The National tribune., 1883-02-01
NEW YORK.

The annual Encampment of the Department
of New York was held at Troy on the oath and
18th ult. Among the distinguished visitors
was Commander-in Paul Van Dervoort.
1t was called to order by James S. Fraser, De-
partment Commander. A call of the Posts re-
vealed only thirty not represented. The first
matter considered created discussion that con-
tinued for an hour and a half. 1t related TO
the revocation by the Council of Administration
at the recent meeting in New York of the char
ter of Post Hernden, No. 10Y, of Shortsville,
Ontario county, for issuing circular favoring
the choice at the recent State election of Gen
eral SOcum, the Democratic candidate for Con-
gresham at-large. A motion to adopt the re-
port of the committee on credentials, which
ignored those of Post Hernden was met by a
substitute to accept Post Hernden's credentials
1t was represented in the course Of the argu-
ment that the political circular was not issued
from the rooms of Post Hernden, and was not
the action Of that body as an organization.
General Barnum offered preamble condemn
ing any and all attempts to bring politics into
the Grand Army, and also resolution excus-
ing Post Hernden in view of the representa-
tons made, and restoring its charter. The reSo-
luton was adopted. The annual reports were
then presented. That of Assistant Adjutant
General Hopper gives the following facts con-
corning the condition of the Order:
Posts l65, 1872, 200 and 2l3 having made returns
campment. Since then, Post POO has been reOrgan-
lied under very favorable auspices, while Post 2l3
IS now in process of reorganization. Nos. l65 and
IS2 have been assigned to new Posts; 100 at Elmira
and 1872 at New York city. Eighty ive new Posts
have been organized during the past year of which
number one was formed in each of the following
places IN this vicinity: Johnstown, Granville, Full
ton, Malone, Corinth, Hoosick Falls, Cheshire,
Cambridge, West Troy LuZerne, Greenwich and
Fort Ann. Posts l76, lSS and 235 having made no
returns during the year it is recommended that
their charters be revoked, which will leave 33l Posts
in good working order at date of this report being
net gain OF elghtytwo Posts for the past year. OF
the 33 Posts in good working order there are six
teen that have not yet made their reports for the
fourth quarter ending December 81 1882, and they,
with the twenty-onc new Posts, make thirty seven
not reported. The 293 Posts that have reported
show Il membership of Is 34S, Il net gain of 4, AS
since last annual Encampment. The membership
oi the thirty Posts that have not made re-
turns, estimated at thirty each, would give ITO,
and show the total membership of the Department
to be l9, 45S, gain of 5,525 This estimate is based
on the reports of the twenty Posts last organ
lied, who have made returns averaging thirty-tve
each The following Posts show a membership of
over2OO As uhal, KOtes Post No. 49, takes the lead
by membership of 1913; Rankin Post No 10, 40;
Chaplin Post, No Q 336; Lew Benedict Post No s. ;s34
Mansfield Post, No. s., 326 Dahlgren Post, No. l3,
26S; Perry Post No So 26S; Reno Post, No. H. 25i;
Willard Post, No. "a, 243 l. o. Morris Post, No I2I
1913; Watrous Post, No. 80 204 Number of mem
bership in good standing last annual report l3 933
The following will show the gains: BY muster 1873;
by transfer, 320 by reinstatement 259 total gain
7,7l2 The losses arc follows. BY death, 2i6; by
llO, transfer, 4lD; by SllS-
pension, 2,3l0; by dshonorabe discharge, 20; total
loss, 3 U96; number remaining in good standing ut
tins date. lS,34S; estimated, thrty-seVen Posts,
thirty members each, LILO; number reported in
suspension, l53S; grand total, % O96. Three Posts
show gain of over 100 each during the year: Mans
field Post, No. 50, of 1875 James NJ Brown Post, No.
285, of 49,, and Lew Benedict Post No s. of I05.
The largest net gain $50 Is shown by Mansfield
Post, No -, of Brooklyn, which has now mem
bership of 326; 227 Posts show net gains 81 Posts
show net losses, Posts show neither gain nor loss
during the year. The amount expended for relief,
shown by the returns of 1876 Posts is SIS ats IS
being excess of 81 SSGSl over the previous year.
Of the sum expended for relief more than two-thirds
of the entire amount has been expended by 10
Posts to wit: No. 80, s. 1888; No 62, 81 34S 25;
No. H. 81 1880; No. lI3, 81 O5250; No. TO- 81 U2 95
No. H. SS69S6 No 3d. S727.J0; No. "a 1854; No. Ii,
SJ9G5I; No. SO, S4l227. At the last annual Encamp-
ment counties in the State reported
having no Grand Army Posts. / am glad TO be able
Chautauqua, Franklin, jefferson, Putnam and
Washington, leaving Clinton and Hamilton the
only counties without Posts. The Council of Ad-
ADMINISTRATION have held four meetings during the
year. The sale of more than 5000 G. A. k. badges,
and 1900 blank applications for membership dur
ing the past year Is perhaps one of the best evil
dcnces OF the increase of interest among the
beers of our Order III this Department.
Quartermaster Dempsey's report makes the
following showing OF the condition of the De-
partment treasury:
Receipts for the Sl4 461 SO
Disbursements for the year............... 1888 so
Balance on hand......,.................. SiS1S OF
Assets of the Department. 565i 81
None
BallOting for officers began at 100 o'clock on
the second day of the session.
The nominees for commander were: Keith,
of TROY: Billiard of New York: Reynolds of