The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-08
THE RANKS THINNING
Annual Encampment Of the
G. A. R. Convened At
Trenton Today.
DEATHS CLAIM THE PAST YEAR
One Hu ndred and Sixty-nine Vet
Grams Joined the Silent Major
ity-The Reports.
Special to the Je,sey City Netus.


seventh annual encampment of the Depart
ment of New Jersey GAR. opened herr
today with a large attendance, OF veterans.
The session will last two days, and the chief
interest centres in the election of DEPART
ment Commander. The candidates for this
office are:-James Bird of Asbury Park,
Henry S. White of Red Bank, Jacob White
OF Paterson, and John Shields OF Fleming
ton.
Besides the election, there will be a num-
Der of important questions considered
among which will be the following:
The Commander-in-Chie of G.. A. X
under date of January II, 1894, i'll General
Orders No. A. Article 4, issued the following,
viz:
By resolution passed by the Twenty
seventh National Encampment, the Com,
mander-in-C Chief was instructed to request
Grand Army Posts to hold proper services on
Washington's Birthday.
In obedience to the above posts are re
quested to hold such services. While nc
particular form is prescribed, the Commander
in Chief would suggest that they be of a
patriotic nature; that an address IN the life
and character of Washington be delivered,
in order that all may better understand the
LOYALTY and the devotion of the Father OF MS
Country in the war for the independence OF
the United States, and showing that the men
who saved the nation are not unmlndtul OF
IH6 SACRIFICES u UllOSG WIN SaNO "a ~ =
would also suggest that as far as possible the
exercises be public, and that citizens, espeel-
ally the scholars of the public schools be
invited to attend and if practicable take part
in the exercises. =,
The most important question of all will
be the admission of the Sons OF veterans
into the Grand Army.
Relative to this question it may be said
that under the present constitution OF the
order the membership must necessarily Ole
out. and that it has been proposed to trans
fer the rights and ritual OF the Grand Army
to the Sons of Veterans, and make the order
a perpetual one like the Loyal Legion and
the Order of Cincinnatus.
HARTSHORNE'S REPORT.
Commander Hartshorne, In his report,
ssIn the strength of the Department, as
compared with a year ago, it has not been
nv good fortune to increase 1t either by
posts or membership. In fact, as VIII be
seen by the reports, there is a decrease in
both. But when we consider it is twenty
eight years since the wal closed, and twenty
seven wears since the foundation OF this
organization was laid, nearly all have gotten
beyond the meridian OF life, so that while the
will and interest is there, the vitality IS gone.
But there are many who, by a little effort on
the part of the posts and comrades, can be
reclaimed from the suspended list, and many
who nave never joined our ranks should be
induced to do so.o
A Loss IN
The report of Adjutant General Barrett is
very interesting. 1t is as as follows
.sOn taking charge of this branch OF the
department I found it to consist OF 116 posts,
with 1880 members in good standing, and on
December 81, 1893. we have lis posts with
7511 members in good standing, making q
net loss for the year of one post and 3l9
members.
ssThere are S4S members standing sus-
pended, against 643 last year, being 2O5 In
excess of the last report. This should not
be; steps should be taken to create an inter
est in the order, and only those who are able
to pay their dues and will not do so, should
be suspended or dropped from the rolls.
I'VE have lost one post during the year.
Craven Post No. 81, of Bonnd Brook, sur
rendered its charter April l, 1893.
ssThere has been expended for relief by the
posts of this department S11, l44.B during
the year, against $9,302.36 last year, which
is an increase of $1,S42.G7 over the last re-
port.
Last year the amount Of cash reported on
hand was $1,977. 90, in which was included
the Stephenson fund of S14.00 and the
An~dersonville fund of 5000, leaving an actual
available balance of 81, 754.09. This year we
have a balance of 1,772.30, being 1921 more
than last year. Taking into consideration
our heavy suspension list, the hard time, and
suspended pensions, with the increase in the
national per capita tax, n the fact that a
United States flag has been brought and
paid for at a cost of $72, for flag and box, l
think your administration is to be con2ratu-
lated upon the economical and business-ike
principles under which it has been con
Quoted.
ssConsolidated reports of the receipts and
disbursements of the general and relief
funds of the department for the year 1885,
General Fund-Balance on hand Decem-
Der 81, 1892, SIG, $50. 50; receipts from all
sources, $45, 962. SO. Total, S62, 932. 81.
.sDisbursements-Per capita tax-two
terms, 81. 1912: i~ncidentals, $34,547.35; &C
tually expended, S36,67S.77. Total balance
in general fund, $26, 1885,.
ssRelief F~und-Balance on hand December
81, 1892, $39,212.02; by transfer from post
funds, $3,540.0S; by receipt from other
sources, S7,172.2S; total receipts, $40, III. 96.
aggregate, S50,024.gS.
ssDisbursements-Paid for relief, $7,S12.30;
balance on hand, $42,312.59 {.
tActually Expended for R~elief-From re-
lief funds as above, $7,712.37; from post
funds mot reported in relief fund, $3.50. IL
Total, $40, S98.51.
Financial Standing of Department, De
ccslber 81, 1S93-Balance in post funds, $780,
252. so: balance in relief funds, S42,312.59; n
vested in collaterals, S11, 757. so; invested il
real estate, $23,053; invested in furniture
ldESs &O15OuOsoIs 1ObCi
valuation, $155, 237.25."
THE SOLDIERS HoME.
The statement of Department Inspector
William B.. Haines is as follows:-
.sNumber of posts in the department., 115
number of posts reporting, ia: number Of
members reported. 1856; number of musketS
owned by posts, S74; number of posts who's
records are complete and well kept, ia
namber of posts having relief fund, II
amount in relief fund, $50 $40. 80; amount
expended for relief from December /, 1892
to December 1, 1893, $S,84S.63; money il
hands of quaftermasters and relief funds
S77, 200. IS; number of posts reporting w. r
c., 81; number of posts reporting ladies OF
camps of Sons of Veterans, 80; of 79S schoo
districts reported, us nave United State.
flags.
ssThe last and Seventeenth Regular An
nuaI Inspection of the New Jersey Soldiers
Home. occurred November IA, 1898. AnC
the detail were assisted on that occasion by
the following named gentlemen:-Seniol
Vice Commander James Fl. Bird, Junior
Vice Commander William M. Branson, As
sistant Quartermaster General j. j. Kents
Department Chaplain Charles Z. Hill, In
spector w. P. Haines; and of Council OF Ad
ministration, w. FL. Smith and u. w
Moore.
s.During the past fiscal year. or up. K
October 81. 1898, the aggregate OF beneficlar
es was $40, and the average per day 40.
ssOn the dav of our inspection there wers
400 in patients SO called, and "a out pa
tients.
1.-THE number of deaths during the pas
year was 40; and that figure varies bui
Slightly from the general average of deaths
in the institution during the past six year.