Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-30

worry along without their company.
and show them by our work and acts
that we still believe in the true princi-
pies of our Order as it was first or
ganized for men. who by their service
in the Rebellion, were entitled to the
name Of Battle-men.
4 1 found on looking over the supplies
i received from the last administration
/ that there were no blank forms of any
kind on hand, so it was necessary to
have considerable printing done which
has been the largest expense of the
| National Headquarters this year
| There will however be enough blank
forms or all kinds turned over to the
new administration, so that no print
ing in that line will be required for
some years. l thought it more
economical to have large number
printed than a few at a time. We also
printed the new Burial Service which
was ordered done at the last En-
campment, as well as lot of new
! Commissions as l thought it for the
best interest of the Order that each
comrade appointed or elected to an Of
flee should have Commission, and
the price for the same would bring in
some little income to the National
body.
Now my comrades we have come
here l hope with the determination to
work and legislate for the advance
ment and building UP of our Order,
for l believe if we do, and mean what
we say, that we can largely increase
our membership.
| A year ago an amendment was pro-
posed to Article vi, section III of the
Constitution, making all past Com
mander- in Chiefs full members in the
| National Encampment. l hope the
Judge Advocate General will make his
report on the matter, so this Encamp-
ment may act upon it intelligently.
also believe that all past Department
Commanders should be entitled to full
membership in the National body as
well as in the Department Encamp-
ments. for l believe a man who has
given a year or more of his time,
should be rewarded at least by hav-
ing that right. There is no danger Of
making the National, or State De-
partments unwiedy, as our member
ship is necessarily small under the
/
one delegate for every fifty members
beside the Colonel of the precinct
| Command l do not know of but four
or five Commands in the Order that
are entitled to more than one dele
gate beside the elective or appointed
| officers. If we were more liberal in
regard to the election of delegates We
might be able to secure reduced rates
on the railroads to our annual En-
campments, as they will not grant
| them without guarantee of a certain
number who will attend. One hundred
was the number demanded in my cor
| respondence with the different rail-
roads this season, with the exception
| OF the Maine Central and it's branches.
There is one other matter which |
was to speak of, and that is the
| amount of per capita paid by Depart
| ments to the National body. Our
membership is too small to cut down
the tax from the precinct Command to
the Department, for the reason that
the latter needs all it gets to pay run
ming expenses, but l believe the tax
from Departments to the National
body should be cut in two, that is
making it ten cents instead of twenty
as it is at present. The extra ten
cents would greatly help in the work
of the Departments. 1t is impossible
to get money enough in the National
body to pay the expenses of the Com
mander- Chief to visit any unat-
tachcd Commands, so a smaller
amount would pay the running ex-
penses, which is all we need. We also
should revise the price list of supplies
as the present list was prepared dur
ing Gen. Dyrenforth's administra-
ton. All supplies should be sold to
the Departments and from the De-
partments TO the Precinct Commands.
so each ceuld make a profit and still
sell to the Commands at the same
price at which they are now. sold by
the National Command. II hope the
proper committee will look the mat
ter over and report a. revised price
list at this Encampment. 81
For a detailed report of the finan
cial and general standing of the Or
der l would refer you to the reports
of the Adjutant General and the
Quartermaster General.
I will say in regard to the matter of
the inspection of commands as order
ed by the National Encampment a
year ago at Boston. the report of the
inspector general will l think show
that it has been practically a failure.
as very few of the assistant inspectors
have made xanysreport of their work to
him. altho(kh It. may be better in tn 2
year to come, as they get to more fully
understarsA their duties.
l. wish TO return my most SINGER,
thanks to the officers, and comrades
with whom have had intercourse and
during the year, and
more especially to my adjutant gener-
al, Comrade Johnson, and my quarter
master general, Comrade Wadsworth
Of Gardiner, for their untiring efforts
to make my year of service a success.
And now my comrades hope you NAV
be so fortunate as to elect a board OF
officers for the ensuing year, who will
be able to make a much better report
at it's close, and | trust that this ses-
sion may be pleasant, harmonious,
and profitable one to each of us here