Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-17
eONs OF vErERAHs.
Continued from page -

Il
that there is a bill at the present time,
before the United States Congress. which
Is of vast Importance to every Son OF
Veteran. which l will read:
The following Is copy OF a Dill wnicn
was introduced by Congressman Mccall
of Massachusetts. April 10. lsy1.
A bill authorizing the secretary OF war
to recognize the organizations or the
Sons Of Veterans as part of the military
reserve of the United States.
Re 1t enacted In the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
OF America in Congress assembled:
That upon application made under such
rules and regulations as the secretary Oh
war may prescribe, any organization or
the Sons of Veterans in any state or
territory or within the District of CO.
lu.nbia, may be inspected by an officer or
officers detailed by the secretary OF war
for the purpose of becoming a part Of
tho military reserve of the United States.
Section 2-That any organized company
to the number of fifty making application
as ilereinbefore provided and which
passes satisfactory inspection by the Of
ficcr or officers detailed to make the in
spection. shail under such rules and reg
uia lions as the secretary of war may de-
termine upon. be recognized as a part of
the military of the United States
Section S--That after any organization
OF said Sons of Veterans have been so
accepted as part of the military re-
serve. said organization shall be subject
to all rules, regulations and discipline as
the secretary. of war may prescribe.
Section THAT the secretary of war Is
hereby authorized to arm and equip any
organization. after said organization has
passed the required inspection. with any
Of the arms of the government such as
in his judgment will be consistent with
the arming and equipping of "a military
reserve.
Section 5-That after the year begin
ming July fist 1899 the secretary of war
may in his annual estimates for appro
pr.ations for that portion of the military
reserve of the United States that shall
have been created under the provisions of
this act
Section 6-lThis act shall take effect and
be in force on and after July first. 1898.
recommend that committee be APP
pointed by this encampment to ask the
aid of our congress men and senators TO
use a II means in their power To secure the
passage of this bill and that the 18th en-
campment pass some resolutions strongly
recommending the above.
OFFICERS AND STAFF.
Never was the commander of division
blessed with such a lieutenant colonel
as We have had this year in Arthur NJ.
Soule of Portland. He has helped me in
more ways than l have time to tell. has
mustered four of the six new camps and
has not charged the diYision one cent for
his expenses In the work. / extend to.
him my deepest gratitude and thanks for
his kindness to me. In AdJutant G.. H.
Bangs and q. NJ. 7. A. Cooper, | have
mad two faithful officers. They have per-
formed their duties in a manner which
has never been excelled. as their books
will show. To them also. l extend my
thanks. ] was fortunate in securing In
speetor Wesley L. Gribbin of Portland
also assistant inspectors A. r. Hall of
Oakland. and +. r. Fife of Fryeburg.
TREY have performed their work thor
oughly. which is credit TO themselves
ard to the division. To the chaplain.
/ am deeply grateful he was instrument
tai in reorganiZing the camp at Skowhe-
gan and has helped me in many ways.
Mastering Officer Ludwig of Waldobo-
70. although he has not been called on to
do a great deal of work, has been veiy
kind and has always been ready to lend
his aid. My only reason for not having
him muster every new camp was, that /
did not feel like asking him to pay his
own expenses and as times were hard,
that was all the administration was will
ing TO give. To Judge Advocate f. X.
Gould am very grateful. his advice ]
have always found to be of the best and
his rulings on important questions of
great assistance. | also wish to take
this opportunity To thank Capt L. G.
Hussey. Orrin J. Dckey and the mem
bers of the Belfas. camp. also Capt. T..
T.. Kirk and the members of the Bangor
the muster of new camps during the past
year To the rest of my staff | extend
my thanks for the many acts of Kindness
they have done for me during my term
OF office.
IN CONCLUSION.
Brothers. year ago you elected me to
ill this honorable position. and today my
is fast drawing to a close.
| wish to take this opportunity to thank
att t,-a,r
upon me and hope that my administra-
ton has met with the approval of all. In
laying down the sceptre of authority, en-
trusted to my care, it is with sense of
relief and yet with Il pang of regret, at
severing the exceedingly pleasant and
cordial relations which have existed be-
tween all parts of the division and head
quarters. And when, with the onward
march of time. my successors shall be
presiding over your deliberations, ! hope
you will look back upon this past year,
that | served you as your commander,
and have the same kindly feelings toward
me then that | am glad 10 say think eX--
lists throughout the division of Maine to-
day. And now as | resume my position
in the rank and file of our order. ii is
with a firm belief, and with a stronger
faith, that our order has before it a flu
ture of the brightest promise and l APP
peal to you to give to incoming COM
mander that loyal support that has been
accorded to me during the past year. and
i'm June. 1898. predict that the Division
of Maine will be in the best condition
that it has been for years. Again thank
ing you for your kindness and the hon
or you have conferred upon me. / will
now take my official leave with the best
wishes for yourselves and the prosperity
of the Sons of Veterans.
The next was that of the report of
Lieut.. Col. A. NJ. Soule:
Report oil Lieutenant Colonel SouIe.
To the Officers and Brothers of the Fiji
teenth Annual Encampment, Maine Di-
vision, Sons of Veterans U. s. A.:
In accord with the rules and regula-
tons of the order, which prescribe duties
of the senior vice division commander |
have the Aonor to submit the following
report for the term ending June II. 1897.
AS this is no exception to previous
years and as the position which l have
had the honor to fill calls for no extended
report, | shall of necessity present a
brief one.
Upon assuming the duties of the Office
from which / am now about to retire, |
endeavofed to learn the needs of the di-
vision, and to ascertain wherein | could
best assist my superior officer. To this
end will submit the results accom-
plished. r
Through the efforts of Division Sur
geon Burroughs and myself each by per