The National tribune., 1884-02-21
THE ENCAMPMENTs.
Proceedings OF the Kansas Departmental mrade
Pond Elected Commander.

Proceedings OF the Kansas Depsrtment-Comrade
Pond Elected Commander.
The delegates to the annual Encampment of
the Department of Kansas assembled at 1
o'clock on the morning of the 9th inst. at the
Grand Opera House, Topeka, and were called
to order by the Department Commander, Gen.
T.. j. Anderson. After PRAYER by Chaplain
Dornblaser, General Anderson made his ad-
dress, in the course of which he said that the
past year had been one Of remarkable thrift in
all branches of industry In the State, and the
Grand Army Of the Republic had fully shared
in the general prosperity. The Department of
Kansas stands fourth on the list in point of
numbers, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio
alone leading IN membership, and by con-
tinued, united effort, Kansas can be placed at
the head of the column y in another year.
The report Of the Assistant Adjutant-Gen
showed that the year commenced with I45
Posts and membership of 1913 and closed
with 295 Posts and 16, SOL Members gain of
153 Posts and 9,918 members. The records of
the Assistant Adjutant- Generals department
are In excellent shape; the office is thoroughly
organized, and complete system prevails BY
resolution of the last Encampment, the Ccun-
Gil of Administration was authorized to provide
compensation for the Assistant Adjutant- Gen
eral which they did, placing the salary at 5000
per annurn. The work of this Office had been
well and promptly executed. and the Com
mander saids the investment had proved
good one.
The Assistant Quartermaster-GeneraIr reports
the receipts from all sources to be SI3, 639. 81
and the disbursements S10,779.57, leaving a
balance in his hands at the close of the year of
2,660.34 and the Department does not owe a
dollar.
Attention was also invited to the report of
the Judge Advocate, with recommendation
that his decisions be confirmed by the Encamp-
he Of Tor, arfu
Smith showed him to be an enthusiastic and
conscientious worker in the Grand Army.
Comrade Anderson said he trusted every aid
would be extended to the ladies who had been
invited to meet during the Encampment at
Topeka for the purpose OF organizing a Depart
ment Corps, and that their efforts would be
successful
The Assistant Adjutant- Generals report
shows a year of great activity, there having
been issued during that time fifteen general
orders, four circulars, and III special orders.
Comrade Devendorf states in his report that
having no authority to employ clerk, and
the work being too heavy for him to accom-
plished unaided, he has been ably assisted By
his two daughters, who have performed large
amount of routine work.
AWARD OF PRIZES.
AT the afternoon session the Council of Adj
ministration awarded the annual prizes as fol-
lows: For largest increase in membership
first prize, $780, to B. f. Larned Post; the
second and third prizes were pooled between
Winfield and Engelman Posts, giving each $50,
the increase of each being seventy members
For largest percentage of Increase of men,
bership-first prize, Engleman Post, Cherry
vale; second prize, Arkansas City Post; third
prize, Dover Post.
The committee on the soldiers home re-
ported that the petition for the establishment
of soldiers home in Kansas had been for
warded to Senator Plumb with $4,000 names
appended to it.
A resolution was reported protesting against
the present system of competitive examina-
tons for civil Office as it excludes the soldiers
and Sailors the education of twenty years ago
being different from that of to-day.
The resolution to admit into the Grand
Army those who had been in the Confederate
service but who afterwards joined the Union
army and were honorably discharged was,
after heated debate, defeated by an almost
unanimous vote.
Resolutions were passed opposing any legis-
Iation on tariff that will endanger the payment
of pensions; also, instructing the Kansas dele
CATION in Congress to vote for Senator Logan's
bill pensioning ex-prisoners of war.
In the evening the opera house was crowded
to its utmost capacity by the soldiers, their
families and friends to witness the annual
| Campfire. The auditorium was very taste
fully decorated for the occasion. Addresses
were made by Gen. Chas. w. Blair of General
Lyle Post No. 80, of Fort Scott; Major-Gen-
eral j. G. Caldwell and Comrades ]. ]. Buck,
of Emporia, and E. FL. Fernston, aud the exer-
cises were enlivened by music from the Glee
Club, Arion Singing Verein, Modoc Club, and
Lincoln Post drum corps, while Major Ander
| son, S. V. Devendorf, and others contributed
by song and otherwise to the entertainment.
Mrs. Margaret Custer Calhoun, widow of
Captain Calhoun and sister of General George
III. Custer, was introduced by Comrade Peck,
to the assembled audience, and her appearance
was the signal for long and enthusiastic ap-
plause She recited, in pleasing manner, the
poem, John Burns at Gettysburg" and was
greeted with loud applause at the close.
The Campfire broke up at late hour, after
singing "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground, .
and John Brown"
THE NEW OFFICERS:
The principal business of the next and last
day of the Encampment was the election of
officers, which resulted as follows:
Commander, H. w. Pond, of Fort Scott; 8.