The National tribune., 1899-09-14

the best interest of all concerned that TIN
charter should be surrendered. This wa.
done, and in a short time new Corps wa!
organized, taking the same name ana mum
Der. This Corps is the pride of the Post t.
which it is auxiliary, and is now in flour
iShing condition. The colored Corps a
Chattanooga seem discouraged, but OF
account of circumstances and conditions
in the South, we are unable to offer relief
The Corps at Nashville, Tenn, is doing
good work, and the white Post of thai
city commend their work on Memorial
Day at Stone River. Utah has five Corps
and they are now contemplating forming. 8
| Department. New Mexico has but one
Corps, and this one desires some one as
| instructor to visit them. A new Corps
has been instituted in Virginia, and one
has been organized in Arkansas.
FINANCES.
Tt is with muci, pride We bring you the
financial record of the year-pride not
only because it is the financial showing
of young officers, but l. ,cause it is an UNI
falterifg exponent. of the business ability
of the Woman's Relief Corps. Last year
we were greeted with the splendid show
ing of S14, ,292.11 in all funds, with sup
plies valued at S4,479.91, making a grand
total of S1S,997.O2. To-day the report of
the Treasurer will show you s14 ,147.53 in
plies valued at s4,9O1 .66, making grand
total of S23,91S.62, with no liabilities.
Do the sheaves gathered in by the young
administration make a harvest to meet
your approval?
1--WE have labored earnestly to aid the
local Corps in their work, and hope this
Convention will provide for a reduction
in prices and supplies. We have been
assisted by the untiring zeal of our splen-
did, unsurpassed Treasurer. Isabelle 7.
Bagley, who has been loyal to this ad-
mnistrati, at every turn as she las
becn to all others. She has been watchful
and untring in her efforts to husband the
resources of the Order, and we feel her
labors can never be repaid.
"The Woman's Relief Corps is the only
| auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Repub-
| lic and desire at all times to be OF real
| assistance. While the ranks of the com
rades decrease, the WOman's Relief Corps
| increase, and we can and will carry on its
teachings of loyalty as long as time exists
To show our appreciatienof the kindness
and loyalty of the Grand Army of the
Republic, 1 would suggest we tender them a
contribution towards their general fund.
OFFICIAL DUTIES.
| Early in the year our attention was called
| to the need of more homes for the dependent
relatives of the soldiers. The National Home
had reached its capacity, likewise illinois
Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, and California
| New York had long since filed her appllca-
tions, and it seemed some radical measures
should at once be taken. We accordingly
wrote the members of the Council asking
their views on the advisability OF petition
ing Congress to establish National Home
for the mothers, wives, sisters, and daugh-
ters of Union soldiers, to be under National
supervision, as are the National Soldiers
Homes.
'The majority Of the Council being
favorable to the plan, We at once wrote
several Congressman in regard to it. The
letters we received were indeed encourag-
ing, and offers of assistance were many.
But as time had moved so swiftly, much
was lost ere we heard from all the Council,
and the session of Congress was SO far
along nothing more was done.
"On examining the law we find the Gov
ernment pays into the State Treasury
S1O0 per annum for every comrade taken
care of in the State Homes. Why can
we not secure this same help for the women
inmates of these homes? We have learned
there are less than 500 who would at the
present time be entitled to this assistance
We have written several Congressmer
in regard to the matter, and have received
the assurance that it is worth trying for
That it will never be granted unless it is
asked, and it will be to the credit of the
Woman's Relief Corps to begin this work
even if it takes time to accomplish it. Be
| lIcblIlS III Tie ulllHitc StlCteSS Ol ally
measure the Woman's Relief Corps may
desire to advance, We recommend that {
committee of three shall be appointed t.
urge the adoption of a bill making tn,
wives, mothers, widows, and daughters o
soldiers living in the various Soldiers
!, Widows Homes eligible TO the same as
sistance as the soldiers in State Homes
: 1--WE have visited II Departments an(
eight Corps. We would have been glad t.
have visited all Conventions, but unfortu
nately many were held on the same day
and hundreds of miles apart, one Con
vention on the rock-bound shores of Maine
another on the golden sands of the Pacific
and so it has been impossible to reach all
The detached Corps in the South dt
what duties lie nearest, and deserve on
commentator. Many of the cOlOred Corp:
feel unless they are visited by Mrs. Tune
they have not been inspected. and som'
continually send their reports from tn,
Department of Boston, d
I'VE have Travelled many, many mile.
in the interest of the Order, and whethe
in st. Augustine, Jacksonville, Atlanta
or other Southern cities, whether we wer'
in historic Boston, Baltimore, Washing
Al