The National tribune., 1894-05-10
DEPARTMENT NEWS.
CALIFORNIA;

CALIFORNIA
Sam Kutz, Los Angeles, Commander OF the
| Southern California Encampment Association,
announces that the seventh annual Encamp-
| ment will be held at Santa Monica, commenc-
ing July % and lasting 10 days. All comrades,
members of the W.R.C. and S. of v, with their
| families have been invited. The citizens OF
Santa Monica have very generously contributed
a beautiful camp ground five acres in area,
which is laid out in avenues and walks, shaded
by immense eucalyptus and cypress trees, and
which will be lighted at night by electricity.
] They have also made other substantial dona-
| tions, including a cash fund of generous pro-
| portions, and with open hands and kind hearts
| have bid all a hospitable welcome, coupled with
assurances that no effort will be spared on their
! part to make the visit enjoyable one. 1t is
! desirable that the people attending the camp
! from each locality should have tents close to-
gether, and to this end it is requested that each
| Post Corps and Camp will forward to these
| Headquarters not later than July l, a state
ment of the number of tents they wish to rent
and the number of private tents they will bring
with them with the sizes of the latter, in order
that sufficient ground may be assigned them
by the Quartermaster. This is important and
should not be neglected. The tents for rent
will be IL feet by IA feet put up ready for oc-
cupancy, and will be rented at SD each tent Tor
the term of the Encampment. Each day and
evening of the Camp there will be program
of exercises besides which will be steamboat
excursions to Catalina Island and excursions
| by rail to Redondo Beach, the Soldiers Home
and other points of interest 1t is expected
that the new steel coast defense vessel Monte
rey will be at anchor in the harbor during the
camp so that we may have chance to visit
and personally inspect one of Uncle Sans new
war-ships Gen. Adams, Commander-in-Chlef
the Department Commander, and their stats,
will also be present and add to the interest of
the occasion.
Inspector Henry S. Smith, of this Depart
ment, served in Co. L. Sd Mass. HI. A. He also
served in the Engineer Corps after the close of
the war. He is now a member of Lyons Post,
Oakland and has held many offices in the Post.
ILLINOIS,
Gen. George Crook Post, 81, Kirkwood-
CON-, J. F. Hess; S. V. c., George Abbey; J.V.
C., Geo. Winebright; Surg, A. P Nelson;
Chap, d. S. Sterett; @. NJ. c. A. armichael;
o. D., W. H. Hartwell; o. g., J. E. Wilett;
Adjt, J. S. Glover; @. NJ. S., J. !. Shauman; S.
NJ, J. M. Hogue.
LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI
The annual Encampment of this Department
convened at New Orleans on April "a. Com
mander Charles H. Shute called the Encamp-
ment to order after which the report of the
Committee on Credentials was read, and adopt
ed. as recommended by the committee.
Five new Posts have been organized in this
Department during the past year, With men,
bership of 147. The membership, as shown by
the report of the Assistant Adjutant-General,
has increased 1T. The total now is 1,443 COM
rades.
The report of the Assistant Quartermaster-
General shows receipts, including balance from
last year, to have been $l,174.57, and expenses
$92S.49; balance in the treasury, $246.0S The
report shows that $1211.20 has been spent in
aiding soldiers, sailors, and their widows and
orphans.
In regard to pensions, the Commander said:
=" In the adjudication of this immense number
of claims, even with the care and scrutiny
which is exercised by the officers of the Pen
sion Bureau, it is hardly to be expected that an
occasional unworthy claim would not be allow
ed and yet we declare that even if such be the
case it is no justification for depriving worthy
and deserving men of their adjudicated rights
without first proving that they were unjustly
obtained. The voice of the Grand Army of
the Republic is for maintaining the pension roll
as roll of honor. and for the punishment of
any who may have been proven guilty of fraud
in diverting into unworthy channels the
stream which is intended to help the needy
and deserving. But we protest against any
course of official action or the incubation Of
public sentiment which lays every pensioner
under suspicion"
Commander Shute was nominated for Depart
ment Commander, but declined. Col. Charles
w. Heating was then nominated, and was elect
ed by reclamation. The remainder of the
officers were chosen as follows: S. Y. c., Thos.
L. Macvay; J. V. c., George r. Washington,
Of Post "a. Natchez. Miss; Chap. Chas. Will
liams, of New Orleans Post; Medical Director,
DIR. J. b. Vandergrif. of Joseph A. Mower
Post, ], New Orleans F. S. Stoddard. J.. Nor
gan. E. Gaudens, Anthony Drayton, and George
9. johnson were elected as members of the
Council of Administration.
Department Commander-elect Chas. w. Keat-
ing announced his Department staff, who were
installed, as follows: Asst Adj't Gen, E. II.
Wheeler; Asst @. M.-Gen., E. 5. Stoddard De-
Partment Inspector. A. s. Badger; Judge-Advo-
cate, n. A. Anderson; Chief Mastering Officer,
f. &. Antoine.