The National tribune., 1891-05-14
OHIO CONVENTION.

The eighth annual Convention. Department Of
Ohio w.RC-, assembled at Sleubenville. o.. April
% 20 and 20 and was large and notable gathering
Department President Ada T. Clarke presiding.
Very able reports OF highly-successful year were
presented; synopsis i herewith given in lieu Of
report Of proceedings not yet received. The Presi-
dents address was an able summary OF an i'm
pOrtant year during which 81 Corps were insti-
tuted and three reOTgauized. The present Corps
roster i 32i, with n membership OF l.99i. Ex-
tracts OF general financial interest are herewith
selected from the Department Presidents address:
MORE CARE IN BUSINESS AFFAIRS.
"The former Trea-urer'- report indicated cash
balance in general fund Of 81 $500, and n supple
mental statement adds SliTlO To- that amount,
making Mt close Of Convention Sl4i6.I2 in general
fund. In the supplemental statement Of di-burse-
ments you will find expended SsTijf from that
amount, leaving in general fund when we received
u Sj1l5S. Pursuant TO vote Of Convention the fo-
lowing amounts were disbursei: A transfer Of
500 To the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Home fund .
50 to Phil kearuey Post Of Richmond, for Me-
mortal Day, aud sI275 for Par-Ou Drury's me-
mortal the total being s%}775, thus leaving for pur
chase OF Corps supplies books and stationary
s&i3S}. Considering the immediate amount in
general fund after observing the vote OF COuven-
ton, mud that no administration previous com
menced work with sum small. Many will
likely observe that lose sight OF the fact that
revenue was largely increased by an Increase Of
per capita TO nine cents per member thus Welding
an amount each quarter of two cents more than
last year. but this we propose To consider. Adding
makes total Of sos and this has yielded NJ two
cents per member SJlItO. Years previous National
delegates assumed their own expense, and Corps
bore expense OF inspection, but the seventh Con-
ventiOn ordered that appropriation Of $50 be
made for each delegate, aud that Department pny
Inspection. Inspection cost Sil9.1i, aud payment
Of delegates $50 ths not including expense Of
ecutivc Oficer-l, these two special disbursements
amounting 20 sNjJ5t Dedueting this from the in
creased per capita revenue aud the remaining
balance Is S7i56. This review proves that greater
care should be exercised in business affairs.
The heavy disbursements Of the. second ami third
quarters exhausted our general fund, leaving Us
with Un OverdrHit Of S2lIfJ. My prediction that
the attempt was hazardous has been verified. and
hope that all future administrations may be re-
lieycd 81 the financial embtrTs--ments that we
were called 10 experience. With tle exercise Of
caro- Ia current Expense tile last quarter able
to present cash balance IN general fund Of Sgj2 a.
OHIO'5 BUSINESS SYSTEM.
although we have passed the stage Of Infancy
IN our affairs. yet ~ business methods we lack de-
sired uniformity. For three years previous to this
the Department Secretary was required to enter
cash receipts and then place Ia hands Of the Treas
ufeT. felt that neither rule policy suggested
continuance Of ihis method, and with good au-
thoTIIy for 20 doing the present system adopt
eel After bills have my approval the Secretary
draws an order for payment. These bills are num-
bered cousecatively, and with the stub duplicate
OF orders are Sccrctarys files the bills standing
a. vouchers for orders drawn. When orders have
approval they pass 70 the Treasurer she 10 dis
buTse as they direct. and to require for each u
receipt IN regular form, and these, with the OrGeTs
OF the year. and it, correctness will not be ques-
toned II the method Of large corporations. OF
township aud State constitutions, are studied and
understood. Judge Advocate ID. r. Austin and
ON. Gen. w. W. Ac1rn have substituted our
belief that this is correct. Desiring uniformity,
and having found la practice this method is both
simple Eud correct, recommend that il be con-
tinued and that Ital-o be recommended % National
Convention 10 become the uniform method Of all
Departments
From the Department Presidents address we
learn the welcome intelligence that Ohio held no
Court OF Inquiry last year. and that never before
has there been So much done in local, State and
National relief The work Of inspection. directed
10y Department Inspector Mary g.. Wentzel, was
commended a. thorough and well performed. The
district meetings 40 Cleveland. Van Vert, Piqua,
Mansfield, BeilefOutaine. &cnia, FOstOra, CincIn-
natl, Napoleon. and Nj. Gilead were productive OF
good 10 the Order Christmas nj the Ohio Soldiers
aud sailors Orphans Home was dwelt upon and
Gen. q. l.. Young, Superintendent, and WIFE Cora
Day Young, compIimenled for their "studiOus.
wntChful management 81 the children under their
care donation Of hospital supplies by Ohio
Corps To the Ohio Soldiers mud Sailors Home,
S1ndusky, amounted. on y cash valuation, 20 over
Sl2Jl. Cn-h contributions considerably sweiled
we -un. the expenditures Tor the Home reaching
Sl.=isi. 10 was recommended that the Corps fur
ni-h hlgs. pictures, emblems, song books. and
atornmehis to the new GAR. hall about 10 be
opened NJ the Home
For tile National Relief Corps Home Ohio Corps
the past year contributed SJ-gGO ia supplies which
added TO cash contributed and forwarded the Va
u"nhI treasurer, mukcs Ohio'- gilt to the Home
Tor the year just closed 81 $50 20 Tie $4,000 ap-
preparation TO build and furnish the Ohio cottage
AZ tie Home was mentioned; the Relief Corps
members OF the Board Of Management being Ada
i. Clarke, Canton; Puma l. COwles, Geneva;
Margaret A. Beall, Marion.
Louise ". Roland Chairman, Department Relief
Committee, WAS commended for q prompt will
ingness 90 attend 10 every detail in administering
wisely" Corps were urged To swell the Lucy
Webb Hayes memorial fund, and place her pOr-
trait ~ the drawing-TOOm Of the Ohio Soldiers and
Sailors Orphan Home, Of which she the pro-
jactDr. The staff officers Of the Department were
commended for their answering fidelity to the
administration, aud Department Commander
Bowling and staff warmly thanked for uniform
courtesy throughout the year.
Recommendations:
First-That per capita be reduced 10 seven cents
Secpnd-IhIt the delegates Of this Department TO
the National Convention request that cost of Corps
supplies be lezSened.
ihiTd-That delegates also be instructed TO favor
the adjustment Of ritual cards.
Fourth-IEat this Department send Memorial
donation To Phil kegruy Post, Of Richmond.
FHth-Inat we pay, - formerly, the expense Of
Department President and Secretary to National
Convention, bat not If delegates.
SiXtI-Ihat Corps resume the cost OF inspection.
Scveuth-Ihut $50 be transferred TO lie Sanju-Sy
fund and that three per CENT Of receipts Of each
quarter be - transferred.
Eighti-That $40 be transferred 10 Department
relief fund quarterly.
Ninth-That delegates be instructed 10 favor the
payment OF postage on National journals By the
National treasury.
A synopsis az the Secretary (Alice " Rex) re-
port shows the membership ia Ohio at date Of Con-
yentiOu TO have been II, y9l; cash expended for
relief, SlO93; relief other than money $780,. 10;
number Of members and their fimil IS assisted,
tj5; number soldiers and their families assisted
AIS; money turned over 10 Posts, g 6Oi.63
Department Treasurer Emma +. Rooms reported
rs follows:
Received, General fund g, Isl q
Department Relief fund ........... 295 81
Nat md < %