Daily Republican., 1886-08-10
The 4rand Arrpy.


The report of Com m ander-in- Chic
Burdette, rs read ut thu National En-
|campment now in session in San Fran
cieco, was quite long but interesting
Referring to the membership OF tn,
Grand Army he says:
There were, as reported by my pre-
decessor on the 3lst day of March, 1885
~ departments, 5,026 posts and 269, ,694
members. On March 81, 1886. the off
cial returns showed 38 departments
6,765 posts, and mem be rship in poo6
standing of 295,337. This Is q net pair
during the ear of 739 posts and 25. "a;
comrades. Distinguishing betw esr
those actually suspended for non nav
bership Of posts noted as suspended TO,
failure to send in their reports Gas ouI
system Of returns now enables us TO do
ana counting as In good standing in dc
iinquent posts the Dumber 60 appear
ing py their last return, gives mem
Dership on March 81 last of 299, ,087
The number Of comrades remaining
members ofthe Grand Army of the Re
public 10 326, ,4s9. There Is abund an,
reason FOR oongratulation to be found in
the exhibit"
-" ePo%h Ahe VA bu0 kIchb uuIuU6r o.
comrades who are annually dropped
from the rolls, principally because Of
the non-payment of dues, he says that
''instesd of comrades In arrears for dues
being summariiy dropped at q specific
period Dy mere operation Of the law IT,
self, there should be notice In open Post
and due action had; and before the final
act OF dropping is consummated there
should again be notice In open Post, q
period OF warning, and then formal
action py ballot on each case at regu-
lar meeting"
The Commander also recommended
That retired list be established, upon
which Posts may place members, re-
iie7ing them of all active duty aud the
payment of dues, but continuing to the
members thus retired all the privilege
OF the Post rooms and the right to at
lend all meetings or vote on all sub.
jects.
The account current OF the Quarter
master General shows balance of cash
on hand June 30, 1886, $23, 1854 90.
There was on hand June 30, 1885, $12,-
Cos. 46. Tho net receipts for the year
are therefore S11, ,857.63. As to the dis
position OF the surplus the command or
recomme nds its investme MT in United
States bonds and thinks that as the In :
come is 80 much greater than the ex.
penses 1t tshould In some way be limited,
and recommends rs one means the re-
duction OF the price OF badges to So
GEMS. The report OF the adjutsnt gen
eral shows the amount expended for
charity for the year to be $l76, ,259. 81,
but the report of the inspector general
shows an expenditure under this head,
ior the same period by but 4916 Pos ts
out of the 5765 now in existence, of
200 1880 and as remaining In the re-
lief fund 1901 ,Ol2 76.
Or the Woman's Relief Corps the
Commander says: "This organization
has passed beyond the stage of mere
or cou umendation. II has be
come settled auxiliary and recognized
agency OF the Grand Army OF the Re-
public In all Its work Of beneficence.
Its fame, whether for good or Ill, is
ouis; the proper administration of its
trusts and the accomplishment of Its
nelpful aims are to us, as well
as to itself, matters OF proper concern.
For the year ending March 81 last there
were added 1854 new members and
il6 Corps, making an aggregate at that
late OF 80. 729 members and 1888 Corps.
The expenditure for charity during but
Ihree- uarters of the past year were
(cash) 1000"
The Grant mem orisl is alluded to at
eDgth, and Commander Burdette saye:
II leave this work of love to you, com
rades."
The report of Adjutant Genera
Cameron shows that in Delaware there
was one new Post organized, and that
,he gain In mem bership WAS 1877 during
he year.
The order is still growing rapidly,
especially in Pennsylvania, where three
lew Posts were mustered last week,
md application for cha arters have been
eceived for six more.