The National tribune., 1892-12-29

| 10 0ll
Women Of good moral character and correct de
portment, who have not given aid and comfort t
the enemies of the Union who would perpetual
the principles TO which this association stand
pledged, and who have attained the age OF 10 years
shall be eligible to membership in the Woman
Relief Corps.
REPORT OF NATIONAL COUNSELOR.
Following are additional opinions of Nationa
| Counselor Emma Stark Hampton, as reported Il
and adopted by 10th National Convention, Wash
ington. D. c.:
OPINION XVIII. FEB. 6, 1892.
Case.-Eight years ago Mrs. became charte
| member of Corps in October, and its first Senio
Vice. President. Oct. 81 of that year the Presiden
resigned. Annual election being go near. tn,
Corps decided not to elect President; ant
| Mrs. - as Senior Vice-President filled the chalI
Mrs. - was q candidate. but was defeated She
| has never been elected installed as President
She claims TO DO a Past President OF the Corps
| wears Past Presidents badge, has attended and
voted at every Department Convention since
claiming to have been appointed President OF the
| Corps by the Department. President This the
Department President then serving denies. No III
| feeling exists; but the Corps. having grown In
knowledge OF our laws and wanting to do what IL
to the above facts Ought the Department
officers 10 act in the matter in case the Corps faiIs
to do so? If no charges are preferred, sha she DC
allowed 10 sit and vote in Department Conven-
tions?
opnion.-Tbe President having resigned, q
vacancy was created, and should have been filled
laws on this have never been changed. Mrs. -
not having been elected, Is not entitled to wear
Past Presidents badge or to cit or vote In Depart
ment Convention as Past President.
There is no necessity for charges but the Depart
ment President must notify Mrs. -, through her
Corps President that she must return her Past
Presidents badge that she Is not a member OF
Department Convention as Past President ana
must not be 30 reported on election returns.
all IhE the na 70
were mutually in error. Both and all should unite
to correct it and uphold our laws. The Depart
ment and National officers are powerless.
OPINION XIX. FEB. 6, 1892.
Cnse.-At the first regular meeting of Corps,
were certain standing committees to appoint Mt
that time. The President replied she had not the
time and did not know the members well enough
present referred the President to Chap. H.. Art.
XII, Sect f., Rules and Regulations. and in
formed her the matter wa! not optional. but the
words were "shHil appoint" at such "a time Presi-
dent replied as before. What shall be done in
Opinion.-There is nothing in the presentation
of this case TO show whether the failure OF the
President 10 appoint committees was due TO lack
of interest or ignorance of the duties OF her Office.
Assuming the latter TO be the case, she 10 also
guilty of the former; for If elected at the first meet
Ing In December, there was no more than month
in which to prepare for the duties incumbent upon
President and become informed rs to the ability
of the various members The section Of Rules and
Regulations referred to by Department officer is
the rule, but Sec f., of Art. VI, same chapter,
provides remedy in case of failure to appoint,
and committees like officers. hold office until their
SUCCESSORS are appointed. BY her failure 10 APP
point committees she continues In office the APP
poiutees of her predecessor. More harm would.
in my opinion be possible to occur from the basty
appointment of committees to serve year than to
allow the old committees to hold over until the
next meeting of the Corps. Failure to appoint at
The ting after attention called 10 her
neglect of duty would make President amcnabe
to discipline according to Sec. paragraph 2 page
26. Rules and Observation-Disclosures Of Rules
and Regulations or OF lawful orders.
OPINION Xxx. FEB. g. 1892.
Questions Referred
Queetion-l What Is the limit of time in which
an appeal may be taken from decision rendered
by proper authority In the Womans Relief Corps?
Opinion.-The question of limiting the time of
appeal has never before arisen In the Woman's Re-
lief Corps. In common law, the time ranges from
20 10 30 days. 1t would be both just and wise to
establish limit of time: and after carefully con-
opinion that an appeal from a decision officially
rendered must be made within so days.
2. Where does an appeal end?
Opinion.-In National Convention Bee Chap.
W. Art. VI. Rules and Regulations.
9. Can n case decided by q National President be
reopened and investigated by q succeeding Ma
tiona President, without appeal having been made
to the National Convention?
Opinion.-No. az Chap ", Art. VI, Rules and
Regulations. provides that the decision OF n Ma
tiona President shall be final unless reversed by
the National Convention. Tho right Of appeal Is
only to the next higher authority.
4. Can nm appeal, having been acted upon by .
National Convention. be reopened and reviewed
by a subsequent National President?
Opinion.-Appeas carried to and acted upon by
q National Convention are beyond the Jurisdiction
OF and cannot be reviewed by National President,
unless by vote of Convention they be referred 10
the incoming National President. Cases passed
upon by the supreme body only be reopened
by petitioning said body In Convention assembled
to grant the privilege Of q rehearng stating good
and sufficient reasons therefor. The Convention
will then decide by vote II the be reopened
and again acted upon.
OPINION XXI FEB 10, 1892
Case--A Corps dsbanded and members failed to
request transfer cards within one year from that
come members of the Womans Relief Corps in
good ztanding7
Opnion.-From the case as stated assume the
parties were in good standing when the Corps dis
banded and If so entitled to transfers. The
fact that they did not receive transfers was not
their fault and therefore does not affect their pres
ent status; and the period for which transfer s
valid has expired, they are honorably discharged
from the Order exactly the same though they
must mako regular application though never
having been members. If they were in good
standing II WAS not necessary to request transfers
II being the duty Of the Department President and
her secretary to that they had them, as found
In Rules and Regulations, Chap. H.. Art. ". Sec.
g. which says such members shall receive transfer
cards. II the parties were not In good standing,
Opinion No. q rendered Sept 5, 1884, will cover the
case.
IT. h. trf