Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-15
ANNUAL ENCAMPMENT.
Connecticut c. A. +. Officers Present
 Their Reports.

Connecticut c. A. k. Officers Present Their Reports.
 Bridgeport, May 15.--At the annual encampment of the Department of Connecticut, G. A. R., opened here yes terday. afternoon, Department Com mander Thomas Boudren presented his report. In speaking of the Wo- mans Relief corps he said: "Too much cannot be said in praise of this organization. In my visit among the posts of the department I learned to more fully appreciate than ever the value of their services in sustaining the life of some of our smaller posts and the added interest manifest on ey- cry occasion where they were pres ent." Of the Sons of Veterans he 4 said: This organization is one that should enlist our interest and coop eration. to place it on plane before the public that. it is entitled to occu- py. Wherever 1 have met with them have assured them of your desire for their success, fully realizing that on them will devolve the duty of keeping alive in the near future those patri- otic principles which cost us so much l to establish
 Assistant Adjutant General Thach- CTS report as presented showed the membership in good standing Decem- Der 31, 1901, was 4,43O The loss by ueaIh was loo The suspensions amounted to 224 It has been with some effort that the number of posts remained unchanged, and, while there may be argument on the side of al lowing the smaller posts to give LID their charters and amalgamate with the larger ones, still no post, during the year, has surrendered it's charter
 The report of Assistant Quarter master General Morgan showed that the receipts for the year were $1, ,723.- B and the disbursements S1. TOT. "A. The balance on hand is $15.79. Un- 1 der direction of the department com mander q property chest has been add ed this year for the purpose of trans 1 porting flags and other property to the national and department encamp- | ment
 | United States Marshal Edson S. Bishop of Norwich gave a report of the department inspector In the re- port he said: ss,The total loss in mem bership for the year ending June 30 1901, is 234, against 605 for the pre- vious year, remarkable showing, it seems to me, with the entire member ship so far advanced toward the sun set of life. At the suggestion of the commander I paid special attention to the matter of Picket Posts,' which has occupied so much time, provoked many an argument, and been given | much thought and attention by this encampment during the past few years. The hope was that if could succeed in getting some post to set the example that others would follow, the nual expense of inspection be largely reduced. In one post 1 was plainly told that the department could double the per capita tax; it would be cheer fully paid; they would lose no mem- bers for non-payment of dues, but I they would never surrender their char I ter so long as a quorum remained. Against such sentiment and love for the charter and order, what argument can prevail? It seems to me that some other way must be found to re- duce expenses and still care for the small posts.'' The following statis- tics were included In the report: Az gregate of post relief funds, SAT ,43S.SS; aggregate expenditure for relief, $3,- 51O.49; aggregate of funds in hands of post quartermaster, $32, ,645.36; aggre- gate value of other property owned by posts, $76,S76.OS; number of posts with w. R. c. attached, Al; number of posts with s. of ". attached, 20. l Department Chaplain D. R. Howell urged that Memorial Day be on a Sunday, saying in his report: q am of the opinion that much would be gained if our Memorial Day were l changed to the Sunday nearest May 30. would urge this change. Too many graves are yet unmarked by headstones. Since the government offers to furnish such headstones free l of expense, it would seem that no