The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-08
c. A. R. IN CAMP
Annual E~ncampment Of
Veterans Begins at
Trenton.
OFFICERS FAVORABLE REPORTS
Assistant Adjutant General
Recommends a Consolida-
ton Of His Office.
OFFICERS FAVORABLE REPORTS
Especial to ..rhe Jersey city News.ol

ment of New Jersey, G.. A. r., began
their thirty-second annual -encampment
in Masonic Temple yesterday. Some few
of the old vets came to town on the night
before. and the well known and much
loved uniform was seen on the streets
and about the hotels. The headquarters
of the officers Is at the State Street
House, where a large blue ensign, bear
ing the words, New Jersey G. A. r."
hangs down from the balcony. This hos
tel is conducted by the widow of the late
Eli K. Ale, who was an honored member
of the G. A. r.
Masonic Temple, where the encampment
is held, is decorated with flags, banners,
tropical plants, tents, muskets and KNAPP
sacks. Above the stage is a design of
electric lights, which shows, in ~colors, the
word Welcome
AS announced there was an informal
session before the regular encampment
opened, and this was attended by the
Women's Relief Corps and the Ladies of
the G. A. R. Governor Voorhees, was to
nave been present at this meeting and
given an address, but he was detained
in Elizabeth, and Post Department Com
mander Charles Burroughs, of Paterson,
took his place.
The reports of officers was the princi-
pal business of yesterday, but today the
election of new ones will engross the
attention of members. The only officer
for which competition is rife is that of
Department Commander. The candidates
are George Bassett, ex-Sheriff of Camden
county, Captain Parsons. of Red Bank;
Oscar C. Clifford, of Newark, who is now
CoVio- Hvioa Cow, Mi opd in line of
promotion, and William C. Smith, the
present Commander. The election will
take place this afternoon. Other offices
to be filled are Senior and Junior Vice
| Department Commander, Chaplain and
Medical Director.
In his report yesterday, Assistant Ad-
jutant General Morse showed by a table
that on December 81, 1897, there were
6,3S1 members in the Department of New
Jersey. Since then there has been re-
| ceived by muster, 122; by transfer, As; by
reinstatement, 1865; a total gain of 1888,
making an aggregate of 6,714 members.
The. Department had lost by death, 10;
by honorable discharge, 81; by transfer,
45; by suspension, 253; by dishonorable
discharge, 2. Total loss, GOO; leaving re-
naming in good standing, CHA. Remain
ing suspended, 1863. Dropped during the
year, having been previously reported
suspended, n.
In all the years from 1869 to 1892,
| except the years 1878 and 1874, there
were gains in membership. Since the last
year of the period named there have
been steady losses. The highest loss was
in 1897, when 40 men were lost. The
| smallest was in 1894, when 1874 were lost.
The net loss for this year is 267; seven
| thousand three hundred and sixty-eight
| dollars and nine cents has been expended
for charity during the year.
The Assistant Adjutant General recon-
mended that the office of Assistant
| Quartermaster General be consolidated
with his own, on the ground that they
| could thus be run more economically and
to better advantage combined. He also
| recommended that the salary of the As
sistant Adjutant General be put back
| again to the amount always paid. $500 a
| year. Under the present salary none but
| wealthy comrades can perform the duties
required. The sum of $3.50 will not pay
his expenses for the year, as the officer
knew by experience.
The officer thought that the office
should be located permanently in some
place so that the record of the depart
ment can be kept in a proper manner.
There is today virtually no record and
only the proceedings of the last three
years are preserved. There is no file of
orders. Where there is a constant change
of office, the officer ays it is almost
impossible to keep the records and bust
ness in the shape that they should be
kept.
Assistant Q-uartermaster General John
G.. Fisher, in his report, said that the
reduction of the per capita tax resulted
in $244.40 less revenue and forced a rigid
economy. He condemned the economy as
contemplate that sends a representative
to the National E-ncampment with a mere
paltry sum to uphold the dignity of the
proud and prosperous State of New Jer-
sey.
Thu Assistant Quartermastef's report
showed that SIG, N3.41 had been received
from all sources during the year, which,
added to the balance on hand, made a
fund of $52, SS3. rs. There were disburse-
ments of SIS, 1922. "a, leaving a balance on
hand of $a4, $50. AZ. There is also the sum
of s., 800 IS invested in collaterals.
In the relief fund the balance at last
report was s2G.570.78 The receipts were
81, S9s. 81, making a total of s2S, 80. The
disbursements were $2,227.32, leaving a
balance on hand of $26.342.07.
Department Chaplain Charles e. Hill
reported 10000 graves decorated, 200 COM
rades buried. 300 grave marked by stones.
As memorial services held and 100, 900 COM
rades and societies, taking part in forty
exercises on Memorial Day.
The Detail on New Jersey Home for
Disabled Soldiers. consisting OF John 7.
Luck, John H. Sleaman, Joseph Colyer,
Jr.. Joel W. HIATT and w. H Howard,
in their report. say that comparing the
New. Jersey Soldiers Home with similar
institutions in other States, we are con-
vinced that our Home is peer to any.
Our comrades could not be better cared
for as they wait until the shadows are
a little longer grown"
They called attention to the New Jer-
sey Home for Soldiers, Sailors or Marines
and their Wives, at yineiand. The
establishment of this Home is largely