The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-18
SONS OF VETERANS.
Address of the Commander n-Chief,
and the Adjutant-G Generals Report.

ADDRESS vi tllc CUIllnldHutl -lH-CHlol,
and the Adjutant-Ge Generals Report.
BROTHERS:
In presenting to you this report OF the admins
iraon of the affairs of our Order for the past year.
| cannot refrain from again expressing my appre.
citation of the high honor conferred upon me ana
the responsibilities attending thereon
In assuming the Office il was with q full reaza-
ton that the glorious records OF my predecessors
made even more difficult the task Of satisfactorily
performing its duties If / have been enabled TO do
anything to strengthen tho bonds of friendship. to
enlarge our charity, and To Increase our loyalty.
will feel that the confidence reposed III me by my
brothers has not been entirely without foundation
IF the abors of your officers during the past year
have resulted in improving the business methods
and financial condition of the Order and in placing
ii upon a firmer and more reliable basis by wedding
out dead Camps and closing up the ranks, they
will feel that their efforts have not been in vain.
and that the future development of the Order VIII
attest the wisdom of their action.
Believing. however. that in this report no at
tempt should be made at rhetorical display, pro-
pose to state as briefly possible, such facts re-
ntng to the administration of the Office during The
past year are of special interest, ana to make
such suggestions deemed TO be advantageous
TO the future welfare and continued prosperity OF
our beloved Order. -
] assumed command Of the Order Aug. -. 1871
Broadway, New York City, Sept. ], 1891, and the
property of the Communicating Chief WAS received
at Headquarters Sept. 30, 1891.
RECORDS.
All the records kept by my predecessors have
been continued and some new methods and books
have been adopted by the Adjutant- General and the
Quarermas.er-G General in their respective depart
mens. which will be found fully set forth in their
reports and the recommendations made by SAID
officers heartily approved.
CoURTs-sIARTIAL.
am pleased to report that only 13 court martial
proceedings were received by me, a much less
number than were acted upon by any previous al
ministration of which record can be found In All
they referred to the Judge Advocate
General for his opinion and copies OF all his opn-
ions and ali the decisions Of the Communicating
Chief hereto annexed. also opinions Is to 3D.
inclusive, of Judge Acknowledgement Weeks,
which were net printed in the Report of the Pro-
ceedings Of the l0ti: Annual Encampnent.
OFFICIAL VISITS.
Tho necessity of a careful attention to the many
details of the work at Headquarters. together with
my other official duties and the conflicting dates
selected for many of the Division Encampments.
rendered it impossible for me to make as many
official visits as desired. but have endeavored to
keep in touch with the various Divisions by fire.
quent correspondence with their Divison Com
of the COMMANDMENTS Chief to Division Encamp-
ments are always productive OF good results. feel
that the energy and ability OF the commencing ing
sufficiently kept alive the enthusiasm OF our mem
bers, and that the saving in travelling expenses
caused In part by the inability Of the Gommanaer
me of the pleasure of meeting the brothers OF the
various Divisions. will largely compensate for the
loss of such benefit by making IT possible to turn
the Order to my nearly, If not quite
out Of debt.
SONS OF VETERANS GUARDS.
The action Of the last Encampment in creating
Military Rank to be known as the Sons OF Vet
Grams Guards and directing the appointment OF q
Com .nandaut and Advisory Board to organize and
establish the same and to report to this Encamp-
ment was very important event In the history OF
nrlor ov,If tn "a
officers will detail fully the work that has been ac-
complished.
In considering this subject certain facts must not
be lost sight OF. The committee having in charge
this important work, realizing fully the evils tnnt
might follow hasty action, devoted considerable
time to the careful preparation OF tie details OF Or
ganizing this new branch in Order, and as re-
suit the official circular giving the particulars for the
formation OF companies ETC., was not issued until
the latter part of October They also labored under
the arising from the uncertainty as to
whether the Military Rank would be continued by
this Encampment, there being very general ieei-
ing throughout the Order that 1t might be 30 mod
flied by subsequent legislation that the expenditure
of time and money by those who had joined the
Military Rank would be virtually lost.
The depart ure from the old customs and methods
comiug at the same time as the changes in the
titles of Camp officers made 1t difficult to convey to
the Order at large correct understanding OF the
exact situation aud of the objects sought to be &C
conpiisted, and those who were originally opposed
to tile movement we'll as those who were desirous
Of preserving the use Of the military titles OF all
officers appear to have made common cause not
only within the Order, but through the medium OF
newspaper articles, for the purpose OF increasing
the nsunde. standing and nagnifying the feeling
Notwithstanding these difficulties substantial
progress has been made, and, considering that the
Military Rank has had but few months OF trial.
the results have been very satisfactory.
Although IL Is quite possible that the Sons OF
Veterans Guards will not accomplish all that we
desire in strengthening our Order, and although 1t
will undoubtedly be also necessary to make changes
in our Ritual, from all the information that have
been able to obtain am satisfied that the organ
ization of the Sons of Veterans Guards has proven
Recommendation No. L. therefore recommend
tina. the Military Rank be continued as the Sons
of Veterans Guards" are now organized, until the
next National Eacampment, and that the sum of
$500 be appropriated for the purpose OF said organ
iZation.
RITUAL.
The proposed new Ritual as adopted at the last
Encam pment was published and submitted to
every Camp in the Order for the test OF practical
were forwarded to the committee whose report
will be presented to you Tor action.
CONSTITUTION, RULES AND REGULATIONS.
One of the provisions Of the new Constitution re.
quired the publication, quarterly. In General
Orders of a detailed report of the Quartermaster-
General showing the receipts and expenditures for
the preceding quarter together with the cash value
OF all supplies hand, and in addition to this re-
mort there has been published quarterly, during
The past year as it could be prepared by
the Adiutan General, consolidation Of the reports
q. the Division AdJutantS, winch am Satlsned mas
been Of great benefit by showing throughout the
wear tie actual condition of the Order.
Recommendation No. g. therefore recommend
tina, Sec. g. Art. w., Chap. w.; G. X. u r., be
amended 80 that the last sentence thereof shall
read as follows: " He shall consolidate the reports
of Division Adjutrnts. which consolidation shall
be published quarterly I'm General Orders, and lie
shall prepare roll Of all members of the Com
mandery In Chief who are entitled to vote there
inn
Prior to the adoption of the new Constitution,
Division Adju.ants and Quartermasters were
in Chief headquarters within 80 days after the
pira,jon of the quarterly Term. This period how
ever was extended to 90 days by changes made III
Sections 2 and + of Article H., Chapter ", al
though Divisions still required TO forward
t:ieir per capita within SO days Sec Art. ILL.,
Char w and 10 make final settlement with the
Quarernas.er General ut least IA days prior to the
sta. ed meeting of the Counc-inChief
The extension of time fer Division Officers to
forward their reports does not seem to have pro-
duced any beneficial results For the quarter
ending Sept. 80, 1891 five reports were forwarded
Within 80 days, IL more within 60 days. and the
officers of IA Divisions took from 60 to l5l days to
forward their reports. For the quarter ending
Dec 81 1891, 10 Divisions forwarded their reports
wjthin tie Constitutional limit OF time, and the
officers OF Fl Divisions apparently suited their own
convenience, the last report not being received UNI
Ill Argi! Is, 1852. For the quarter ending March
ST. 1897 nine reports we're received in time aud ~
were delayed bcyond the period fixed ny law. the
last report being received Juiy ~ ISvZ or nearly
four months after the close of the quarter.
The early date fixed for this Encampment made