Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-09-22
The 26th Annual EnCamp-
ment in Session.
INDIANAPOLISWILl [ BE NEXT
Interesting Reports Showing the Sta
lasss2 tus of the Organization. sLs

Shoseh lToHl ttCu Oh lIc various ut-
partments, Others allotted on the basis OF
membership of the departments and Others
still members of the department by virtue
OF present or past Office In the national or
RaniZation
The encampment Is the legislative body
on congress of the order. II elects the
cOmmander-in-chief and other national
officers, receives their reports, reviews
their administration and outlines the
policy TO be followed by the Grand Army
acting IA unit.
Commanderin-Chie Palmer raped TO
order as he stood behind a large bass
drum for rostrum. glee club Of vet
Grams sang a song inviting the encamp-
ment TO Indianapolis next year
Commissioner Douglass Of the District
of~Columbia was introduced and read an
address Of welcome on behalf Of the citi-
zens Of Washington. The boys In blue
roundly applauded the commissioner, and
General Palmer, commander-in-chief.
stepped TO the big drum and made an sp-
propriate reply.
Two beautiful gavels were presented TO
Commander-in-C Palmer, one from
the citizens committee and the other by
his aides of the Department of the Poto-
mac
Commander-in-C Chief Palmer made his
address and the encampment Immediately
settled down TO business
AdJutant Generals Report.
The report of Adjutant General Phis-
terer begins with the statement that when
Commander-in-C Palmer assumed
office there was practically no funds on
hand TO carry on the business of the ad-
infant generals office, except 10000 in
United States bonds which 10 was not
deemed wise TO SELL and no income was
expected until after Dec. 81 last. Conse-
quently the most rigid economy was
necessary. The total expenditures OF his
Office during the fiscal year aggregated
sll,soO, and as the per capita tax of 2
cents per member produces an income of
but SSOOO, the adjutant general says that
the tax Is plainly insufficient and should
be at least cents per member per an
mum. He says that semi-annual returns
| from posts and departments are unneces-
sary and that annual reports will suffice
| He also calls the present inspection system
unsatisfactory and cumbersome and
thinks that the installing officer Of a post
| could also act as It's inspector A revision
| OF the present r,Sss and regulations il
! also recommended. The number Of per
sons entitled 90 seats at the encampment
Is stated at 1l4s, of which 453 are repre-
sentatives at large and apportioned accord
ing TO membership Dec. 81 last.
The adiutant general devotes page Of
his report TO history Of the events at
tending the refusal Of the officers Of the
| department. Of Louisiana and Mississippi
TO recognize - entitled to membership
nine colored posts duly organized and
chartered and recognized IA valid by Com
rades Alger and Veazey, preceding COM
manders-in-chiefs. During the last cal
endar year. rs shown by the report, there
was gain Of 229 in the number OF posts,
making the total number 1868 During
the calendar year there was n gain in
membership of q, ,40l; but the losses were
6G, lO9 leaving the number of members in
good standing Dec. 81 last, 4O7, ,7s1, an ap-
parent loss of l70S. This loss is said TO be
apparent, because in one department. it
was found that nearly 5000 had been added
without authority, and the returns previ-
ously made were Incorrect. 40 that there
was actually gain of about 100 In the
total strength Of the organization. Dur
ing the year the deaths numbered 6aOS.
honorably discharged, 1929; transfers, 946O;
suspensions, a,867; dishonorable dis
charges, 467; and delinquents, S,5S2.
Important Decisions.
J. O'Neill of Lebanon, Judge advocate
| general, in his annual report, gives a sum
mary of all the decisions rendered by him
during the year. He says that he believes
himself bound to give a strict construction
of the rules and regulations relating TO
qualifications TO membership in the Grand
Army. but that he was very 10th 20 reach
n conclusion that DR.. Jones' "who had
been appointed and served a. an acting
assistant surgeon in the United States
navy, and who, by reason Of sickness, be-
came disabled while In line Of duty, and
whose appointment was thereupon re-
voked," was not entitled TO membership
IN the Grand Army; but that after care-
lul examination of the law he became
satisfied that such persons are not con-
sidered navy officers, and have no rank,
precedence or grade. They are simply cit
liens employed under a special contract,
and are not enlisted.
Major Howe post No. ~. department of
Massa chusetts, voted to attend the na-
tional encampment at Detroit In 1881, and
seventy-four members did attend. When
they. returned, they found that twenty
eight comrades had met In their absence
The tudge advocate holds this meeting
void, rules that by vote Of the post IL WAS
NJ Detroit, and that this action sus pended
regular meetings.
" n Georgia case IL Is ruled that repre-
fertativcs 10 department encampment.
srrv, during the year commencing on the
first day of January following their cleo
~ IN December.
Phil Sh.ri, al post No. 4, department of
| ld,.ho, asked approval Of bylaw provid-
| ilg for AL associate membership. The
! Idge a1vocnte ruled that this il but an
O,her name for honorary membership, and
that there can be no honorary member
nip in the Grand Army.
Finances.
The annual report Of Quartermaster
General Taylor shows total expenditures
during the last year of s3O,2l6, leaving a
balance on hand Of s75ts. The amount re-
allied from the capita tax was Si8,05l, aud
from the sale Of supplies go, ,147.
Tho Death Roll.
r. i. Stevenson, surgeon general of the
Grand Army, In his report, complains that
many posts failed to make any sanitary
and mortuary returns. 30 that statistics