Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-18
Commander Beers Tells
Of Depletion of Union
Army Remnant.
MORE MONEY FOR BLIND
Urged That Bill Be Offered Civ
ing SIS a Month to Those
Losing Sight.

Chattanooga, Tenn, Sept IS
More than eleven thousand Union
veterans of the Civil war died during
the twelve months ending Dec. 81.
last, and more than one hundred thou
sand such veterans are still on the
rolls OF the grand army of the RepuD-
lie, according 10 Alfred b. Beers, CON-
manderin-chief of the organization,
who delivered his annual address at
the reunion here today. The year
started with a membership of 191, BAG,
Mr.. Beers said, and 14.779 were add
cd to the rolls by muster, transfer and
reinstatement. The losses we're as fol-
lows. BY death, II 1888; by honorable
discharge, ABS; by transfer, 1864; by
suspension, 6,976; by dishonorable
discharge, SO: by delinquent reports,
4,2S5, and by surrender of charter,
1893. making a total loss. partially
offset by gains. OF 25,S9S. The rate or
mortality. based on the membership,
was 6.2S per cent
Another topic discussed a. some
length by Mr.. Beers was the alleged
discrimination in railroad rates 20
Chattanooga between the Crane Army
and the Confederate Veterans, who
held their reunion here in May, 1T
would appear" he said, that the ser.
vices Of the veterans OF the Union
army and the consideration due them
are held lightly in the estimation of
N
roads OF the South. however, gave the
same rate to both camps Of veterans.
Mr.. Beers added. the alleged discrim-
ination being in the North and against
the union veterans. In this connection
he said
The Southern Passenger associa-
ton, composed CT railroads east Of
the Ohio river, gave the same rate to
the Union veterans that they had Civ
en- TO the Confederate veterans i'll
May of this year, namely one cent
per mile. The remaining associations,
except the Trunk Line association, To-
Gated in New York and the Trans
Continental Lines, fixed the rate at
two cents per mile which is, believe.
a higher rate than the Grand Army
has paid in some years. Included in
the associations making the charge OF
two cents per mile, was the associa-
ton whose roads operate in Missouri
and Kansas and perhaps other states,
which made a rate for the Confeder-
ate veterans reunion of one cent per
mile. The railroads from New York
TO Washington made no reduction
whatever in the rates, but charged the
full regular fare to Washington. the
gateway TO the territory of the South.
ern Passenger association, which rate
IS in excess of the prices regularly
charged for excursion tickets good
for ten days and largely in excess of
mileage book rates good for at least
one year"
Mr.. Beers urged that the pension
committee presented a bill TO con-
gress granting a pension Of SIS a
month to veterans who are blind. He
made TO have repealed the law pro
viding that widows of veterans who
married after June II. 1890. should
not be entitled to pensions.
The most OF us are conversant
with the causes that led TO the pass
age OF that law" he said. 1T was a
necessary and a proper law then, but
since that time many honorable, kind
ly and affectionate women have mar
RED veterans from the purest OF no
tives and ministered to them in then
last hours. II seems an injustice that
such noble women should be made &c
suffer with the irresponsible class
that the law was designed TO reach
Surely a law can be framed that will
separate the chaff from the wheat"
CONFEDERATES NOT IN LINE.
Enforcement ofan order excluding wo
men and civilians from the 47th annua
parade of the Grand Army Of the Re
public yesterday afternoon prevented
the y. b. Forrest camp OF United Vet
Grams from participating in the pa
Eeant. Clad in their gray uniform:
the southerners were preparing &c
form in the line of march with For
sythe post No. Is OF Toledo. o., wher
they we're informed OF the order.
An invitation to join the parade had
been rendered Col. T. r. Dickinson
commander of the Forrest camp BY
Col. Henry y. Hanson, commander OF
the Forsythss post.
Just when they we're ready to take
their places Col. Hanson informed
Col. Dickinson thai the commander nj
the department OF Ohio. Col, W. R
Warnock. had been instructed TO ba'