The National tribune., 1890-08-07
SONS OF VETERANS.
Headquarters CoMNANDERY-TS-CH CHEZ
Sons OF VETERANS, Il. =. A.
Room 3. STATE HOUSE.
lNnIANArOLTs INn- IuIN "a Isal

| %.
| To Division Coloncls. Sons OF Veterans Z. g A.
There has been considerable delay in the matter
OF the payment Of accounts due these Headquarters
| from a few Divisions for the set OF Division Rec
ords lately forwarded to the IIeadquarterz of tho
various Divisions with bill for same and one
Colonel has seen fit 10 question the authority OF
| or compel payment therefor.
The authority and duty of the COMMANDMENTS
| Chief TO prepare, designate and furnish both to
| Camps and Divisions ali necessary blank forms
| and books has heretofore been generally conceded
| No one conceding the right OF the COmmander-in-
Chief to prescribe forms Of blanks and books here
tofore used by Camps and Divisions ought to aues-
tiOn his authority 10 prescribe and compel the us,,
OF all blanks and books which, in his Judgment are
essential to the proper and systematic conduct OF
| the business of Division Headquarters Either the
Commander-iu-C Chief IL authorized to designate and
| compel the use of all blank forms and books used
by Divisions, or else he has not the authority to
designate and compel the use OF any TO hermit
each Division Colonel TO prepare and furnish at his
own option the blank forms and books which in
his judgment, seem best fitted for the business OF
his Division, would result in the printing of a sep-
arate form OF each blank and book for each Divi
sion. and each new Colonel would see wherein he
might improve upon the blanks aud books used
by his predecessor. There would be constant
| changing. Such chaos and confusion would be AN
irreparabe injury 10 the Order aud very expeu-
sive.
At the first annual Encampment of the Com
| manderyi Chief, held at Pitlsburg in ISs2 (see
Proceedings. page l6, Report of Council Chief
it was ordered that the CommRndery- Chief do
furnish all supplies nppcrtanng TO the Order the
price of which shall be fixed by the COmmandery.
in-Chief at price above the actual cost of manu-
factuTe."
On November l, 1883. (see page l5 Proceedings
second annual Encampment0 the Quartermaster-
General issued circular stating that lin accord
| Rnce with the recommendation OF the COunCil-in-
Chief at the recent National EnCampmeut all
supplies must be furnished from these HeadGuar-
ters, through the regular channels"
In 1884, at the third annual EnCRmpnent OF the
CommRndery -in-Chtef (page 81 OF Proceedings
thereof IL ordered that all supplies blank
forms badges etc, etc, be purchased direct from
the Commandery-in-Chiel, through the proper
channels"
In 1888, at the fourth annual Eneampmept of
the eCommandery-in-Chief tpage 20 of Proceedings)
the adoption of uniform set of books and blanks
TO be kept by officers of the several Grand Divis
ions, Divisions and Camps of our Order" was
recommended.
In 1856 at the session of the ffth annual En-
campment of the CommRndery in Chief page 40
Proceedings thereOf), IL was recommended in the
report of the QuaTtermaster- General and the re-
port approved, that the procuring of supplies
from any other source than the Commandery-tn-
Chief be made the subject of discipline"
Finally, page 40, Section s, Constitution Rules
and Regulations of ihe Order Ii Is said: Section
6-The Adjutaut General shall, under the direction
of the Commander-in-Chief,c carefully establish and
maintain suitable forms, and all sun
plies of whatever kind shall be furnished by the
Commanaery-in- Chief, through the proper chan
nes."
The foregoing references would seem to plaee
the authority of the Commander-in in Chief in this
instance, beyond dispute; but, to make assurance
douby sure, before preparing or printing the sets
OF Division Records in question, he was authorized
by the official vote of the Council In Chief to pre
pare the same, forward to Divisions, and compel
payment therefor. (See General Order No Z. Sc
ries $780, section o. The power aud authority of
the COMMANDMENT Chief in the premises Is there
fore ample aT Il his duty plain.
As to the eSpedienoy and necessity Of establish