The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-10

Careful inquiry led him to believe that the
chief source of trouble is due to the present
form of constitution and operation (which
only a reconstruction on different lines can
remedy.
his research led him to believe that the
general adoption of the military feature is
objectionable to the average citizen who is
eligible to membership, and, as a conse-
quence, membership was limited to few,
comparatively speaking.
While not advocating hasty legislation,
he said that he sincerely believed that fu-
ture success would depend upon a complete
revision of the fundamental laws of the or
der. This would contemplate the abolition
OF the military and uniform features, as
now understood, leaving only a buttonhole
decoration for general use and a badge for
public occasions. Provision could be made
fer the minority who take deep interest
IN military matters.
If these suggestions We're made he said
there would be considerable financial saw
ing. The commander regarded this ques-
ton of such vital Importance that he re-
Trained from mentioning minor changes.
The address closed with a tribute TO the
efficient and loyal service of the command
ery-in-chief staff, an official family with
out even the semblance of family jar,
as he put it, The address was heard with
close attention The recommendations for
the abolition of the military and uniform
features provoked something of a sensa-
ton, and there is likely to be something of
a skirmish on this subject. To some of the
most radical there is something repugnant
in the idea, but it meets with undlsguised
approval in other quarters.
L.
Leo w. Kennedy, of Denver, Col, senior
vice chief, made the follow
ing recommendations:
'First-That a resolution be adopted by
this encampment authorizing the COM
mander-in-chief to appoint a committee OF
five members of this encampment for the
purpose OF investigating and reporting to
the Seventeenth Annual Encampment for
rejection or adoption By that body a system
of life insurance, with or without accident
and eli Ma1O n
Garance association to be optional with
members of the order.
''Second-Unless otherwise recommended
by the commander-in-chief, would recon-
mend the adoption of a resolution by this
encampment extending sympathy with and
approval OF the efforts or our DrOtnerS,
fathers and others, now residents of Ha-
vail looking to the annexation of that
country to the United States of America.
'Thrd-That it would be, in my judg
ment for the advancement of our order If
we would adopt a system by which we
would have two branches or degrees-a
civic and military-the civic to include
all members of the order and the military
only those members who will devote the
time and money necessary to make a pre-
sentable military body.
These recommendations were referred to
the committee on resolutions.
Adjutant General II. H. Hammer reported
49, 1872 members and LIP camps in good
standing Sept. ], 1897. The figures ABOVE
showed a gain of 81 camps and 773 MEM
becS since the report for the quarter end
ing June 30, 1897, when there were 1lS0
camps and 32,Ol9 members as compared
with 1929 camps and 81, BOO members June
80 1896. Or this subject the adJutant gen.
eral said:
our actual membership, no one will dis
pute, is larger than the number in good
standing as reported in my quarterly re-
port for quarter ending June. The great
number recorded as suspended is due to the
promptness we required divisions to for
ward their reports for said quarter 1t has
been customary to allow division COM
manders more time to get in their reports,
hut for the quarter named we could not
grant them greater limit Many of their
camps failed to report in required time and
were naturally marked suspended ConSe-
quently our membership in good standing
is shown Il beIieve) to be at least 1000 less
than it really is. PTomptneSs, if always
carried out in future will bring better re-
REDUCED REVENUES
The report of Quartermaster General Loe-
bernstein showed that the total receipts from
Sept A. 1896, to Aug. %, 1897 were $10,620;
expenditures, 49, AGO, leaving a balance of
cash on hand amounting to $1,15991, beside
which there are supplies on hand inven-
toried at 81 329.50. The account of receipts
shows that but $4.9O9O7 was received from
per capita tax during the year, as against
$6.072.29 the previous year. The total re-
ceipts for the year showed falling off of
$2,155.S9. The quartermaster general said:
ut requires but a casual glance at the
following figures to show how carefully the
officers of the commandery-in-chief have
guarded the financial affairs of the order.
Cur revenues from per capita tax have been
reduced from $6,072.29 last year to $4, sos. OF
for the year Just closed, a loss of 81 i6S. %;
revenue from charter fees from $475 to
$357G6, a loss of $l17.74; our Profits on sup
q loss from these three items of 81, 408.l5.
Notwithstanding this decrease in revenue OF
81, 40S15, our surplus is but $070.57 less than
It was at the close of the preceding admin
tstration.
Il feel it my duty to call to your atten-
ton what may prove serious menace to
the order. No complaint has been made or
can be justly made that the affairs of the
prder have been otherwise than economical
ly administered. But our revenues are be-
ing constantly reduced and our surplus is
being rapidly extinguished. At the close of
Commander-in-chief Weekss administra-
ton our surplus was $3.50. This surplus
was reduced to S., 1850 at the close of Com
mander-in-chief Halls term of office; in
creased to $5176.4 at the close of Com
mander-in-chef Maccabes term; reduced
to $4.190.21 at the close of COMMANDMENTS
chief Bundy's term; further reduced to
$3.601A at the close of Commander-in-chief
Russells term, and again reduced to 3d.,
03067 at the close of Comlnander-in-chief
Rake's term. Emergencies may arise that
Will neceSsitate increasing our revenues,
and If this encampment shall again fix the
quarterly per capita tax at cents / am of
the opinion that the Council in-chief should
be empowered to raise the amount of such
quarterly per capita tax should necessity
require"
TO INCREASE THE PER CAPITA.
AT the afternoon session, in view of the
financial showing made, the Council-in-
chief recommended that the per capita tax
be increased from Is to 20 cents. After con-
siderable discussion this recommendation
was adopted. 1t is believed that this will
afford sufficient increase in revenue to
prevent further depletion of the surplus.
The Council-in-chief reported that the
affairs of the various officers were in good
condition and recommended that they be
heartily commended by the encampment.
The recommended ton was concurred in. The
quartermaster general was authorized to
have 5000 copies of the proceedings of the
encampment printed for distribution.
COMMITTEES NAMED.
At the beginning of the morning session
the following committees were appointed:
Credentials-H H. Hammer, Pennsylva-
MIA, chairman; Fl. II. Cowdin, Michigan; F.
-. Balton, Massachusetts; w. w. Bisby,
Iowa; William Disteal, Wisconsin.
Constitution, Rules and RegulationS-John
Redmond, Illinois; j. E. Huycroft, Minneso-
ia; d. S; Gardner, Ohio; Z. r. Campbell,
Maryland
officers Reports-Frank p Merrill,
Maine; George b. Abbott, Illinois; w. S.
Payne, Ohio; w. E. Bundy, Ohio; w. II.
Russell Kansas.
Resolutions-R. NJ. J. Reed, Pennsylvania;
Michael Crowley, New Hampshire: Wallace
J.. Nanderhoof, New Jersey; II. w. Jones,
New York; +. l.. Shepherd, Illinois
Rituals and Ceremonies-Horace StillWell
Indiana; George F. Walz. Nebraska.
Press-Frank Martin, chairman, Indiana;
c. d. Raney, Massachusetts; j. ID. Noel In
diana.
Officer of the Day-Maj w. H. White.
Maryland.
Ofiicer of the Guard-Lieut G. E. Cogge-