New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-08
G. A. R. HEARS REPORTS.
IN SESSION At DENVER.
Commander in Chief Urges pig'
lance to Prerent Pension Cut.

Iouce to PreTenf Pension CNt.
Denver. Sept THE first meeting or the
legislative body OF the thirty-ninth annual ma
.ioro1 oncamnn,en; Of the Grand Army Of the
Republic began to-day. After the state and
civ officials welcomed the old soldiers and re-
spondipg speeches had been made by Com
rander in Chief John W. King and others. the
sessions to-day were secret
Ii did not take long for the encampment dele
gates to get down To business. After accepting
the roll which had been prepared and printed
in advance formal presentation OF diamond
badge 10 Commander in Chief King. Indicative
of his past commandership, was made Al the
same time it was announced that the aids to
Commander in Chief Wilmon W. Blackmar'
who died before the expiration of his term
would present loving cup to his widow
In General Kings address. when he came TO
that part referring to the Daughters OF Vet
erans' Association, memory of the recent loss
of his daughters. who members of the
association, overca me him and he sat down. the
tears streaming down his cheeks The para
graph read by Past Commander in CHIEF
Wagner. In his address General King said In
part:
The work of the committee pensions has been
pension bill, The number Of certifca ties issued in
1905 was 1872 2o7 more than 10000 in excess of the
years. The large number was due to the operation
Df and e increased PENSIONS Under
order. Since the order was issued April 10. lS s9
most of them, however having been for increase
The pension roll now contains the names OF SECS
close of 1894 The deaths in 1905 of survivors of the
Vigilance must not be relaxed prevent action
by Congress depryins our office holding comrades
Of their well earned means of livelihood
meut, there is little doubt that the War Depart
for the erection of an amphitheatre in Arlington
Cemetery. also appropriation to put Lincolns
Gettysburg address on tablets in all national Gene
teries.
terial increase in our nembershP yet there are
of the Civil War who still hold alcof and fail to
Army of the Rspubi5 In view Of the great benefit
the influence OF our order has been TO them IN the
sion enactments II is surprisingly astonishing why
there many who are willing to reap the nehs
fits of organized efforts and yet remain OUTSIDE
OF ranks, leaving to a relatively few the burden
of fighting for the rights of old soldiers
The report of c.. w Patten, Junior vice-com-
mander in chief, referred to the enthusiastically
cordial greeting extended to him in the South
on his visit to the posts there.
Adjutant General J. T. Gilman stated in his
report that the membership on June 80 1908,
was $50. 400. The deat tbs in the year were 9,152
The net loss for the year was 1885. The num-
Der under suspension on June 30 was lS,o6o
The total expenditures for RELIEF were S9S.So3-
Quartermaster General Charles Burrows re-
ported receipts Including balance, S1O692) of
S26 pol and expenditures of S15,334, leaving the
balance to August 2. 1905. S10.921.
Inspector General Lee s Estelle reported that
there are 2S,554 members in the national homes
and 49, al in the State homes.
Allen c. Blackwell, chief aid in charge OF mill
tary instruction and patriotic instruction in
schools. reported that the teaching of patriotism
to the pupils of the schools has become vastly
more general
Charles G. Burton. of Nevada, Mo, chair
man of the committee on pensions, reported
recommendations concerning the policy of the
national encampment on the pension question.
His committee favored reiteration Of the &C
ton taken the last two national encamp
ments. which is that general service pension
bill be passed by Congress- giving every man
who served ninety days in the War of the Re-
bellion and received honorable discharge,
pension Of S12 month after he has arrived at
the age of siXty-two years. and a like amount
to widows who had married the soldiers prior
to the passage of the of Jne 81 1890. This
recommendation unanimously indorsed.
The most interesting political fight of any in
conventions connected with the Grand Army
encampment was partly fought out in the
Woman's Relief Corps in the election of Mrs.
Bertha Martin, of Massillon, Ohio, president.
There were five candidates for president and
three for treasurer. The latter office has five
year term. and the incumbent, besides control
ling the finances of the organization, is power
ton as president a compromise rs her can
didacy had not been announced Mrs. Charlotte
+. Wright. of Hartford Conn. Mrs. Emily E.
White. Of Indiana, and Mrs. Emily Milham
aspire to the office of treasurer.
The financial report OF the Wonlan's Relief
which was presented by Mrs Sarah E.
PHI rs. Of Syracuse, n Y. the national treas
urer. shows assets on June 30 of S24.219 with
no liabilities. There is Il balance in the general
fund of Sl3,963. and the supplies on hand are
appraised at S5654
The report of the national secretary Mrs
Helen McGregor Ayers. shows that the total
number of members June 30 1908. was 152 23S3
a net gain of lib over the preceding year The
number of departments thirty-five with the
number of corps in the departments in good
standing 2,141. The total number of persons
assisted by the organization was ~ 800 The
total amount spent for relief and Memorial Day
for the year S112404 making the tota!
amount expended since the time of organiza-
ton S2.S49.S19
The United States Veteran Signal CORPS As
ISOLATION has elected the following officers.
President, w. X. Burchinell. Denver; second
vice-president. f. p. Cowell. Boston, third vice
president. G S Bolton. Cameron. Mo- score
tary-treasurer. y. NJ. Marcy. Boston; historian
j. Willard Brown. East Boston. Mass; chap
lain, w. H McCresry, Loveland Col. The
first vice-president and the quartermaster- will
be appointed by the president from the city in
which the next &. A. r. enCampment is held