Senior Vice Department Commander in chair announced Timothy W. Kelly, Camp 3, re-elected Department Commander; Jere J. Shea, Camp 11, re-elected Senior Vice Department Commander.

The Department Commander in chair announced that Department Surgeon Dr. Edwin D. Towle's name was withdrawn yesterday as a candidate for the office of Department Surgeon, and that the Encampment had elected Comrade Dr. William H. Devine, Camp 4, Department Surgeon.

The Department Commander announced that Department Chapplain Rev. William F. Dusseault had been re-elected Department Chaplain, and the following Comrades had been elected delegates at large to the National Encampment: John T. Maloney, Camp 7; Walter Jones, Camp 44; Ralph S. Brown, Camp 11; J. Rudolph, Camp 24; alternates: Comrades Everett E. Thompson, Camp 6; William H. Baldwin, Camp 23; William B. Munsil, Camp 10; Frank Dodge, Camp 19.

Department Inspector Joseph F. Scott announced to the Encampment that he was not a candidate for the office of Junior Vice Department Commander.

At this time Past Commander David A. Jewell, Camp 20, was substituted for Past Commander Herbert Allen on the Balloting Committee.

The Committee on Credentials reported as follows:

Total number of delegates and past officers entitled to seats,

Total number of credentials checked,

Total number entitled to vote,

846

277

277

There being no choice for Junior Vice Department Commander, and no vote being taken for Department Marshal on the first ballot, the Encampment proceeded to ballot for a second time at 11.03 A.M.

The ballot box was closed at 11.20 A.M.

Department Commander Kelly: "Comrades, regarding my report of yesterday, on account of not having the report of the Department Quartermaster I asked the privilege of finishing my report later in the Encampment in regard to the finances of the Department, and you accorded me that privilege. I wish to state that when the books were closed for the last Encampment there was a balance in the general fund of $143.80. When we closed the books of this administration we had a balance of $145.96, a gain of $2.09. There is also a balance of $61.19 from the last Department banquet, but as the Banquet

Committee's report is progressive, this balance will appear in the general fund of next year, and not in the balance of this year. If this committee's report had been final there would have been a total gain for the year of $63.28. When you consider that the cost of transportation in Massachusetts has advanced 40 to 60 per cent, the cost of postage 50 per cent, and other things accordingly, you can appreciate how we economized to save this money, having the same amount of money with which to work. There was on hand at the close of the previous administration $483.26. Our report shows $806.45 on hand April 26, a gain of $323.19. In explanation I want to state that the largest part of that increase was the $300 worth of Liberty Bonds purchased by vote of the Encampment last year. When the books of the Department Adjutant and Quartermaster were closed and audited, and their reports had been accepted by the Encampment, the Department had not been credited with the $300 that was used to purchase Liberty Bonds. The first definite official mention of this money was contained in a supplementary report of the Department Quartermaster, when he recommended that Liberty Bonds be purchased; yet we find in the Encampment Proceedings of 1918, in the reports of the Department Adjutant and Quartermaster, this $300 worth of Liberty Bonds carried. The Department Quartermaster informs me that his report was changed to include this $300 after it had been accepted by the Encampment and without his authority. In explanation of this $300 worth of Liberty Bonds, I wish to state that at the last meeting of the Department Council of Administration, prior to the 1918 Encampment, I suggested that we should take some action to insure our proper position in the line of the Liberty Loan parade. Department Commander Hedtler appointed me a committee of one to have our organization secure its proper place in line. I suggested that he add to the committee to serve with me Past Commander John A. Buswell, Camp 23, which was done. After Comrade Buswell and myself had conferred with the proper officials of the Liberty Loan parade, and were assured of our proper place in line, I immediately put myself into communication with the members of the Lowell Camp, who have the largest national flag in Massachusetts, and requested them to loan the flag to be carried in the parade. This the Camp agreed to do, providing I would hold myself personally responsible for its safety. I agreed to this condition, and they forwarded it by express to me. I anticipated a collection in this flag. It was carried in the parade by the Comrades

ERRATA

Strike out lines 19 to 23, both inclusive, beginning with the word "yet" and ending with the word "authority", page 115 Proceedings of Encampment, Dept. of Mass., U. S. W. V., 1919, because inserted therein by error.

of this Department, and $335.37 was thrown into the flag by people along the line of the parade. At the close of the parade I suggested to the Department Commander that he appoint a committee to have charge of this money, and he appointed Department Quartermaster George P. Field, Past Commander Gilbert W. Hunt, Camp 19, and myself. After defraying the cost of transportation, amounting to $3.07, the committee voted that $32.30 be given to Camp 19 for its generosity in loaning the flag. As the money was not the property of any individual or the Department, the committee, working for the best interests of the organization, unanimously agreed that the balance of $300 be placed in the hands of the Department Quartermaster, with the understanding that after the Encampment of 1918 had convened the matter be brought to the attention of the delegates with the recommendation that, as the money had been contributed in the Liberty Loan parade, Liberty Bonds be purchased and placed in the reserve fund of the Department. If there is no objection to my report of the financial affairs of the Department it will stand approved with that part of my report rendered yesterday."

Upon motion of Commander Fred J. Reid, Camp 13, seconded by Past Commander Joseph Booker, Camp 46, it was voted to accept this portion of the report of the Department Commander with that rendered yesterday.

Department Commander Kelly: "Comrades, with your attention I want to introduce one of the most able and conscientious workers in the organization; one of the best men and one of the hardest workers and of the greatest ability we have, a Comrade who not alone leaves the Department of the District of Columbia to come to Massachusetts to make a visit, but goes to many other parts of the country to make visits at his personal expense. He will endeavor to explain to you the National Legislative Committee's program for national legislation, of which committee he is a member, and it is with great pleasure that I ask Comrade William L. Mattocks to state what National Headquarters intends to do along legislative lines."

Comrade W. L. Mattocks: "Comrade Department Commander and Comrades: I noticed with interest yesterday and to-day that when a Comrade rises he announces his name and Camp. I am Comrade Mattocks of the Department of District of Columbia, the third largest in the organization, and the best in the organization.

"Now, Comrades, as Department Commander Kelly has said, I must speak along legislative lines of interest to the Comrades of this Department. In regard to the Widows' Pension Bill, it has come up year after year, and did not go over the top until last year. This year we are planning to put in an amendment to give the widows of the Spanish War $25 per month, the same rate as to the widows of the Civil War.

"In the month of February, this year, through the efforts of our National Legislative Committee and our Comrades and friends in Congress, under the leadership of our Commander-in-Chief, Congressman Carl C. Van Dyke, the Census Appropriation Bill was so amended as to grant preference in all executive departments and other government establishments to those who have served in the army, navy and marine corps of the United States, and who have been honorably discharged or released from active duty.

"Comrades, this is a clause which the G. A. R has been fighting to secure for forty years. We got it, however, this year, it being taken up in the Senate by Comrade New, Senator from Indiana, and adopted without discussion. It went over to the House, and some very busy people got on the committee, and when the committee reported the Bill it did not provide for preference. Congressman Carl C. Van Dyke, Commander-in-Chief, took the amendment, and with the Legislative Committees of the G. A. R. and Spanish War Veterans went before the members of Congress and told them this was something the soldiers wanted, as the G. A. R., after fighting for forty years for it, were too old to receive any benefit, but they wanted it for the boys coming back to-day. It will benefit some of our members. We have been fighting for recognition, the recognition of men who have served their country in arms.

"There is another thing I wish to speak about, and that is for the past year considerable agitation has taken place as to the effect on the organization of the Spanish War Veterans of the return of the men fighting in the great World War. Some think we are going to drop out. If you think that and act it we certainly shall. The one thing for us to do is to continue to do all we are asked to do. We want to see the boys organize because all veterans have common interest in a great many things, and what we should do is to encourage them to organize. With all due respect to the G. A. R., they extended a helping hand to us, but we only got started during the past few years. Do not be afraid we are going to lose out; we are gaining every day, and hope to gain."

Assistant Adjutant General G. E. Rausch then addressed the Encampment in the interests of organization and membership.

The chairman of the Committee on Ballots reported on the second ballot, as follows:

The Department Commander announced there was no choice on the second ballot for the offices of Junior Vice Department Commander and Department Marshal. Past Commander Daniel M. Casey withdrew as a candidate for Junior Vice Department Commander.

Commander Sumner P. Lawrence, Camp 9: "Comrades, some three years ago Fitchburg went to Springfield with the determination to have the next Encampment held in Fitchburg, but at that time Worcester wanted the Encampment the next year. We withdrew, but since that time we have had it in mind to ask the Department of Massachusetts to hold the Encampment in Fitchburg. I bring with me an invitation from the mayor and the city government of Fitchburg and Chamber of Commerce, for the Department of Massachusetts to hold its next Encampment at Fitchburg. I will read same and turn them over to you for action."

IN CITY COUNCIL, April 15, 1919.

Ordered, That the city through the mayor invite the State Department of Massachusetts Spanish War Veterans to hold its 1920 convention in Fitchburg.

WARNER M. ALLEN.