The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-03
MEMBERS.


1856. a9i sS1 1e95. 90. .oSs
1ss6. 525,o.I oao'o1o
1SS7.............39S,Sle
/ do not suppose that any recommen-
dation that / could make would produce
any radical change in the business
methods of the several Posts and De-
partments still Z cannot refrain from
saying that when Post has a good Ad-
jutant or Quartermaster they should be
retained from year to year, and when a
Department has a competent Assistant
:Adiutant-General or Assistant Quarter
master-General, they should be en-
couraged to perfect themselves in their
duties by a permanency thereof.
Where this policy has prevailed, my
observation teaches me that it has been
of great benefit to the Posts or Depart
ments. The reports have been more
accurate and promptly forwarded In
these cases, and. as every soldier is aware,
promptness and correctness are the great
requirements in the field and in the
Office. Those Departments that have
consolidated the Offices of Assistant Ad-
jutant-G General and Assistant Quarter
master-General have solved a large part
of the difficulty in running a Depart
ment, and have saved considerable in
the expenses
Looking at the question of simpli-
flying the duties of the offices referred to-,
and relying upon the report of the ma
jority of the Committee on Blanks to the
last National Encampment, have issued
a new form "a" and 3D." consolidated
on single sheet, whereby the Assistant
Adjutant-General is certain of receiving
the report of the Adjutant and Quarter
master of Post at the same time, and
also of receiving reports that agree with
each other and with the preceding re-
port. / am assured by the Assistant
Adiutants-G General that these blanks
have been beneficial. In accordance
with the same idea, and knowing that
National Headquarters did not need the
detailed reports of every Post in the
Order. which were often imperfectly re-
ported by the Assistant Adjutant- Cen
eral, issued new blank. form &C.
which is a consolidated report from the
Assistant Adjutants-General and Assist
ant Quartermasters-General to the.Ad-
jutant-G General of the condition of each
Department semi-annually. This form
has substantially lessened the labors at
Department Headquarters and enables
them to transmit reports more promptly
and accurately. This form gives all of
the data necessary for the Adjutant-
General to possess, and it is in such
shape that it is more accessible. have
had some trouble with some Of my Com
rade Adjutants in regard to one line in
these reports, which, however, is copy
Of former blanks, and | recommend this
Encampment to decide by resolution in
line with the following statement of my
opinion Of the proper way to ELL out this
blank.
The Assistant Adjutant-General, In
stating the "gains from delinquent
reports" should give the difference be
tween the number he set down in
his last report Gin good standing y
for any Post whose report had not
been received by him in time for bis re-
port to the Adjutant-General, and the
actual number reported by said Post
when its delayed report is afterwards re-
ceired by him. Again, in the line
" lost by delinquent reports" he should
deduct the difference between the mum.
Der he had set down In good standing
In bis tabulation for any Post that had
not reported in time, as above stated.
when he finally receives its report.
NV view of these lines is that this il
the only Interpretation that can be
given to them. Some of the Assistant
Adiutants-General have claimed that
when they had not received the report
Of a Post or Posts in time to include il
in their semi-annual report to the Ad
jutant-General, that they had the right
TO deduct the whole membership OF
that Post, or Of 40 Posts, if that many
were delinquent, from the report Of those
IN good standing. My Interpretation o.
Rules and Regulations is that no com
rade can be suspended from a Post ex
cept ON notice and ballot at a regular
meeting, and by parity of reasoning nc
Post can be bodily suspended except OF
due notice requiring it to appear before
the Council of Administration and the
action Of the Council suspending it bein:
approved by the Commander-in- Chief
and until this has been done every Pos
must be considered to be in good stand
ing, and the number of its members il
good standing must be obtained from
the last report received from it. On M
other theory can the reports and condi
ton Of our Order be maintained.
] have been impressed with the ne
cessity Of lessening the labors and ex
penses in all Departments of our Orde,
In view of that idea / believe that tn
Offices of the Adjutant-General an,
Quartermaster-Gener should be con
soiidated, and that all blanks should b
Issued from Headquarters, and that til
other supplies for Departments, whicI
are principally manufactured in Phils
delphia, should be issued by the Gu:
n