The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-08-06

9
or servo n Tho absence OF either. The delin-
Qnonclos from which the whole Order suffers,
and whith cut 0uch figure in the periodical
statements aud returns, can almost invariably
b. traced 10 the failure on the part of Post
Qualt ltDrmnsters 20 collect the dues each and
every period, while the amount is small and
easily paid by almost every c0mrade Once
allowed 10 pass, ii is soon impossible to collect
what bias become a comparatively large sum-
and the worthy comrado, who never intended
10 forfeit Ibis membership is dropped for non
payment OF dues and lost 10 the Order.
DEPARTMENTS.
Departments do the best which have fixed
Headquarters aud the same Assistant Adiutant-
General lor q term OF years. The responsibility
OF The coud ition OF a Department rests largely
on ih officer The growth and stability OF the
Order would be greatly promoted by permanent
location OF the Office and longer tenure Of the
officer Many large Departments have adopted
this policy and ID Viii help the smaller ones
even more in proportion. The Adjutaut-
Generals Office and that Of each Assistant
Adiutsnt-Genea should be fixed like that Of
the Poet Adjutaut, If the best results arc 10 be
obtained,
ID may be out OF place in mere summary OF
official work but permit me to state that in
some Departments the change in location OF
Assistant Adiutant.Genera and the resumption
of hnsinps. and communication with this Office
took aluut four weeks. This occurring all
along rom january 10 May causes gaps IN cor
respoudenra hard 10 Oh and suspension OF the
receipt of orders from the COmmaBder-ln-ChiCf
by the Posts, no matter how vital and impor-
tant fhoy may be, and works harm Of all sorts.
This Order Is not at its summit IN point OF
memNef- some OF the evils j have hlntod at
are reuirlIed. Ii can aud should be made to
reach "a membership Of 60o GOO or 100000, but
this mn,t bc done within five wears il eyer j
believe with work aud proper organization il
is quite possible, there being over 100000 old
soldiers now living.
The department Encampmcuts being held
iH $50 nnuv different months from January 10
May make the work aud care much greater at
HmlunHrt1rs than IL these Lucampments were
hci0, say. al within two months, and the
changes incident thereto occurring at about
the same time.
OFFICE WORK.
Orders and circulars issued, 80; copies dis
trbuiad, Including Decatur, Detroit and War
Department matter Sent these Headquarters
for circulation. about 6j0OO0; letters received
ana sclit including mime0graph circulars H.
CO..; commissions issued, 500; special orders
issued. 20.
The labor attending the administration OF
fhe AaiutHnt Generals Office cannot be ex-
prcs by giving the number OF letters re-
ceyed or answered or The number of pieces Of
mail matter handled. From one cause or an
other notably the death OF a large number Of
our distinguish comrades aud other special
matters voted and entailed upon Us by preced-
Ing EHcampmonts the number or orders has
increased, and as you held that all members of
the National Eucampment were entitled 10 re-
ceye a copy of all publications direct from this
Office, The number of each issue has also been
somewhat increased over that Of former years.
This nattcr ID properly distributed BY al the
departments and carefully read by Post officers
20 thcrnmgHdes cannot but have made some
impression for good upon them. j am led 10
believe, however, that in some Departments
AID many Posts, more or less negligence At
tends the distribution OF matter from Head
quarters ia is needless 10 say IL Is prepared
with some care aud cost and should be promptly
sent 10 reach IN the end all the comrades,
90 they Nli know that this Office is doing effect
uaily the work for which il il maintained
Needless expense sometimes results from
hnsty legislation. For instance, two years ago
new ritual was voted. The next year the old
ritual was restored. This cost the Order in
round numbers about $1,000.
The legitimate needs of the Order are many
and musi be wisely aud fully met for It's high
est success The suggestion has come from
many sources that the Order should soon begin
20 pfoglHc d sinking fund 10 meet the emergen-
cies 81 ola ago with its diminishing member
ship aud dues. This is worthy Of considera-
tion.
Tie migratory character OF this Office Is
nece-5n;iiy fatal 10 any pormaneI.t accumula-
tion oi valuable books OF reference, etu. have,
however The present year secured full set OF
the Volunteer Army RsEisteT, giving the mus
ter-0ui roll 0f the commissioned officers ofevery
volunteer regiment serving duriRE she WAT Of
The rrfeliion, aud Lave had them bound Tor
preservation. ! lave Rlss soORFsd Rbd had
bound ntarig al the JeHTnals % tbe Depart
ment Lncampmeuts for I--- 1853 and Is99,
hnd harc many of bhs papST copies u 1891. ID
has feeHlfed n0ta little sorTespoRSsHC ~ 10 effect
tins. ahd from several Departments no copies
0i tIeiT General Orders or other printed matter
were received here until after repeated re-
qur,ia.
By direction Of the Executive Committee
have arranged al the matter coming into ny
hanns Uiih view 10 jos being more easily
transported, boxing each years papora seps-
rate.E end labelling aud nun bcIing the boxes 30
that those not neslod daily may bs stored.
have alsn exchanged a. old deck aud typewriter
Tor q new one upon very advantageous terms
1pAFr al-0 purchased q mim60gnph which has
ayed tDofe than its cost IN printiug, aud also
Nenabes thc Office " ssus circular letters, etc,
thht lt i5 sometimes not desirable 70 print
ROLL or EsC2MrEEET.
The 15iA National Encampmeut will be COM
posed aa follows:
National BthcrrE.. ....... N
Mrnibrrs nf tic Council ~ Almiuiatrntion AZ
lhel Nhti"iit tlilie1rh' -
Department DliiceFf ........ .... 1TG
Pa-i Department Commander n .............. $50
Representatives az large and hpport0ned- 45l
Total..............--.......................IIo5 Io5
NOgI--N -Nacancy--Ol.lhhoma a. De nIled and this
Lnctmpuient viii elect the fret member OF the
--NHl'.a. - N''a,'',n % % hamlniHira alton for The De