The Washington times., 1902-03-29
ENCAMPMENT PLANS
WELL UNDER WAY
Enthusiastic Meeting of the
Local. Committee.
GEN. ELL TORRANCE PRESENT
Satisfactory Reports From Chairmen of
Committees Greatly Please Chief of the
G. A. R.-President's Assurance of
Sympathy in Memorial Bridge Project.

! One of the largest attended and most
| satisfactory meetings of the citizens
executive committee in charge of the ar
| rangements for the thirty sixth annual
encampmcnt of the Grand Army of the
Republic and allied bodies that has so
far been held was held in the parlors of
the Riggs House last night. Mr.. B. II.
Warner presided, with Gen. Ell Torrance.
the Commander in Chief of the Grand
Army OF the Republic. at his side as the
guest of honor. After hearing the reports
Of the various chairmen of committees.
General Torrance stated that the reports
showed as great progress as had ever
been attained by any other city at so
early a date. lie assured the members Of
the committee OF his cooperation on all
matters. and thanked them in behalf of
the organization for the interest they
were taking in the matter.
1T is an unexpected pleasure to me,
he stated, Ito be permit tied to be pres
ent tonight and hear such satisfactory re-
ports AS ! look into the faces Of the
thirty-odd chaiTmen of committees that
have assembled here tonight, | am conf
dent that the greatest success Will crown
their efforts and that the coming encamp-
ment will be distinguished by many
features that will make it prominent and
distinctive from anything that has oc-
CURED heretofore or that will ever again
be attempted. When the encampment is
over, l am sure that you will be able to
look back upon efforts that have been
satisfactory alike to your guests and to
yourselves.
To Meet Speaker Henderson.
."The general orders of the Grand Army
will be open to the committee for the
furtherance OF all matters pertaining to
the encampment. Tomorrow afternoon at
o'clock have an engagement with the
Speaker OF the House OF Representatives.
when | shall ask him on behalf of the
Grand Army TO assist you gentlemen in
securing such legislation as you may de-
sire in furtherance OF your work
General Torrance In response to re-
minder of the laying OF the cornerstone |
OF the Memorial Bridge during the en-
campment, stated that he would take oc- |
casion to specially urge the making OF
this project possible. |
Reports fromrfully two-thirds OF the |
committees were received
The interest of the evening seemed to |
centre in report from Mr.. Mitchell !
Dyrenforth the chairman of the COM |
mittee on fireworks, who unfolded a |
scheme for making his committee not |
only self supporting, but a revenue pro-
ducer. He stated that he would be much |
disappointed if he did not succeed in
turning in revenue of at least $1,000. |
The proposition is to erect seats on the |
White Lot to accuni1n odate 25.000 peo-
pie. with the arrangements such as will
permit 10000 more to view the exhibit
No charge of admission viii
be made. the fireworks display being free.
but a nominal charge will be made for
a comfortable seat.
Mr.. Roosevelt Enthusiastic.
Colonel Hopkins. chairman of the com
mittee on the Memorial Bridge, reported
that he. with Corporal Tanner, represent
ing the Union Armies, and Mr. Frank
Hume and Mr.. Will Gardner, represent
ing the Confederate armies, called upon
President Roosevelt to interest him and
urge his cooperation in securing such
legislation as would make possible the
laying of the corner stone Of the new
Bridge across the Potomac dur
ing the encampment of the Grand Army
in October. They stated that they were
not only kindly received. but found Mr..
Roosevelt enthusiastically in favor Of
their proposition, and that he assured
them that he would see the Speaker of
he House and Mr. Cannon and urge the
passage of the measure desired.
Colonel Hopkins stated that his com
nittee had not taken any action toward
placing the matter before Congress. as
pending the promised action Of President
Roosevelt they deemed that such course
would be lacking in courtesy. He had,
however, he stated, written to Secretary
TortelyOu, making enquiry as to what
lad been done in the matter, and was IN
orned that the papers had been referred
o the Secretary OF War for a report. and
hat until they were returned no further
action would be taken.
Accompanied by Chairman Warner,
Colonel Hopkins yesterday called upon the
Secretary OF War, he continued. and Mr..
Root exhibited a lively interest in the
natter and assured his visitors of his
mme diate and favorable action.