Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-19
MAINE G. A. R.
Holds Its Goth Annual En-
campment at Bangor.
Reports Of Department Commander
Merrick and Other Officers.
Campfire in Evening-State Relief
Corps Also in Session.

| City hall at 1890 o'clock Wednesday
forenoon, when Department Command
er James L. Merrick called the meeting
TO order. At the forenoon session only
routine business was transacted. AT
| the afternoon meeting Commander
Merrick made his annual address and
ether officers submitted their reports.
| Department Commander Merrick in
his annual report said in part:
| We had 157 posts, Dec. 81, 1901, and
6542 members in good standing and
about 1860 suspended members. We
have. today. 157 posts with 631S MEM
bers in good standing and 800 suspend
ed members. We have lost by death
during the year pa The total loss of
membership for the year was 1914, the
| smallest loss in membership since the
! year 1896.
Thomas T. Rideout Post, No. 26 of
Bowdoinham, lost by fire, Dec. IA, 1902,
all it's Post property, including charter,
except it's adjutant's and quartermas-
ter's books which the officers had at
their homes. A new charter was is
sued to them.
Since my election as department COM
mander. l have visited every post in
the department Q5O. My first visit
was to Thatcher Post at Portland
March 10, 1902.
Regarding pensions he said that it is
confidently hoped and expected that
with the new pension commissioner
Eugene Fitch Ware at the helm the
lpension laws will be properly enforced.
We believe that every soldier of the
ICivil War, who has an honorable dis
lcharge has earned all the country can
lpay him in the way of bodily comforts
land wholesome nourishment. All the
comforts and peace we now enjoy We're
purchased by the heroes of the Civil
War at the sacrifice of their best years
land dearest nope.
| / cannot close this report without
paying a tribute to those beloved and
valued auxiiaries, the Woman's Re-
lief Corps, the true helpmeet of the
Grand Army. Their work is worthy of
the highest praise. Perhaps no one
knows better than | the character and
lamount of work performed by the wo-
mans Relief Coprs in behalf of this de-
lpartment. 1t matters not what name
they bear, whether State, national or
independent.
The Sons of Veterans is the organiza-
ton which must eventually take up our
work and show to the world that they
are worthy sons, who will not, during
their generation allow the deeds of
their fathers to be forgotten. The
work of the Sons of Veterans has but
just begun.
The reports of the senior and junior
vice commanders which followed that
of Commander Morris, covered prac-
tically the same ground as his, al
though the subject was treated from
different points OF view
The report of the inspector is as fol-
lows:
Silas Adams, assistant adjutant gen.
eral.
Comrade: l have the honor to sub
init my report as department inspector
for the year 1902. This inspection has
been made largely through assistant
inspectors.
| on July 81, ! met Commander Mer-
at Sherman Mills, Post 81, and accom-
Ipanied him through Aroostcok county,
visited 10 posts and have visited sew
eral alone, and have done my best TIA
encourage them especially the smaller
posts.
| | append n summary of the standing
Of the department as have CLEANED it
from the reports of assistant inspec-
tors:
| Total number of posts. Isl
| Total number of members in good
standing. gill
| Number of posts inspected I4f
| Attendance of officers and members, Fair
L nl.hp Nnktxs in xxFIlT nh th.1 ,-it
ual is properly eNemplified Ii
Number of posts where officers and
| guards are properly uniformed
| and properly equipped, 4
| Number of posts where members
| are unauthorized. 81
Number of posts where records are
completely kept. IL
Number of posts where heport and
| per capita tax has been forward
| ed, IL
Number of posts having a relief
fund, II
Aggregate of relief funds, si,96i /.
Aggregate expenditures by posts
for relief, l,269o4
Aggregate of funds in hands of
post quartermasters, %, 021 81
| Aggregate value of other proper
: " owned by posts, 6,,9s 8.
Number of posts with Women's Re
| lief Corps attached, i'll
| Number o fposts with Sons of Vet
Grams Camp, q
mad no inspection. l regret this very
much. l did my best to awaken them
to the necessity of an inspection but
they failed to respond. / think, how
ever. the prospects of the posts taken
altogether, are good.
l desire to express my sincere
thanks to Department Commander
Merrick for the honor conferred upon
me one year ago and for his kind as
sistance during the year. also tender
my thanks to assistant inspectors
Respectfully submitted in F.. C. & L.
| Henry O. Perry. Assistant Inspector.
The time from 4.30 O'Clock until
was very pleasantly passed by the vet
Grams. The hotel offices We're crowded
and the headquarters of the Is. III.
Beale Post accommodated its quota
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