The National tribune., 1885-06-25

| President felt that if sustained by the Grand
| Army of the Republic in her course of action
| she would not bring upon herself the censure
of the Womans Relief Corps if she went beyond
| their EXPRESSED instructions to promote their
| good. After full conference with Grand Army
| officials in command, the announcement was
! made ia General Orders, No. 2 that the decis-
| ions and opinions of the Commander-in-Chief
and Judge Acknowledgement of the Grand
! Army of the Republic compiled by Gen. Jas.
| r. Carnahan, Judge Acknowledgement, 1882
'S3, and adopted and approved by the National
| Encampment July, 1883, would stand as the
| recognized authority in the Woman's Relief
Corps, in so far as the decisions are applicable
| to questions arising in the Corps This was
reiterated after the publication of The Grand
Army Blue Book " by Commander in-Chief r.
| h. Beath and the substitution of the same, as
| more complete, was sanctioned.
As the National President reviews the mani
fold complications of the year that is past. con-
siders the threatening troubles that arose in
the several Departments already named, every
one of which was dissipated by close ad-
hereuce To these Grand Army rules she realizes
very torcibly that a wisdom above her own
guided and controlled her in the course pur-
sued.
DISCIPLINE.
Committee on Discipline was at tho same
time announced, consisting of Mrs. Mary 5.
Bergen. of Ohio; Mrs. Matte b. Moulton of
New HAMPSHIRE. and Mrs. Katrina S. Beedle,
of Massachusetts. The committee was in
structed to so simplify the provisions on dis
cipline of the Grand Army as to apply to the
Woman's Relief Corps. Mrs. Bergen who was
in close communication with National Head
quarters and familiar with the difficulties with
which tho officers were contendIng, was pre-
pared to present to the members of the COM
mittee outside all intelligent view of the situa-
tion. The adoption OF the report is most ear
nestly recommended.
DECISIONS AND OPINIONS.
Decisions and opinions have been required
during the year covering nearly every question
that has arisen in the government of the Grand
Army, and by the authority of the Grand Army
rules they were promptly given. 1t would take
up by Tar too much valuable time to enumerate
all these. By an arrangement with the Ma
tional Secretary every question covered, for
which no provision was made in Rules and
Regulations was immediately jotted down
and a record kept, that recommendations
might be made in National Convention
looking to an amendment of the rules
These decisions were so many that the
National President spent several days and
nearly all of several nights in personal and
careful revision of the Rules and Regulations,
embracing all that she believes should he COM
bined in the same. copy Of this she presents
with this report and asks that it be referred to
special committee to act upon the same. At
the same time she earnestly prays for the adOp
tion Of the revision a whole. as she is abSO-
lutely certain that it is for the good of the
association.
The Woman's Relief Corps has no reason for
the belief that it can be successfully managed
under less stringent and pereinptory rules than
those governing the Grand Army, so long as it
preserves the same kind of an organization as
that which governs the Grand Army. The
moral law was made no less stringent for woman
than man. The Rules and Regulations of the
Grand Army have been the growth of score
of years. We should both pattern aud profit
by the same
Let those Departments which have happily
worked under present rules Those Departments
which exist in the old and conservative CON-
munities, consider the wants and needs of their
less fortunate co workers in the Heterogeneous
population of the West and give them such pro-
lection as shall be conducive to the best de-
velopment of their work in all its branches.
The estimate has been carefully made as to the
cost and it is found that the revised Rules and
Regulations printed in the close type and on
common print paper of the Grand Army. would
cost no more than our present style, on fine
paper and i'm open type: while answering every
purpose for which they are intended. A revised
copy shonld be placed gratis in the hands of
every Corps President serving at date of re-
vision.
The ritual, while beautiful and impressive,
should undergo certain revisions. For instance.
the name Treasurer" should be substituted
for ST cretary" where the President declares
the Corps closed, since according to Rules and
Regulations it is the Corps Treasurer and not
the Secretary who is made the depositor of
supplies The appointment of such a COM
mttee should be directed.
CASH FOR SUPPLIES.
1t is believed that Departments which have
been struggling under debt al National Head
quarters have been embarrassed III their work,
Or have made very slow PROCESS from three
causes: H. Crippled by low per capita tax,
forb.dding the necessary printing and the in-
curing OF other expenses necessary to the
vigorous prosecution of their work {; t2j because
OF the credit system, which has required the
National Treasurer to issue supplies to Depart
ments. and Departments in turn to Corps form
ing or formed, without the forthcoming money
to pay for the same; 80 insufficient care in
the selection of officers and regard for special
qualifications of the same, and too little regard
by them of that careful and studious attention
to their respective duties which secures and
compes success. An increase of per capita to
at least 10 cents quarter, ia Departments hav-
ing a lower rate, and the adoption of the cash
system for supplies is heartily recommended.
The cash system has been thoroughly tested in
the Department of Michigan and has proved u
marked success. Had this plan been pursued
in New York and had all money flowed through
the proper channels, such anomaly as de-
fauiting Department Secretary las New York
was made to suffer from last year. would not
have been possible.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
1t cannot be too clearly impressed upon De-
partments and Corps that the President is the
directing officer of the association. that the
Secretary is the recording officer, ard the Treas
urer the di-bursing officer. Bat each should
understand that without the other she can per-
form no work. 1t is as much out Of character
for the President to usurp the duties of Secre-
tary or Treasurer, as it is for the Secretary Or
Treasurer to usurp the duties of President. or
of one another. Much confusion and at least
absolute malteasance in office as in case noted
has been caused by the one officer working in
dependently of the other. All orders should be
made by the TREASURED, upon instruction by
the President, and all moneys for whatever
purpose pass through the Treasurer's hands,
even if the next moment it is repaid to the
officer forwarding the same. peremptory
order that all orders for supplies should be
made through the Treasurer should be made by
this Convention.
INSPECTIONS.
The National President is satisfied that in
spections are of the greatest possible value
when properly conducted. In order to save
travelling expenses to Corps in Departments
having small contingent fund, the appoint
ment of District Inspectors is recommended.
In Departments having a sufficient contingent