The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-26

accept the money, In this case the money should |
be turned over 70 the Department to be used a
relief fund
By unanimous consent Mrs. Mary f. Lull, of
Milford ~ H. Past Department President OF New /
Hampshire before the National Association was
formed, made officer of the National organ
ization, as Past Department President.
Among the important legislation coming before
the National Convention the passage Of a TesO-
luton calling upon the Corps to appoint n Confer
ence Committee of five to cooperate with the Con
ference Committee from the Post, and Corps PreSl-
dents were instructed to signify to the SOst Com
mauders their desire for such committees. To this
Joint Conference Committee all ma iers Of joint
Interest 10 the Post and Corps or for the pTeserva-
ton of harmony and concerted action between the
two organizations shall be- submitted.
a very important action TIE diversion OF
one-half per cent. of the per capita 20 National
relief fund TO be used for the benefit OF army nurses,
aud for the disabled mothers OF soldiers who had
themselves rendered services or the battlefield.
Another important piece of legislation was q
passage of the resolution that Corps secrecy ex-
tended not Only to matters which TRANSFERRED IN
Corps sessions, but that any discussion Of Corps
matters with members outside should be consid-
cred rs a violation of the articles of secrecy.
great deal of business was transacted during
the sessions OF the National Convention, and this
no better evinced than by the unanimous vote
on Saturday morning that the Convention forego
the pleasure of An excursion on san Francisco Bay
that they might eompiets the work for which they
were assembled.
St Louis was chosen "a the next place of holding
National Convention, and the pro rata for Depart
ment5 fixed at delegate for every so members.
The session of the National Convention did not
officers were Obligated as follows:
Elizabeth Darcy Kline, National President.
Clara O.. Nichols, New York, S. V. T.
Mary Starkwcathcr, Minneapolis, j. v. p.
Lizabeth A. Turner, Boston, Treasurer.
Eleanor Ii. Wheeler Boston, Counselor.
Mary GaTard, Iowa, Chaplain.
Margaret X. WiCkens, Kansas, Inspector.
Anne WitteumyeT Life Member Natl Council
Sarah +. Fuller and Gertrude Rogers, Members
There are now three life members she first and
second National Presidents, Mesdames Barker and
Sherwood and Mrs. Wttenmyer.
RELIEF OF ARMY WORKERS.
The following report, accepted by Convention,
indicates that the WOrnan'S Relief Corps IL fast
getting down to solid business. 1t having been
recommended by National Treasurer that the per
capita should be reduced One-half the Con vcntIon
voted To- allow il To remain fixed, but authorized
the excess or one-half OF the per capita TO be paid
quarterly into the relief fund provided in report.
REPORT RELIEF COMMITTEE.
Mrs. ELEANOR Il. WHEELER. National Secretary:
We have the honor 10 report that the Committee
T.. Florence Barker Chairman " ho appoint ed Mrs.
Kate Il, Sherwood a. Secretary. Amer cOusuIta-
ton between the Chairman and the National Presl-
dent, IL was decided that an announcement. be made
in the public press and through General Orders
that the Relief Committee would receive records
from army nurses OF their services IerfJrne,i IA the
army on the battlefield ard In the hospitals with
a view To securing pensions aud other pecunidry
relief, and also Of making, permanent record. In
response 10 this announcement replies were re-
eoIved rom large number OF army nurses giving
/ a very full and explicit account of the work that
was done These letters have been received. noted
and fled but owing the fact that this announce
ment seemed TO create the feeling, that q pension
was to be immediately secured, it not thought
best to press the matte. any further. The impress
| sion had gone out that the WOman'' Relief Corps
was in the position 10 provide for all such nurses
or that they could receive such Immediate rccosni
! ton from the Government or through tue WOuaH's
/ Relief Corps As these brOlcen-dowH women de-
| served. and the result to work injury To them
from the fact that those who had been contributing
| To their support immediately referred them TO the
| Woman's Relief Corps, which fouuj Itself with an
| empty treasury and with no power TO secure Con-
| gres-ionaI legislation. The committee therefore
| decided upon the following measures, which they
| recommend 20 the National Convention;
First that the National President ne instructed to
/ prepare blank To be seat out T. al those army
nurses whose letters on file, and t. others Ask
ing them TO send IN full and accurate account in
| reply To certain questions which Elay be pro,
pounded. SUCH date, age and place OF service
period of service, present circumstance and 40
Second (ul, that they ak the National President
to prepare petition, which shall be circulated by
| the Corps IN the various D-pastIn cnts, not only
| among their own Number, but IN thc Grand Army
and among citizens generally, asking AID for an
! adequate pension lDs the widows ard orphans OF
soldiers: 90 fer such IA pension ivS army nurses
shall keep them out OF .he a!us5hCGsss and hos
/ pitfalls in thcr cd age when broken down and
utterly incITacitded Tor tl-n care Oi themselves.
No petition was iutrolt,ei ~ Con srcs5, for the
reason that tire NGultus Relief Corps h1s wish
to antagonize the Grand Army Pension Committee.
and the Grand Army Pension COt1aGittcc did not
to think II expcdica; to ask legislation for
| army nurses until prOvi-iOa made for widows
and orphans OF SNitt.eES. la the position taken Dy
the Grand Army Pension Committee the commit
tee of the Relief Corps very readily eOncurred rec
Ogniziug that the NOuen's Relief Corps l. Guxili-
AIRY To the Grand Army o. the Republic. and must
| be guided by them; and then, they dbl not wish TO
| do anything which seemed render imperative
the efforts that were being put forth 20 takn OF
| TIE widows AMI orphans. But they feel that with
conI,.ned aus. concer;i movement by tae women
o! the United States ~ favor % more adequate pen
sion legislation cr widows and orphans aaI % army
nurses that such legislation c'tn be secured "a will
make provision for these uiiarnie,l veterans
Of the Union service, or for those women that
fought the battles OF their country in caring for the
wounded the battlefield. in she hospitals and in
the special diet kitchens cf the var.
The Pension Relief Committee would call atten-
ton the efforts TINT have bren successfully put
forth ia several States By the Won.''s Relief Corps
for the better care OF soldiers orphans and in the
aid OF Soldiers Home, in their respective terrific
rics. The Soldiers Home in Massachusetts iGs long
been largely under the care o. Iowa! women. ans
tire WOmanS Relief Corps in Ohio have pledged
themselves IA Department Convention 10 aid il
furnishing the Soldiers Homes which shall be es
tabtsiIcd in that State aud IN providing sucn
forts Rnd Injuries for the soldiers in their declining
years will make public home ~ near ike
private home a. II possible To be done. They would
recommend the womca Of all thc Departments tc
take ike measures, so THAT IA all the good work
whether local. State Or National, they shall be rep
resented
The Relief ConInitfee would particularly call the
attention OF the women of some of t states 20 ths
Importance of the work for better legislation for the
of their orphan children. In of the State.
there are Homes under excellent management WHERE
| cniurcn not OtitN receive u SODu DeOk cuuefAtlOn
but an industrial training, n trades department
having been established by the boys and domestic
economy for the girls. In the past year Ohio ha
taken grand forward step IN this direction. anC
| chiefly through the fundamentally uf the wOmeI
! Of Ohio. The Governor, following legislative en-
acimsnt, having appointed AN Advisory Board o
iiyc ladies to cooperate with the ROJy of Trustees
| The Pension COmlltteee would also recommend
| to the National Convention the importance Of es
| tabiishing a National Relief Fuui. aud would rec
onaIend that the National Convention instruct th,
| Departments IN the Importance Of taking similar
| action ths fund TO be used for disabled army
: | nurses who may be witlJu. means 90 friends anC
for the aged and nrtn mothers of soldiers who nav,
themselves rendered some actual service in CARING
for the sick and wounded. They wouli recommend
that cncaf of the quarterly per l3iL be added Z,
any relief fund that shalt be established TO he hCl6
scret!y for purposes OF relief and pensions to b,
dShursed 10y order Of the National President
through the National ISe,io. Committee or Nationa
Treasurer, for puJposs of pension aud relief The,
would recommend THAT Departments establish
relief fund on a similar hn.'. and call attention Of
the Departments to the Importance of having eacl
Corps give portion of tie proceeds Of entertain
ment 10 be given for such purpose TO this Depart
meut relief fund in order shat when the Depart
to isolated cases which do not under the uris
dciion Of Corps they will have some money ut thei
command.
They would also recommend that each yea
when the accounts audited aud there is n sur
plus in the treasury, National Department, tina
not less than two per cent of this surplus be dverte
to the relief fund. Also that the names of thos
to whom assistance is rendered shall be kept by tn
committee and council but shall not appear in an!
= printed reports.
The committee would also call the attention of tn
Convention TO the importance of taking some step
towards founding u National Home for arm!
nurses Owing to the diiatoriness of Congressional
IegslatiOn and the fact tia little has been don
rfavNTu lnfn