Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-11
THE GRAND ARMY
Adopts Strong Resolutions on
the Civil Service.
Officers Completed and San Francisco
Selected for Next Year.
Sons Of Veterans, Woman's Relief
Corps and Others Adjourn.

Washington. Oct. 10.-The Grand
Army of the Republic. today, decided
by a large vote to holds it's next en-
campment in 1903 at San Francisco.
Practically the only competitor was
Atlantic City, but few votes were cast
for Saratoga.
The list of national officers was COM
pleted by the selection of A. w. Atchi-
son of Texas. as surgeon general. and
Rev. n. B. Shuey of Kansas, as chap
plain-in-chief.
During the day the committee on leg
islatiOn presented it's report. The re-
port was devoted especially to the COM
mittee's efforts to secure mOdifica-
ton Of the civil service laws in the in
tefest of veterans which it was said
Congress had failed to cOncede. The
committee finds, however, that the
President is in hearty sympathy with
the effort to secure a broader recOgni-
ton of the claims of the soldiers. The
committee recommended:
"First-That the committee on legis-
latiOn for veterans in the public SER
vice be continued. That a similar COM
mittee to this be appointed by the in
coming ommander-in-chief. with in
structions to urge upon the lawmakers
Of the nation at the coming session OF
Congress the enactment of H. Z. IA,
1O5. as introduced, or some other SINH
lar measure of legislation.
"SecOnd--That in the event of fail
ure to secure vote on the subject mat
ter and the adjournment of the 51th
Congress occurs without legislation
thcreupon. that the comma nder-in-chief
ard said committee are fully author
lied, directed and charged to appeal
to the President of the United States,
in the name of the Grand Army Of the
Republic, for justice and respectfully
request and urge that he will exercise
the, power conferred upon him to the
end that by executive order, or other
wise. he will make effective through
out the civil service, in political way
as applied to the national government,
and also ensure that the requirements
of Ill other laws affecting the rights OF
honorably discharged soldiers and sail
ors in matters of appointment. employ
ment and retention in the public SER
vice. shall be carried out and observed.
A resolution was adopted by the en-
campment endorsing the report of the
pensions committee, as was also a res
olution requesting the commissioner OF
pensions to reinstate Pension Exami-
ner Charles Hanback,, who was dis
missed by Commissioner Evans.
The question Of admitting the Sons
of Veterans to the meetings of Grand
Army posts. was discussed at some
length and referred to a committee oil
five to be appointed by the commander
in-chief.
Considerable time was devoted TO a
proposition to eliminate from the reg
ulatiOns of the order the provisions
against the admission to auxiliary
bodies of those who have borne arms
against the Union. The suggestion was
made BY some of the Southern dele
gates, who advocated the organization
of citizens corps in connection with
the Grand Army. No action was taken
After the installation of the new oni-
GERS the encampment adjourned finally
a few minutes before ) O'Clock.
Before adjourning, today, the en-
campment of the Grand Army OF the
Republic adopted a resolution submit
ted by Past -in-Chief Tor
rance in his recent address. calling for
assistance from members of the Grand
Army for the home for Confederate
soldiers at Mountain Creek, Ala, and
urging on the veterans generally the
adoption of an attitude of brotherly
kindness toward their foes of the Civil
war.
Since his arrival in Washington Gen.
Torrance has received many assur-
ances of appreciation of the spirit OF
that address from his comrades of the
Grand Army. There have also come to
him a number of letters and kilograms
from points in the South expressing
apprec.ation. In some instances these
communications advise him Of the ac-
ton of the posts of ex-Confederate
Veterans endorsing the address.