was stated yesterday and
unexpectedly suspended the preparations
for the encampment then being made by
the Business Mems Association and Mr..
B. H. Warner. chairman Of the citizens
committee. This mornings session was
productive of no definite results.
Capt. James F. Oyster, Col. L. M. Saun-
ders Mr. Frank K. Raymond. Mr.. Barry
Bukley and Mr.. Warner comprised the
committee of business men. This body met
with the executive committee of the Grand
Army, first at o'clock this morning and
then at II O'Clock. When the second ses-
sion ended it was with the understanding
that the citizens should reconvene at
o'clock this afternoon with a representa-
tive of the executive committee, and again
at 415 o'clock with the full executive COM
i
dispose of the entire matter
No one who attended the morning con-
ference would disclose the nature OF the
discussions or indicate the probable results.
1t is confidently expected, however, that
the matter of sleeping quarters can be sat
isfactorily compromised and that the en-
campment will be held in Washington some
time in October.
The G. A. RS Requirement.
Thomas G. Sample Of Pennsylvania,
member Of the executive committee, for
mally presented the committees declara-
tion about sleeping quarters during the
meeting Of yesterday afternoon. That
declaration took the form Of a resolution
as follows:
Resolved, That the executive committee
Of the Grand Army of the Republic accept
of the proposition Of the Washington citi-
Zens' committee as satisfactory, with the
exception of that relative to quarters. On
that subject the executive committee in
sists on this condition being complied with,
and that free quarters be furnished for
not less than 10000 veterans.
The Matter Fully Discussed.
1t was not presented until the commit
tee had discussed the matter fully and had
agreed unanimously that free sleeping ac-
commodations for the number of men in
dicated was an essential to a successful
encampment. Many Grand Army men, the
committee agreed, were anxious to attend
the national encampments-especial an
encampment held in WaShington-and were
prepared to pay for their railroad trans
portation and their meals, but were unwill
ing and unable to pay for sleeping quar-
ters.
To meet this condition all the other cities
which have entertained the G. A. r. have
prepared sleeping places for at least 20.0U0.
That the next encampment was to be held
in the national capital made such provision
In this instance even more essential than
in other cities. Accordingly the committee
was convinced no encampment in Washing
ton could be at all successful unless such
sleeping accommodations awaited the poorer
veterans.
Opposed by the Citizens.
This decision was reported to the MEM
bers of the citizens committee yesterday
evening and met with decided opposition at
once. The business men who have inter-
ested themselves in the encampment were
decidedly unwilling to ask contributions for
the entertainment of men who were to
sleep in barracks or tents. MIR. Warner
held that such accommodations would as
sist not the more needy veterans but those
who were least willing to pay their way.
The other members of the committee were
equally opposed to barracks like those
which were erected when the Grand Army
convened here in 1892. They argued that
sleeping accommodations were to be had
of boarding houses and hotels during the
encampment at very moderate rates, and
that the erection Of tents or other similar
quarters was a direct blow at the interests
of the boarding house keepers and hotel
men.
A wide difference Of opinion was accord
ingly manifest when the two bodies met
this morning. The entire session was spent
in threshing the matter thoroughly, Gen.
Edgar Allen of Richmond and Mr.. Bulkley
speaking at most length When the COM
mittees dispersed at noon the air was full
of propositions for compromise. But unless
all signs fail the Grand Army men will be
content with such sleeping quarters as
citizens can provide without erecting bar
racks To that the local committee seems
unaterably opposed.
Atlantic City on the Alert.
Business men from Atlantic City to the
number Of FIVE or six are now at the Eb-
bitt awaiting the decision Of the executive
committee. Their purpose is to take ad-
vantage of any disagreement between the
Grand Army men and the local committees
and at the last moment, if possible, to have
the encampment held at Atlantic City in
stead of in this city.
SCOTS GRAYS CUT UP.