master-General for Badge and copy of Rules and Regulations. The revenue from this source in 1898 was $269.78; in 1899, $255.70. Prior to 1898 no well-directed effort had been made in this direction. The following named comrades were appointed a Committee to procure and present a testimonial to Past Commander-in-Chief J. P. S. Gobin. Their appointment was not announced in General Orders. Ivan N. Walker, Indianapolis, Indiana. John C. Black, Chicago, Illinois. Tributes of respect will be paid to the memory of our late Commander-in-Chief, Comrade James A. Sexton, by other officers of the Encampment, but I desire to record my appreciation of his comradeship and kindness to me as Adjutant-General. He aided me in the performance of my duties by his counsel, and encouraged me by his confidence. To the Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief, who assumed the duties of Commander-in-Chief, my warmest thanks are due for official duties made pleasant by many evidences of comradeship and confidence. The most pleasant relations have been maintained between National and Department Headquarters, and Department Commanders and Assistant Adjutants-General have always evidenced a willingness and promptness in the performance of their duties, all of which is sincerely appreciated. Respectfully submitted in F. C. and L., The Stuart Adjutant General. Proceedings of the National Council of The National Council of Administration met in the Headquarters Room in the Grand Hotel at Cincinnati, Ohio, at 4 o'clock, P. M., on Friday, September 9th, 1898, the Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief presiding. The Adjutant General called the roll of members of the Council and the following were found to be present: M. D, Wickersham, of Alabama; Samuel C. Rees, of Arizona; W. H. Miller, of Delaware; T. S. Wilmarth, of Florida; James P. Averill, of Georgia; Thomas W. Scott, of Illinois; William H. Armstrong, of Indiana; P. H. Coney, of Kansas; P. W. Hager, of Kentucky; Richard Sheppard, of Louisiana and Mississippi: W. W. Blackmar, of Massachusetts; Samuel J. Lawrence, of Michigan; J. M. D. Craft, of Minnesota; F. M. Sterrett, of Missouri H. W. George, of Nebraska; Clayland Tilden, of New Jersey; H. Crampton, of New Mexico; Theodore F. Reed, of New York; B. M. Moulton, of Ohio; James F. Morrison, of Pennsylvania; A. R. Anderson, of South Dakota; H. J. Smith, of Wisconsin; The Adjutant General and Quartermaster General. Comrade Sterrett offered the following resolution : Resolved, That an Executive Committee be constituted consisting of the Commander-in-Chief, Adjutant General, Quartermaster General and seven members of the Council to be named by the Commander-inChief, to act during the year when the Council is not in session. The resolution was adopted. Comrade Wickersham, of Alabama, offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Adjutant General, the Quartermaster General and the Inspector General be appointed a committee on supplies to act under the direction and approval of the Commander-in-Chief. The resolution was adopted. Comrade Reed, of New York, moved that the sum of $200.00 be appropriated for reporting and furnishing copies of the proceedings of the Thirty-second Annual Encampment, and the motion prevailed. Comrade Armstrong, of Indiana, moved that the retiring Adjutant General be authorized to publish not to exceed 9500 copies of the proceedings of the Thirty-second Annual Encampment and be allowed for editing and publishing same, such sum as the Commander-in-Chief shall direct, and the motion prevailed. Comrade Scott, of Illinois, stated that it had been customary for several years to authorize the Commander-in-Chief to draw upon the Quartermaster General to the amount of $2,000 or such part thereof as may be necesssry to pay his traveling expenses during the year, and upon motion of Comrade Scott, such authority was given the Commander-in-Chief. Upon motion of Comrade Scott it was agreed that the Adjutant General be allowed the sum of $2000, which shall include the payment of his salary and also the employment of the necessary stenographer in the office of the Adjutant General. Comrade Sterrett offered the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That the Commander-in-Chief be authorized to pay such salary to the Quartermaster General as may be consistent with efficiency and economy. Comrade Sterrett offered the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That the Bond of the Quartermaster General be fixed at $12,000, the premium to be paid out of the general fund. Upon motion of Comrade Scott, the bond of the Adjutant General was fixed at the sum of $1000, the premium to be paid from the general fund. At this point the Commander-in-Chief assumed the Chair, stating in explanation of his absence that he had been to visit the convention of the Woman's Relief Corps and was detained Comrade Wickersham: I desire to make a motion for the consideration of the Commander-in-Chief and his Executive Com mittee, when appointed, and it is that the question be submitted to them as to whether it would not be wise to open the National Encampment for a few hours on the day before the parade in order that the Committees might be appointed and resolutions referred to them, the object being to secure greater deliberation in matters of importance that may come before the Encampment. The motion prevailed. A bill for the sum of $65.00 for expenses of the Chaplain-inChief was presented and on motion ordered paid. A bill from the Surgeon General for the sum of $48.10 for expenses was on motion referred to the Executive Committee. The Commander-in-Chief: I am sorry that I was not here at the beginning of the meeting. I had a short time to visit the Relief Corps and felt it was my duty to visit them. We met with some delay. I want to say that I think it absolutely necessary to be as economical in the year to come as we have been in the past year. A year ago we were in debt. Some of the officers have done the work of the Grand Army without compensation. I have always felt that "the laborer is worthy of his hire" and ought to be paid, and I think it too severe for so large a body as ours to ask a man to devote the entire year to our work without compensation. I think if we exercise the usual economy and scan our bills and pay what is right and refuse to pay bills that are not right, we ought to have enough at the end of the year to at least pay the Adjutant General and the Quartermaster General a fair compensation. I hope that the Council of Administration will move in that direction. I believe that all realize the necessity of rigid economy. I know the comrades in our Post are sometimes careless about voting out their funds and afterward regret it. We should set them a shining example of how to handle the moderate amount of money that we have. We will surely have to increase the tax on the Posts or our Encampment will not be able to maintain the present high standard of the Grand Army as to living and traveling expenses. I would be greatly pleased if you would all give that consideration, and assist in that line. Comrade Smith, of Wisconsin, moved that the expense of the Inspector General for postage and stationery, and when summoned |