Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-04
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se have already passed the summit and are
now going down the western slope. toward
''the valley Of the shadow Of DEATH With
eve. accelerated mortality. Ne human
power can stay or diminish this fatality, bat
under the glorious banner Of our order, let
as close up our overwhelming ranks, and
keep elbow touch A. in the heroic days Of
| 81 -'e5
Inspired With the unhinching courage and
nnfal'ering faith of the ever ennobiins past,
/ let Us make luminous with deeds of frater-
>, charity and loyalty the march Of these
last years a. We approveh the fnsi encamp-
ment Of the Grand Army. whsre
on Fumes eternal camping sroaad
Their .iisbt tents spread,
And glory guards. with .pls nm round
The DiT0aae Of the dsad-"
FINANCE.
/ Am very glad To be able 70 report the
finances Of the Department, in good cond.-
/ ton. On the first day Of January. 1893,
/ there vas cash on hand e. lsl 81; there
has since been received from PER capita
/ 'sx, 81 ,242.9s; charters, $40; interest,
! $40 30; sales of supplies, o sci; making
&
iarinz the same period we're for department
expense., s2.6l+ 10, and for purchases of
supplies 81 ,5g2 SO. leaving cash on hand
Jan t. 1880, 81 0ss 10. The expenditures
include the salaries. the expenses Of inspec
tion and other unpaid bill. Of l5ss Out
Of the cash now on hand there must be paid
the salaries and few unpaid bills Of 1883
/ II the salaries do not exceed those of
I less. after the payment Of all bills there
siil Be q cash balance 10 favor Of the Dc
| partment with which 10 commence the new
year. 10 justice to the assistant quarter
master general and as mater of interest
10 all the comrades, desire to call your at
teatioI 10 the supp : account The amount
/ Of supplies oa hand Jan. /, 1883, was
/ s523 81. During the year there was pur
/ chased supplies TO the amount of 1852 60,
making the total cost of supplies szD3l 81.
/ The sales during the same period amounted
! 10 1891 90, amt the supplies how On hani
s53s 10, nakiog the total S2jzs 10 and
Welding 10 the department net profit of
s437 ~. 10 view Of the probable increase
IL The sale of supplies which the holding
of the National Encsmpment at Boston
his year will make, thi. source Of revenue
( VIII undoubtedly be increased the coming
year.
The financial condition Of the posts ap-
pear equally satisfactory. Cash reported
on hand and in coilat-rais January |, 1889,
was s27 l3l 81 January /. 1890, s3l $50
90 Relief funds, January |, 1889. 81
235 10. January /, 1890, 81, $50, %. In
addition tn the cash o1 hand and in the re
lief funds, the posts report the value of
real estate belonging to the posts January
/, 1880 sl1,9i5.00, furniture, flags. etc,
Sls, 'b5.00, making the total property OF
the posts. sI7 2862o. While these state
ments show our posts in prosperous inan
cial condition, desire TO call your attention
10 the fact which is due to them and will be
gratifying TO you, that they have expended
IN cash alone for charity, 50 1888 g., the
largest amount ever expended in this De
partment IN one year
INSPECTION.
The twenty second National Encamp-
maut in 1883 changed the time for closing
the inspection from December 3 LIST to June
30th. 50 that now the report of the lnspec-
tor General represents the condition of the
departments up to June Both yearly The
inspection in this department was completed
Jan 10, l-s9, one month before the last
annual encampment. Under these circum-
stances | did not deem it wise to incur the
expense of another immediate inspection
and upon representation of the facts to the
commander -iu-C hief the department was
rci i from making another inspection
and the Department Inspector, Cumrsde
LYMAN W Hanson Was allowed to make
up his report from the last inspection
iIl not order an inspection at the close
of the year as has been usual, as it would
have left my successor in the same condi-
ton as the change had left me. trust that
you will concur in the wisdom of my action
in this matter. 1t seems to me that the
change by the National Encampment was
wise as it gives the condition of the depart
ments later than before, and allows the
department commander the opportunity to
order the inspection soon after he enters
upon his duties rather than when about
/ ready to retire, and is in keeping with mill
tary usage.
STATE LEGISLATION.
/ With great satisfaction call your atten-
I ton to the fact that the State legislation
recommended BY our last annual encamp-
ment, was generally enacted. The legisla-
ture Appropriated S60, 900 for the payment
Of State pensions for the year 1889 and
800 600 for 1890. This was an increase in
the aggre gate of SIS 900. There was also
Appropriated for the burial expenses of
destitute soldiers and sesmen for the wear
$3.50 81 800 and for 1890, 50 .000, an increase
OF $1,000. For the Bath Military and
Naval Asy lum the sum of s. 900 was sp-
prOprIatrd for 1889 and the same sum for
1890, an Increase of 81 900.
Tue legislature also enacted law pro-
hibitIng the supper, of dependant soldiers
or seaneH III the poor house, and requiring
them 70 he supported in their homes or in .
"su table place other than the poor house,
thus forever. trust, in Maine, outlawing
the poor house as home for soldiers and
seamau of the late war. For all this legis-
Iation SO generous and humane our thanks
are due 10 the legislature which enacted it.
And for the liberal increase in the amount
Of the appropriations for State pensions
which has proven great boom to our suf
ferine comrades. our thanks are due also to
Governor Burleigh who recommended it in
his annual message.
DEPARTMENT RECORDS.
Owing to the frequent change OF the
headquarters of the department and the
ordinary accidents of time the records of
the department are incomplete. think all
tie comrades will agree that these records
are so valuable that every precaution pos
sible should ba taken for their preserva-
ton. The existence of onr order will nee
essarily cease upon the death of the now
surviving soldiers and seamen of the late
war and it therefore has no power in it,
self to preserve its history beyond period
fast approaching its end. The records ard
history of the Grand Army of the Repub
lie must always be of interest to patriotic
men
Believing that the people of our State
are interested 10 the preservation of the
records of this department, and that the
Maine Historical Society would be suit
able custodian, on the 29ih of November
last | addressed letter to the president of
that society, asking If the society would
accept the custody of these records as fast
as they can be spared from the hesdquar-
tiers of the department from year to year
with view of the fiasl deposit of the en-
tire record. in the archives of the Maine
Historical Society for perpetual care. the
/ only reservation being the privilege of
access by the officers of the department
for the purposes of inspection and copy
! ing at such times as shall be reasonable
and hereafter TO be mutually agreed upon
between the officers of the two societies.
] In reply Hon. James L Baxter, President
OF the society, scknow lodging the receipt
of my letter. said, That the proposition
contained therein had been laid before the
standing committee of this society. and in
behalf of the society the committee have
voted to sccept the custody of the records