The Portland daily press., 1888-02-10

Lnelr quarterly reports 10 Departments hcdu-
quarters. A few, however, are always De
hind, thereby delaying the reports from the
Department to National Headquarters, long
after they should have been forwarded. /
hope some method may be devised to impress
upon the officers of Posts the urgent necessi-
" Of forwarding their reports Immediately
after the close Of their last meeting In each
quarter. A careful reading OF General Or
ders would aid, In great measure, in over
coming this neglect, and also dispense with
a large amount of useless correspondence
between the posts and department. officers.
There has been expended by the posts, In
charity, this year, S5,121.S1, about $1,000
more than for the two previous years.
Memorial Day, with Its sacred duties, was
never more generally observed or a greater
interest manifested by the public than the
past year. There Is, however, on the part OF
the young and thoughtless, a tendency to
transform into a holiday the day specially
set apart In loving remembrance OF our com
rades who are mustered out. Let us all, as
comrades and good citizens, devote the en-
tire day to the memorial service and earnest
ly dtscOuntenance any amusementS or games
which would detract anything from It's sol
emnity. You will find the report of the
Chaplain full of interest and instruction,
and bespeak for 1t your careful perusal and
consideration.
For the general standing Of the Depart
ment numerical and financial, / refer,you to
the reports OF the Asst. Adlt. General and
Asst. Quartermaster General 1t has been
my desire to transact the business Of the
Department with as little expense as possi-
BILE, and hope to be able to leave with the in
coming administration a good working capt.
tai to commence work with. On assuming
command of the Department In February
last, there remained In the hands OF the
Quartermaster General but $3.50 and Quar-
termafter stores amounting to S323.74 III
we are careful in our expenditures during
this encampment feel certain very con-
siderable amount will remain for investment.
rha 10 of ba Naff apnn m
ducing the per capita tax from four TO two
cents per annum, will be great relief to us
In the future, being saving OF nearly TWO
hundred dollars with our present number.
In consequence Of the resignation OF Com
rade L. p. Hill as Department Inspector in
November last, the work preparatory to In
| sPection was greatly retarded. Comrade
Henry Z. Sellers has been untiring In his
commended for his energy in carrying on
and finishing the duties Of his Office in so
| short a time. His report will give you the
| condition Of the Posts in the Department at
j the close Of the year 1887
Sons Of Veterans
| The Sons Of Veterans now number 36
/ camps and CSC members In this Department,
| and arc growing daily in numbers and lnflu-
| ence. hope that comrades, botl as indl-
viduals and as Posts, will assist them In
| every possible manner, feeling assured that
| not far hence they will be our STAFF and sup
| port, and will amply repay us for the en-
| couragement we accord them today. There
| are many towns In our State where with the
aid Of comrades good camp OF Sons OF Vet
Grams can be organized, which would add ID
interest to Grand Army matters generally,
as well as be valuable assistant in car
rying on the work of our order.
Women's Relief Corps.
The Women's Relief Corps, both under
the State and National organizations, are
still pursuing their good work Of love and
charity, and new corps are frequently or
ganizing throughout the Department Let
US bid them God speed, and be ready to as
sist them whenever we have an opportunity.
A good Relief Corps is essential TO- the pros
perity of a Post, and sincerely hope that
In every locality where 0ae does not already
exist the comrades Of the Post will give the
ladies no peace until they form one.
The Soldiers and Sailors Orphan Homei
have attended tive meetings Of the trus-
tees Of the Home during the year. This In
stitution should be very dear to every com
rade Of the Grand Army, and they should de-
mand for It that generous support from the
State to which 1t Is entitled. There have
been inmates Of the Home the past year 115
children. At the present time there are 81,
ranging In age from three 20 10 years. l am
satisfied the affairs of the Home are ec0no-
mically conducted, the average cost Of each
inmate being but S12592, less than IL costs
| to support an inmate of the Soldiers Home
| at Togus. When we take into consideration
|
| and clothed as the majority Of our little ones,
/ too much credit cannot be given TO the trus-
/ tees and managers Of the Home. The chill
dren are all healthy and happy and are as
i well advanced in their studies as any chill
dren of their age. Mr. Stetson, the matron
/ Of the Home, Is evidently the right person In
the right place, and they all love and obey
| her as il she was their mother. Great credit
| is also due Mr.. John G. Richardson, the
| committee on children, for his constant care
and personal supervision Of the little ones
and all that pertains to their comfort and
| happiness.
would respectfully recommend the pur-
| chase Of banner for this Department; one
that can be carried in the parade at the Ma
| tlonal Eneampments, and serve as guide to
visitors seeking the headquarters OF the De-
partment in the hotel where the delegation
Is quartered the present uuwieldy pennant
the property Of the department being entire
ly untitled for either purpose.
To my Asst. Adjt. General, q. Nj. General
and other members of my staff. tender my
sincere thanks for their ready response to
every call Of duty, and the perfect manner in
which they have performed their work. Few
of the comrades are aware Of the amount OF
work and responsibility which rests on the
shoulders OF the Asst. Adit General, and
how much his work Is increased, at each
change Of administration, by the packing
| and unpaeking of the property Of the Depart
ment for transportation from one place to
another. | trust the time will soon come
when this Department can afford TO establish
a permanent headquarters and have perma-
nent Asst. Adjt. General.
To you, my comrades, one and all, for your
brotherly sympathy at the time Of the last
EncampmentS for your universal courtesy,
and generous support during my term Of
office, | can Cffer nothing but heartfelt
thanks. Feeling that have come far short
of performing all that would, 10 advance
the interests of our Order, yet trusting In
oh m m abnrtQ0pfinQl /
remain,
Yours in F. G. and L.,
RICHARD X. galley,
Department Commander.
The roll was then called and 176 comrades
answered to their names.
The following reports were then read:
ADJUTANT GENERALS REPORT.
PORTLAND, Me, February sth, 1883.
| Richard h. Galley, Commander Department
Of Maine, G. "A. r.:
| Comrade-In accordance with the rules
and regulations Of the Grand Army Of the
/ kepublic L have the honor to make the Iol-
| lowing report Of the business Of this Office
| during the year ending December Ist, 1887.
February LIST, 1887, there were in good stand
| ing in this Department LAG Posts. But one
| Post has been organized during the year,
viz: e. II. b. ellison Post, No. 1l6, at Oro-
no.
Post 1l6. Troy, Me-, voluntarily surren-
dered its charter May Goth. 1887, and trans
fer cards were granted to the members. 20
| in number, from these headquarters, and its
: number was given to the Post at Or0nO.
| During the fourth quarter Of 1887 Post 40,
Danforth, having held no meetings for two
years surrendered its charter and turned
over its property to the Department.
Membership.
Number Of Posts in good standingi January
Numbe9 81 Posts reInstated is
/ Number of Posts organized during the year.
Aggregate ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. l5l
| Number OF Posts lost during the year by dis
| Ddnuulehts -s...s.sss..s....
Number of Posts in good standing January
lst 1900 AAV
aary ISL 7oe'' iss7 sOOr s'S"as 1850
| Gains-Flrst quarter 1887.
by muster. r............................. l2O
| by transfer. .......ss....ss..s ol
Rv fafa