New-York tribune., 1884-02-03
fourth kitchen 10 the number; but effort VIII be MAD
TO obtain sufficient aid for this purpose.
ABUSES IN THE GRAND ARMY.
REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT ADJUTANT- GENERAL ol


REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT ADJUTANT- GENERAL OF
NEw-JERsEY.
rFRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUSEl
TRENTON, Feb. 2.-The report of Assistant
Acknowledgement John Ramsay. OF the Department OK
New-Jersey Grand Army OF the Repubic, made TO tho
Annual Encampment in this city. this week. speaks OUT
boldly as to alleged abuses existing In the order In
reference 10 the ignorance and Incompetence III "h' IN
stances OF Post officers It says
The evidence Is unmstakabe that there are Post .on
manders this department who have never fsau sre
rues and regulations There Adutants ana quarter
masters who know nothing about their dntes anu c.
less BY writing to them several times you Ssn th
report out OF some but not all OF them Many ol tno
comrades OF this OF all other departments @sPS ~
official positions only and solely for the o. bey
refuse TO perform the duties OF their once h o
IN existence and do not think thcre ever wa" & n r. ~
organization that there was or 80 naen rah IA t -
there is in the Grand Army OF the Republic;
OF rank that have s curse TO our organiHo,
There are posts in this Department where nearly every
cOmrade wears an official Ribbon IL mas oes oe VI '
for keeping the Department as small as Is
Quarermasters he says in many cases. give no bonds'
and keep moneys Of the Post most convenient to
hemselves-keep their personal credit TO be used
II need be, In their individual business" Another abuse
he mentions is follows
Many Posts ofthis Department make the badge OF tne
Grand article OF merchandise The sell ing badges
TO recruits and the Indifference on the part OF Post
to the whole subject OF badges are ~, row9 ronnns
and suspending members. IL Is daily occurrence 70 se
VeFT Hang badge sa e and il has the eject keep
ing OF organization many OF the repuaDe eh OK
the community who served in the army OF the Union
There Is another abuse that has taken deep roc. ~
the Grand Army OF the Republic at seems 10 nave oeu
overlooked by Department Encampments and "inked as
by Department cOmmanders-that l. the nee luch OF
beer No other organization could live with the Two
things we have contend with-rank and beer No f9sp
funds moneys raised by any detail OF P0st snou 10
used this free lunch. When cOmrade wants ei,s
beer let him buy IL and pay for IT, Let US stop Iho
Posts from using the money they have got fIOm the pu
lie setting up this free lunch of bCer-stOp them from
leading their individual members into temptation
In explaining the financial failure OF the scnmer En-
campmen Princeton Junction, the Adjutan-G General
says
There are things in connection with IL that lead
Tesistby the belief the comrades of the Depart
mcnt opposed the Of Camp Olden. Many
OF them did all they could to make II failure. soDo
Posts took action while others voted against attend
ing camp. This opposition had because militia were
TO be in camp and the comrades were TO have cooked IA
tOns and be charged 35 cents day TO be fed IN civ
llzed manner. The conception and execution OF the
plans Camp Oden OF too high order for some
OF the comrades, hence their opposition.