Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-21
LINDT MAKES HIS REPORT
@. A. R. in Iowa Has PrOspered During
Past Year.
GOOD WORK KEEPING UP MEMBERSHIP
Showing IL a Good one,
showing Securities and Hand
some Cash in
Treasury.

CEDAR RAPIDS May D.-(Special)-ln
the business session Of the department en-
campment, Grand Army Of the Republic,
which opened here this morning, the an.
nual reports OF various officers we're pre-
scented and referred to appropriate com
mittees. The encampment was presided
over by John Lindt of Council Blufs, de-
partment commander, and he compli-
mented all the subordinate officers and the
Grand Army workers on the work of the
past year, indicating that the showing of
work lone ives better than for many years.
He commended the movement for a mem
orial to DR.. Stephenson, founder OF the
Grand Army Of the Republic,
the adoption OF a souvenir badge for the
department, urged that members take
pains to enforce the law against
bers displaying Grand Army OF the Re-
public emblems, expressed a desire that
there be renewed efforts to increase men,
bership, and gave detailed Information re-
garding the plans for the trip to San
Francisco to the national encampment. He
also made a very important recommends
ton to the effect that a legislative com
mittee be appointed for the purpose Of ex-
aiming the Iowa code to see II there is
any occasion for amendment in the matter
Of giving preference to old soldiers in on
cial positions.
zone year ago. said Commander Lindt,
'ln the capital city of the state you elected
the present administration to take COM
mand and have charge of the business of
the department. How well we have per-
formed that duty will be shown by. the
reports of the department officers. As a
result of the arduous work of my pre-
decessors and the fact that there was no
session of the legislature during my term
saved me much labor and effort, conse-
quently my report will be brief. At the
commencement of my administrator there
we're in good standing in this department
1888 members. There have been added
during the year by muster I'VE posts and
LIZA members. We have lost six posts
and by deaths, transfers and suspensions
1.2SS members, leaving in good standing
1888 posts and 1850 members. This is a net
loss of only IS, a better showing than has
been made for several years. Many posts
have made a large gain from their sus-
pended lists, showing what could be ac-
complished in the department IL the posts
would all show like activity.
THE finances of the department are in a
prosperous condition. We have $4,000 in
notes secured by first mortgages on farm
lands. We had at the commencement of
my administration 1864. and we had at
the close 50, O69.6 IS. The expenses during the
year have been reduced $20S.17, q showing
that we consider very creditable consider
ing the fact that for, the national encamp-
ment a much longer distance was travelled.
necessitating greater expense"
Waits soiaf%rs' Home. gl.a.
In regard to the soldiers home at Mar
shalltown he stated that he had visited
that institution in company with the COM
mittee appointed for that purpose. and had
found everything as s. satisfactory as could
be expected in an institution of this kind. 81
The comrades are as comfortable ano
happy as they can be when cared for out
side of their own homes" He especially
commended Commandant C. G.. Horton and
DR.. Dufield, the surgeon in charge. In
regard to the Sons of Veterans he said
"As to the Sons of Veterans, the ma
tional encampment at It's last meeting n
Washington, having declined TO admit
them in membership to the Grand Army o.
the Republic we cannot recognize then
ofacially; but 1T is the duty of every com
rade in this department and everywhere
else 70 give them all the assistance in hi
power and 10 aid in maintaining every or
ganization, and TO encourage them II
their good and noble work"
Commissioner Lindt also spoke a goo'
word for the women's Relief corps and tn,
Ladies OF the Grand Army OF the Republi
and urged that every post should hav
one of these auxiliaries in connection
Herewith. He also especially commende'
the good work OF his assistant adJutan
general. George A. Newman, and his as
sistant inspector general, L. B. Cousins
and others OF the minor officers and com
mitteemen.