The National tribune., 1882-07-01

Junior Vice COmmander-in-Ch Chief, G. '. L..
Pond: Surgeon-General, Charles Styer; Chap
lain-in-Chief, Rev. Joseph T. Lowering; Adju-
tant General. William NJ. Gln; Quartermaster-
General, William Ward; Inspector General,
James 3. Carnahan; Judge Advocate General,
George B. Squires Every Department was
represented, and over two hundred delegates
answered the roll-call. The seats were well
filed by the fraternity, as every member of
the q. 4. Il. is entitled to be present during
the council who is in possession Of the counter
sign with which to pass the sentry The Com
mander-in-Chief presented the following re-
port:
ADDRESS OF THE CoMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
COMRADES: Another Grand Army year has
closed, and as we come together in sixteenth
annual session, at the most auspicious hour in
our organizations history, we may rightfully
exchange congratulations upon the bright
record of success III the past and the glad
promise OF the opening future. When, by your
suNmges, chosen to this position q twelve
month ago, / found the ploWing and seeding
had been 50 well done by my predecessors that
the field was already white to the harvest, and
/ the company of willing rcapers so numerous
and well organized that the year has proved of
exceptional, Imay say of phenomenal, Ingather-
ing, the gain III membership from April 10
April having been above $1,000, double that of
any one Of The previous ten years. and. with
the large number Of new Posts organized since,
and the natural growth OF the second quarter
giving Us, without doubt, to-day a membership
OF luiIy 100000 upon the rolls OF the Grand
Army OF the Republic. And this great growth
has cquallcd III character It's extent; many Of
the very best among the veterans who joined
our organization III its early days, soon to drop
out OF the ranks, and others vino, from various
reasons of prejudice or Indifference stood al0Ot
from the first, haVee learned to respect the
principles and admire the work of the Grand
Army, and have now cordially come in, and,
best of al, they have come to stay. At the
beginning of the year, following the excellent
plan OF my predecessor in official YiSltatlOnS
which had proved productive of admirable
results and with the cordial commendation OF
the Council of Administration. | arranged for
visits to as many sections as possible, and have
been able during my term to personally meet
comrades III the following Departments: Maine
New hampshire Vermont Massachusetts,
Rhode Island. Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
d.. Potomac. ONO, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin,
Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska,
Colorado.
This has ncceSsitated travelling over %, 700
miles. and afforded me the opportunity for
participating III five Department Encampments,
the organization of one Department, three
Grand Army meetings under canvas, twenty
hNo tamp-fircs SIX receptions, two Memorial
Day services. the unyeiling of two soldiers
monuments, one hall dedication, sixteen meet
lngS of Posts, eleven soldiers fairs, and twenty
two Reunions and other soldiers meetings.
/ Inc department of California has also been
officially visited by a member Of the staff,
| specially detailed for that purpose, and Ten
/ neSSee and Dakota have been in like manner
visited Tor the organization Of Posts where
none before existed. The reports of the adju-
| tant-general aud inspector-general, giving in
detail the work Of their Departments and of
the quartcrmasteT-gencra exhibiting the
financial condition of the organization, which
viii he found most satisfactory, / commend to
/ your careful considerations | desire TO express
| my acknowledgment of the earnest support
/ and cooperation of the officers of the Encamp-
/ ment, and of my personal and official staff,
! especially recognizing the conscientious, intel
| igent. and efficient work of Comrade Olin,
/ adjUtant-gencral, a service made unusually
. labOriOus by the extraordinary growth OF the
year.
/ GOOD CONDITION OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
am glad to be able to report that the several
/ Departments are. / believe with not an excep-
tion in excellent condition. Along our whole
line there is no break, hardly weak spot, and
| the grand growth IF the year has been shared
-Hby almost every Department., showing What
gan be done, what IS possible for even some
years yet 10 come by persistent, systematic, in
tcliigent effort judiciousy guided and con-
/ tToiled.
Kansas leads the van in the percentage of in
crease IN Posts and membership, having Swclled
the number Of the former between April and
| April from 10 to 80, and the membership from
/ 275 to 1000 fully 4o9 per cent, aud since April
/ lst, this year, 20 additional Posts have been
/ organized in this Department. Commander
| Nalkinshaw has been untiring in his efforts,
and the results are his best praise. Missouri
4s.Fl 1
/ igan, 262; Minnesota, l-3; West Virginia, 165;
! the Mountains, 122 California, III; Washing
! ton, los; Wisconsin, 95; Indiana, "a; Iowa, Il,
! and Illinois, G6, while other Departments, it
/ will be seen, follow with an increase which
/ would be deemed great in ordinary years.
/ The larger Departments have done admirably,
! though the percentage upon their large basis is
not 50 great. Massachusetts, shows an increase
| Of 1,9l4, Pennsylvania Of $3.50, and New York
| OF 3.522. In Ohio. where our organization, once
/ large, has for years been comparatively weak,
! the past twelve months has presented, perhaps,
| the most extraordinary boom " our history
! records. Through the enthusiastic efforts of
! Commander KOuntz its 80 Posts and 1850
members Of April lst, 1881, have been increased
in twelve months TO 1873 Posts and s, ,729 mem
! bcrs.
Early in the year personally organized
permanent Department in Minnesota, and good
| work is being done in increasing the member
! SHIP IuCEG. AilaSDuEI mas bcth constituted q
permanent Department, and a charter has also
| been granted tor permanent Department in
| Washington Territory, but for some unknown
reason no report Of its organization has been
received at headquarters. Provisional Depart
ments have been organized IN Oregon and Ken
lucky, and one additional Post has been added
in the latter State
Under the superint ntcndence Of Inspector Gen
eral Carnahan, who visited Tennessee for that
purpose, three Posts have been organized IN this
Statc-at Nashville, Chattanooga, and Memphis
attached for the present to the Department Of
Indiana. BY aid of comrades of Iowa ten Posts
have been organized in the Territory of Dakota ;
these are now attached to the Department of
Iowa, but will speedily be in condition for or
ganZatiOn into a Department. The Territory
ofNew Mexico has been assigned to the Depart
ment Of Kansas, and Commander Wakinshaw
has already organized Post at Las Vegas, with
yet others at different points in progress of
formation. An application is awaiting compile
tion for a Post in North Carolina, and there is
good prospect for the early formation of Post
ION foreign soil, " in old Mexico where a con-
siderable number Of veterans reside.
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
During the year quite number of questions
as TO Interpretation of rules and regulations
and appeals have come up for decision, but rs
was stated by my immediate predecessor, many
We're so closely in the line OF some previous
construction Of opinion that they were decided
without the necessity Of reference to the judge
advocate general. The following decisions Of