The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-01-14
OPINIONS ON GRAND ARMY RULES.
BY PAST CoMMANDER-IN-CHIEF z. B. BEArH.
RESIGNATION.


RESIGNATION.
TNoTIcE-Inquiries on Grand Army matters Of
general interest and proper for publication will be
answered in this column by Past Commander-in-
Chief Beath. 1t viii be of course understood that
such answers are simply personal or in the way OF
advice which one comrade may properly give
other. Questions requiring official answers must
be submitted to the proper authorities.
If a Post Quartermaster tenders his resignation
and the Commander accepts such resignation in
the hearing of the comrades at q regular meeting,
one then dissenting, is the resignation final?
In Opinion XCY. quoted in full On page 40 of the
Blue Book, the Judge Acknowledgement, In
swer to the question Can Post accept the resg-
nation of its Commander -? says: In the absence
of any rule or regulation the subject. and fol-
lowing the analogy in all similarly constituted
bodies, it (the power to accept resignaton) must
reside in the body which confers the Office to be
resigned" Therefore, the resignation OF the Quar-
termaster must be acce ptedb by the Post Under the
circumstances stated, the acceptance was practi-
cally the action of the Post. il having full knowl
edge of the resignation and the Commander speak
ing for the Post but doubt fwithout vote Of ac
ceptance the Commander could legally give up
the bond of the Quartermaster, which he holds in
trust for the Post.
DROPPING MEMBERS.
A comrade in Jersey City states a case as follows:
Has Commander the right to suspend and drop
delinquent comrades without reference TO the Post?
If So where in the Rules and Regulations does he
get the authority? have seen il stated As maxim
of law that bylaw cannot suspend a member
without the concurrent action of the society.
Ans,cer The action of the Post in either suspend
ing or dropping members is not required, simply
because our Rules and Regulations ere mandatory
on that subject. Any member six months in arrears
for dues shall be reported suspended in the quar-
terly report. (See. s. Art ~, Chap. w
If eomrade shall be one year in arrears for dues
he shall be dropped from the roll. etc. (Sec. ~
It's only therefore necessary for it to be the fact
that conlrade is six months or 12months in arrears
for dues mot fines other assessments to put in
force the law quoted. He shall be suspended or shall
be dropped and the officers knowing the facts must
execute the law. They cannot, under the Rules,
carry in good standing in the reports those who
are not in good standing.
Adhesion to this effect was made by Commander
In Chief Wagner, quoted on page 90 of Blue Book.
There has been change in the law and the decis-
ion stands.
The Quartermaster should read the list of delin-
auents in order that the members may have knOwl-
edge of the fact, as there may be those present
knowing of circumstances that would justify their
paying sufficient to place the delinquent in good
standing for the time being; bat, stated the law
as il stands gives neither the officers Post any
option but to suspend" or drop" those in
rears. The delinquents assumed to have had
full notice of their arrearages and its consequences