The National tribune., 1883-09-20
FROM HEADQUARTERS.
Action OF the Council of Administration Philadei.
phia News.

On saturday laSG; the subcommittee OF Jne
National Council of Administration held
highly important meeting at National head
quarters. This committee is composed of Com
mander-in-Chief Beath, Adjutant- General Van
dersice, observation-disclosures Taylor and
Comrades Henry B. Pierce of Massachusetts,
(now, and for many years past, the efficient
Secretary of State of that Commonwealth; y A.
ii. Spierre, of Albany, n. Y; A. NJ. Way, OF
New Brunswick, n. j.. Samuel Harper, of
Pittsburg, Pa, and George 3. Creamer, of Balti-
more, Nd The first business disposed of was
the opening of bids for furnishing Rules and
Regulations books, blanks and other supplies.
In accordance with a resolution of the Ma
tional Encampment, proposals had been adver-
tised for in newspapers published in Boston,
New York, and Philadelphia Seven bids were
received and the contract was awarded to
Messrs. Burlz & MeTetridge, of this city, they
being the lowest in their estimates. The Boston
and New York firms who bid were far beyond
the Philadelphia firm in their prices. The
most important item of business transacted,
however, was the awarding Of the contract for
the manufacture of the Grand Army badges.
The committee, after thoroughly discussing the
matter, decided unanimously that the matter
could not be intrusted to better hands than
those of Comrade Joseph K. Davison of Phil
adelphia, and to him was given the contract
for furnishing one hundred thousand. The
large increase in the number of badges to be
made will justify a further reduction in price
from that of last year which then effected saw
ing to the Departments Ofover So 900; this year
the amount SO saved will reach about $4,000.
The Commander-in-C Chief will strongly recon-
mend that a proportionate reduction be made
by all the Departments to their Posts The
profits hitherto accruing from the furnishing
of these badges have very largely increased the
funds OF the Departments for extending the
Order, and thus saved direct taxation. In the
item Of supplies, also, considerable amount of
money will be saved under the new contract
sufficient at least to warrant reduction in
price on number of articles and to diminish
the expenses of the Departments by furnishing
all supplies without charge for expressing or
freight. The National Encampment adopted
resolution that all Grand Army supplies should
be furnished through National and Department
headquarters, and directed that the manu-
facture of rank badges be contracted for, in
order to thus secure what has heretofore seemed
impossible, namely, uniformity of style of strap
and ribbons, the latter now appearing in all
shades of color, according to the tastes of the
wearers. The committee found, however, that
none of the rank badges presented as samples
were in accordance with those prescribed by
Rules and Regulations, and that even the latter
could be advantageously changed. The COM
mittee, therefore, decided to refer the matter
to the next National Encampment and recon-
illSuu ILC dtlpptlOn vi 1ASu tOtul VI oiIdp.
The Quartermaster-Genera was directed to
obtain ribbons for official badges aud furnish
them to all officers and past officers through
their different Departments, so that uniformity
in this respect at least could be at once secured
All this work is simply in accord with the
policy heretofore marked out, namely, to con-
duct the workings of the Grand Army of the
Republic on strictly business principles and for
the general good Of the Order.
PENNSYLVANIA AND PHILADELPHIA NEWS
General Orders, No. 16, Headquarters De-
partment of Pennsylvania, have just been
issued, from which the following extracts are
made:
Ill The reports of the Department officers to
the semi-annual Encampment show the Depart
ment to be in highly prosperous condition. Dur
ing the first six months of the present year fifty
one new Posts We're organized and almost 5,010
comrades mustered. Such an increase must be a
source of qualification to every comrade, and all
should go actively to work, determined to still
keep the Department of Pennsylvania at the head
of the column. Other Departments are recruiting
rapidly, and we can only maintain the proud posi-
ton we now occupy by the earnest, active, ener-
getic work of every individual comTade
XI. The Department Commander has learned
with regret that there Posts of the Grand Army
who have so far forgotten themselves as TO hold
public Camp-tires and meetings for fun and frolc
on Sunday. He hopes that gatherings for such
purposes by men of the. Grand Army will be dis
continued in the future. The Sabbath of our Lord
should be kept sacred. If we would maintain our
noble Order with the respect of the good, we must
to it that we do not violate the laws of the
land.
The orders also give list of new Posts mus
tered since date of General Orders No. Il, and
a long list of addresses wanted accompanies
them. Orders have also been issued for the
muster of Post No 376 at Catasauqua, Pa.
This is a reorganization of what was once Full
Ter Post, No. "a, which was disbanded in 1873.
Post No. 379 will soon be organized at Logans-
vile, Clinton county, Pa, and another is being
worked up at Ohioville, Beaver county.
A meeting of Post Commanders to fix time
and programme for Grand Army day in this
section of the State was held at Department
headquarters yesterday afternoon, Department
Commander Osborne presiding. After much
discussion and the suggestion of various
methods of celebrating the day, it was de-
cided to have short parade in the afternoon,
the Posts to spend the evening in any manner
they may see fit. Wednesday, October "a, was
the date fixed upon.
On Saturday evening Post No. 56 of this
city, took possession of new hall, located at
Nos. 3941, 3943, 3945 Market street. The prin-
cipal feature of the occasion was parade par
ticipated in by the Post, headed by its band,
Camps No. l, 4, 8, Ii, "a, and 27 of Philadel-
phia, Camp No. 1 of Camden, n. j. Sons of
Veterans, and several civic organizations To-
Gated in West Philadelphia. Upon the ar
quarters a fine display of fireworks was given.
Addresses were made by Commander Winner
and P. p c. AIillison. The hall is forty-five
by forty feet in size, and is comfortably and
tastefully furnished, being very great i'm
provement over that previously occupied by
the Post.
Last night Department Commander Osborne
paid an official visit to George g. Mead Post,
No 1, accompanied by the following officers of
his staff: A. A. G.. Thomas j. Stewart; A. Q.
NJ. G. Smith d. Cozens; NJ. D. Joseph Fergur-
son; Aides Camp Tyler, Upton, Demar,
Welsh, and Rudolph. Senior Vice Department
Commander A. j. Sellers, who is comrade of
this Post, was present, as were also A. NJ. K
Storrie, delegate at large, and Comrade Nick
Wilson, Post No. 8, Gettysburg, superintend-
ent of the National Cemetery at that place.
After receiving and referring several new
applications and electing already acted
upon, recruit was mustered in in most
excellent manner. Two large, handsomely
bound volumes of Shakespeare were then pre-
sented to the Post by Comrade G. Harry Davis
ON behalf of Mr. Robert Garrett, q contributing
member. Comrade Davis also, by request
again read the interesting and amusing report