Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-25
G. A. R. ENCAMP MENT
Business Trappseted by the De-
partment OF the Potomac.
GOSSIP ABOUT new OFFICERS
The Banquet =, Last = Night Great
Success.
B U S INES IS REP RTS

B U S IN E s S REP RTS
The opening session of the annual en-
eampment Of 1896 of the Department of the
Potomac, Grand Army of the Republic, IVES
held last evening in Grand Army Hall, be-
ginning at o'clock, according to the pro-
gram published in The Star. The COM
mander-in-chief, Ivan H. Walker, reached
the city at 4:30 o'clock. and was met at
the Baltimore and Ohio depot and escorted
| to the Ebbitt House by Department Com
mander Anderson and staff, and the men,
hers of the staff Of the commander-in-
chief who are residents of the local de-
partment. Later in the evening, under
escort of the Old Guard and the Mount
Pleasant Field Band, Commander Walker
was escorted to the meeting Of the en-
campment, where he addressed the dele
gates.
Department Commander Anderson, OF
course, called the session to order and act
ed as presiding officer. The encampnent
was held behind closed doors, and the Old
Guard furnished an efficient guard detail
to prevent the entrance into the hall Of IN
authorized persons. Commander Anders On
made his annual address and the annual
reports of the department officers We're SUBJ
united. Nominations Of officers were also
| made, as follows: John H. Hewlett and
John McElroy, for department commander;
A. j. Huntoon, senior vice commander; Dr.
j. F. Raub and T. 8. Kelly, junior
vice commander; DR.. A. e. johnson, -nedi-
cal director, and Rev. II. S. Stevens, chap
lain. The encampment then took recess
until Wednesday evening, In order that the
| members might attend banquet at the
Ebbitt House in honor Of Commander-in-
Chief Walker.
Gossip About Officers.
Several interesting features as regards
the election of officers developed during
the evening. The general opinion seems
to be that Mr.. McElroy will undoubtedly
be elected department commander, and, 1t
Is said, In that case Mr.. Hewlett, the
other candidate, is to be placed in nominal
ton, and will make great effort to secure
the office of senior vice commander in
order to move up to the highest round Of
the ladder in 1897. Charles Sumner Post.
nomination for the Office Of junior vice COM
mander the name of one Of its well-known
members, T. S. Kelly, to run against DIR.
Raub. This acton is novelty, and, SO
1t was stated, was taken by Sumner Post in
order to determine whether or not the de-
partment means to carry out it's expressed
policy of giving the colored men an equal
showing with the white posts. The gen.
MIR. Kelly will not be elected for the rea-
son that the junior vice commander is, ex
officio, at the head Of the relief work of the
department. For this reason, it was
colored, will not cast its vote in favor of
Mr.. Kelly.
Commander Anderson's Address.
In opening his address, Commander All
derson referred fittingly to the demise dur
mig the past year of Comrades Green Clay
Smith, Russell, DeJester, Chambers, Van
kuren, TAFT, Reilly, Lacy, Howard, Thomp-
son and others. In assuming command
early in 1895. continued Mai. Anderson,
his first efforts We're in the interest of the
large suspended roll, which aggregated at
the close OF the year 1894 4SS members.
These conditions ought not to exist in the
opinion of Commander Anderson. and he
urged that an active, energetic committee
be appointed in each post to assist the
quartermasters in making personal appeals
to each comrade for the credit of the or
der Commander Anderson referred ia the
financial condition of the department, and
went on to say that unless the revenues
are Increased, either by reinStatemen1s or
entertainments, the department will lie
forced either to increase the per capita or
move into less expensive quarters. He
said he was loath to suggest less COM
modious quarters, where the social and
fraternal Lomm;ngling of the department
would be curtailed. The first thing 20 be
done, he said, would be to eliminate the
roll of dishonor, which alone would ir-
crease the revenues s47S.SD in a year.
thereby enabling the payment of all hills
on presentation.
Number of Members.
The report of the assistant adjutant gen.
eneral showed the membership at the end
of the year of 1895 10 be 1853, a net loss
of $50. which was the exact loss of the
preceding year. less one. Henry Wilson
Post. however, reported net gain during
the year of forty-one members; George H.
Thomas Post, sixteen members, and La
fayette Post, fifteen members.
During the year, the report continued,
there was a serious decline in the active
membership of the posts and n large ad-
ditfon to the suspended list. He referred
to the card index roster and other matters,
and recommended that committee of five
be appointed by the next commander to
consider how the headquarters and the
in town posts can be brought together in
like committee be appointed toward
lessening the number of other than the
outlying posts and increasing the strength
and efficiency of those that remained; that
clerk be authorized at Headquarters:
that the ratio of representation in the
department encampment be changed to one
representative and one alternate for each
fifty members Of post: that the consti-
tuition of the memorial committee be so
altered as to omit from membership there
in the captains Of camps Of Sons of Vet
Grams, and the member from each rost
now chosen in addition to tn. post com
mander, and that the memorial day pa
rade shall not hereafter extend beyond
the War Department..
Other Reports.
The report Of the council of administra-
ton showed that it had held eleven meet
ings. and that the members had displayed
much industry and interest. The employ
ment committee announced that during
the year it had considered 1870 applica
tons. and had secured employment for
ffty-six persons. During the year forty
nine meetings of the relief committee we're
held, and $639.5T was expended. The re-
port declared that the temporary home for
soldiers and sailors Of the late war has
proved a great aid to the relief commit
tee in taking care Of poor Comrades IN,
transportation to their homes could be
furnished them.
The report Of the assistant ouartermas-
ter general showed a balance on hand Of
$9O7.29. The medical director. among other
things. recommended the Organization of a
medical board, to be composed of the met1i-
cal director and the post surgeons. with
the object of considering such questions
as may properly come before them.
The chaplain and the Judge advocate pre-
serted carefully prepared reports. as did
the department inspector, the latter req
Ommending that in addition to the rag,,Ior