Evening star., 1895-02-22
The Grand Army Makes Merry
Along the Potomac.
VISIT OF FHE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
Annual Encampment Of the Depart
ment of the Potomac.
ADVICE AND GOODS~GHEER

The Department or the PotOmac. urdiu
Army of the Republic. held the first ses-
sion of it's annual encampment last even
ing in Grand Army Hall. The occasion
was one of special interest, because of the
presence of Commander-in-chief Lawler,
who delivered an eloquent address full OF
advice and encouragement.
The address of Department Commander
Ne than Bickford comprised a historical
resume of the year. He told of the max
ing of department headquarters a center
of interest fraternity and enthusiasm for
all the posts and comrades. and Of the in
stitution of fraternal visits between the
posts with a view of improving the esprit
de corps. Commander Bickford referred
to the report of the adjutant general,
which showed the number of members in
good standing December 81, 1898, to be
81 and December 81 last 3,419, net loss
of 33l. During the year 1O2 members died.
Experience shows that decrease in men,
bership must be expected said the COM
mander, but because the ranks are thin
ming out it must not be thought that the
influence and power of the organization
are diminishing.
general the amount of cash on hand is as
follows: General fund, S147.51; memorial
fund, 81, ,192.S9. and relief fund, s131.3S.
Suggestions for the Year.
A determined and continuous effort was
made during the year, 1t was stated, to
secure on the part of officers and comrades
alike a proper observance of the rules
and regulations and of the secret work Of
the order. 1t was recommended that the
number of public meetings of all the posts
should be increased, as II is claimed there
is no better way of interesting the COM
rades and the public in the principles ard
work of the order. 1t is urged that these
public meetings should not be given over
to an ordinary musical and literary pro-
gram. but should be nlled with patriotism,
the recounting of anecdotes and reminis-
cenceS of the struggle for and against the
Union ard discussions of the true causes
and history of the war and the reasons
why honorable men must destroy each
other.
The work of the employment committee
was strongly commended, and in this con-
nection Commander Bickford took occasion
to state that excepting only amended rule
No. l9 the civil service law is of little or
no advantage or protection to the people.
Ii neither If sures their appointment when
at the head of the list of eligibleS nor pre-
vents their discharge without proper cause
and it breeds and promotes hypocrisy on
the part Sf government oftlcials-it is a de-
luSiCn ana snare to thousands who are
encouraged to look and wait for appoint
ments. which in the nature of things they
can never receive, neglecting efforts and
opportunities for employment in other di-
rectiCns. The work of the department relief
committee was also praised.
The Old Guard Criticised.
Commander Bickford spoke at some
length about the Woman's Relief Corps and
the Sons of Veterans. and detailed the ser
vices on Memorial day of last year and the
visit of the department to Pittsburg on the
occasion of the last national encampment
In speaking of the Old Guard, he said that
its members are frequently turned from
their duty to the Grand Army by their zeal
for the interests of the corps, and added
that in his opinion their actions at Pitts
burg clearly showed that the welfare and
reputation Of the department is matter
of secondary Importance with majority Of
the Old Guard. If that be the case" con-
tinued Commander Bickford, 1.-The sooner
We part company with them the better it
will be for our order in this department"
The commander announced that he disa-
grees with the council of administration in
regard to its recommendation that the COM
pensdtlon of the assistant adjutant general
and assistant quartermaSter general be $500
and $50. Respectively. for the next year. as
he Is of the opinion that $3.50 and 5000, re-
spectively. the sums allowed for the wear
1898, would be more appropriate to the
times and to the financial condition of the
department In closing, Mr.. Bickford
thanked the officers of the department for
their efforts and assistance to him.
Reports were also presented by the assist
ant adjutant general, assistant uuartermas-
ter general, employment. department and
relief committees, the judge advocate chap
lain, inspector, chief mastering officer med
ical director, council of administra tion
committee on fraternal relations and COM
mittee on relations with the Sons of Vet
er2ns.
Officers Nominated.
The nominations of officers for the en-
suing year resulted as follows: Comnan-
der. Z. L. Janney and NJ. T. Anderson;
ham Hart and J. FL. Hewlett; junior vice
department commander. III. G. Potter and
W. w. Chambers: medical director Robert
Reyburn, ~ d., and A. c. Adams NJ D.;
chaplain, Rev. w. Fl. Gotwald and Rev. j.
ID. Smith; council of administration E. c.
Grrmley. j. II. Dorey, S. W. Banyea, L.
p. Williams. j. Il. Clifford, George S. Sley-
haugh. c.. p. Bundck \. n. Thompson,
Peter McGurr. Stanton Weaver, George II.
French and G.. ID. Graham; representatives,
to the national encampment, Green Clay
Smith. n. Il. Prentice. William II. Honn
III. H. Moler Walter Middleton, j. P. Guam
der. George j. p. Wood. Newton NJ. Ferree
and G. q. Ballinger; alternates, J. C. Heff-
ner. w. w. Emo, Charles F. Mansfield, j.
r. Hayes. H. l.. Linker. d. C. Cameron,
l.. Nanderhoef, w. H. Meyers and L. Mon
helm.
While the cncampment was In session
Commander-in-chief Lawler was escorted
by the Old Guard and the Mount Pleasant
Drum Corps from the National Hotel to
thusiastic applause His speech was also
the cause of an outburst of appreciation.
The encampment shortly before O:3O
o'clock adjourned until Saturday evening
when the election CT officers will occur. A
majority of those present repaired to the
National Hotel and participated in a re-
ceptlon and banquet rendered the COM
mander-ln-chief.
Those Present.
The officers and delegates in attendance
at the encampment were:
Department ofcers-Nathan Bickford,
commander; NJ T. Anderson, senior vice
commander: ]. III. Hewlett, junior vice
commander; Robert Reyburn, medical d.
rector; J. D. Smith. chaplain; Israel W.
Stone. assistant adjutant general; Chris
Storm, assistant Quartermaster general;
Abraham Hart, inspector; S. F.. Faurce
judge advocate. and John p. Lothrop, chief
mastering officer.
Council of administration-Georg H.
French Thomas Galloway, c.. p. Bundick,
Il. F. Chase and C. II. Yoder.
Past department commanders-Frank II.
Sprasue. benjamin F.. Hawkes., A. II. G.
Richardson. George L. Corson. Harrison
D.ngman, Charles C. Royce, William Glib
son, Samuel S. Burdett. Newton NJ. Brooks,
Jerome Il. Burke. Charles p. Lincoln, Will
liam $. Odell. NJ. Emmett Urell, j. NJ. Pipes