The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-07-16
VETERANS CONCLAE
STARTS TOMORROW
Convention Of. Army and
Navy Union to Discuss
Service Bills.
Gen. Burt, of Washington,
Candidate for National
Commander.

G. A. r. Hall is today all in readiness
for the beginning of the convention to-
morrow Of the Army and Navy Union.
and delegates are beginning to come
10 town
There promises to be an interesting
and spirited fight over the election Of
the national commander. which will take
place on the last day, Friday. Two can
didates are In the field. Gen. J. Edwin
Browne. of Baltimore, for reelection,
and Gen. Andrew S. Burt. the candi-
date OF the Washington garrisons. The
former has established headquarters at
the Regent, where are also the head
quarters OF the convention.
General Burt has also established
headquarters in room 40 at the Regent.
where the delegates from the four
Washington Communicates are making
a strenuous campaign for his election.
They are opposed to more than one term
for any national commander and feel
confident OF General Burt's election.
A movement is on foot 10 change the
constitution OF the organization, so that
the office OF Sdjutant general may be
divided in two. creating another Office
OF quartermaster general. and making
both aPpointive by the national COM
mander.
There is also likely to be a contest
over the office Of Inspector general.
4 ne present incumbent, Sanders 10.
Adams, Of Jersey City. will run for re-
election. While there is as vet no
avowed candidate from Washington
Robert Alton. chairman OF the Wash
ton viii come forward with a fun ticket
by the. time election day. Friday, is
reached.
A proposition to admit the members
be presented.
The New York state delegation. fifty
strong, has taken quarters at the Met
ropohtan Hotel under charge of De-
partment Commander Harlan p. Chris
tie and Capt Alfred A. Mitchell This
delegation. Il Is asserted 1T General
Brownies headquarters, Is solid for his
reelection and will conduct the cam
paign for him
The national corps officers win hold an
executive session tonight at the Regent
to lay plans for the guidance and in
formation OF the incoming administra-
ton.
The session Of the convention that
viii be held tomorrow morning will be
business one, and may possibly get
around to a discussion Of the two bills
that will be presented 10 Congress at
the next session. These bills provide
for Increases in pay OF the enlisted men
of the army and navy and for their re-
tlrement at the end Of twenty-five years
instead or thirty years service, as is now
the law
In commenting upon the latter bill
this morning, General Browne said that
il was designed to increase especially
the efficiency Of the personnel OF thu
navy he showed n remarkable set OF
statistics demonstrating that most o6
the enlisted men in the navy did not
re-enlist, and that after the second en-
nstment, very few came back for
third, the result being that the men of
the navy were continually young and
inexperienced This difficulty. ne
thought, would be greatly decreased
by the passage of the two bills, to be
recommended by the union.
Another matter 10 be taken up by The
convention will be the formation Of a
self-governing ladies' auxiliary, provtd-
ed there are enough women delegates to
justify it.