The National tribune., 1894-09-13
Members.

especially looking at it from one years
experience as Adjutani-General, and
after many years active interest in the
Order, of great interest. / am firmly
convinced that the Rules and Regula-
tions are not lived up to in the matter
of the suspension and dropping of MEM
bers. Cases are not rare where Posts,
with a questionable feeling of charity,
have declined to suspend or drop COM
rades, or even to remit their dues; and
so they have gone on for years, in many
cases, until the burden of accumulated
dues has become too great and member
ship ceases.
/ am confident that the same difficulty
has existed too long, and still exists, as
to Posts in many Departments; and if
delinquent or sleeping Posts were follow
ed up more closely it would give us a
stronger and more honest membership.
There are departments in our organiza-
ton where from 20 per cent. to 30 per
cent of the Posts are hung up or delin-
quent 1t is for this reason that have
added to the first table column giving
number of Posts chartered.
Why should we assume what we are
not, or walk on stills? Let us get as
near the earth and facts as possible, and
insist upon it that the rules shall be lived
up to. If this were done there would be
no delinquent comrades, Posts or Depart
ments Asst is now, the Adjutant-G General
has to practically fight for reports from
some Departments others are prompt,
and pride themselves on it. ! am con-
WINGED now more firmly than ever that
the two things that bring the best results
to Departments are permanent Head
quarters and frst-class Assistant Adju-
tant-General, continuous In office. The
same rule in Posts as to certain Off
GERS is undoubtedly beneficial, especi-
ally the retention Of Adjutants and
Quartermasters. Why should not the
same rules apply here as in business?
Certainly bank, or corporation, or firm
would not think of taking new cashiers,
clerks and other responsible employees
each year. This question of retention of
competent Post and Department officers
is best illustrated by the fact that reports
or acquisitions are seldom, if ever, re-
turned for correction to such Depart
ments, while on the other hand official
papers are seldom correct, and have to
go back sometimes more than once un-
less, perchance, an old incumbent of the
Office is recalled.
There appears to be a growing feeling
among the comrades that each and
every one of them can appeal direct to
National Headquarters and obtain an
opinion OF an Interpretation on any dis
puted point, when in most cases they
would find an answer TO their inquiry
in Rules and Regulations or the Blue
Book, or by inquiring of their Post or
Department officers.
In connection with this matter of
Office work, | am decidedly of the opin-
ion that there should be revision in
our
SYSTEM AND FORMS OF REPORTS.
1t is evident that certain of the
present blanks are not understood.
especially Forms A, B, c and d, by
new Post and Department officers.
This, ] think, could be remedied by the
issuance of instructions for the making
of reports. From one-quarter to one
half of the Departments [and believe
lhe same proportion holds good in Posts)
do not report or commence their reports
with the same Number in good stand
ing last report" even though the same
Posts are reported. When inquir-- is
made regarding this we are informed
THAI there was an error in previous re-
ports
Many officers get mixed in the mat
tero reinstatement and "reinstate-
ment from delinquent reports" both as
TO "gains and losses" A very COM
mon error in this respect is for a De-
partment to report Posts as having
gained or lost from one to 10, or per-
haps 20, comrades by delinquent re-
port" while the Post makes its reports
promptly, and the actual gain or loss is
from some other cause, as suspension"
etc.
/ recommend, therefore, that steps be
taken TO remedy these and other diff
culties, the necessary changes be made
In the blanks, and instructions be pre-
pared to secure greater uniformity in the
making Of reports; and | also recon-
mend that copies of such instructions be
supplied TO all Posts and Departments /;
and, further, that all blanks for reports
be supplied and forwarded to the various
Department Headquarters for Post and
Department reports at least one month
before such reports are TO be made out.
am also desirous of bringing to your
attention, and go to the attention of the
2Sth National Encampmcnt, another
Ilatter that | consider of vital import
ance, viz, the wide latitude allowed De-