During these visits I was impressed as never before with the scope and unanimity of our work. "Our hopes, our fears, our aims, are one, Our comforts and our cares." INSPECTION. The report of this National officer, Mrs. Ella Powell, shows the work of inspection to have been well systematized, thorough and satisfactory. The new blank Forms P and S, as formulated by the committee this year, will make the records of this office very complete. INSTITUTING AND INSTALLING OFFICER. The rapid increase in numbers of Detached Corps, and the necessary correspondence attending their institution, makes the position of National Instituting and Installing Officer no "sinecure." Mrs. Sue A. Pike Sanders has devoted much time and careful study in evolving the duties that properly belong to this office; systematizing the work and preparing suitable blanks and books for a more perfect record. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The Comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic who have given royal support to the Woman's Relief Corps during this administration are numbered only by legion, and it would be impossible to make personal mention of their hearty commendations of our work. To Commander-in-Chief Gen. W. G. Veazey, AdjutantGeneral J. H. Goulding, Past Commander-in-Chief Paul Van Der Voort, and Comrades E. B. Stillings and J. K. Davison, special thanks are tendered for fraternal courtesies and many acts of kindness, in forwarding the work to which the Grand Army of the Republic and its auxiliary are mutually pledged. I desire to return thanks to all my associate officers for their prompt responses whenever called upon for advice or approval. The utmost harmony having existed among us during the entire year, I shall carry into my future life only pleasant memories of their loving sympathy and encouragement. To National Senior Vice-President Mrs. Lizabeth A. Turner, and National Junior Vice-President Mrs. Bessie E. Young, I am under special obligations for assistance rendered in the several responsible positions to which they were called. Past National President Mrs. Annie Wittenmyer, from her large experience and the fact that she has so lately looked carefully into the many varied complications arising from defective or unprovided-for points in our laws, has been to me a safe, wise and efficient Counselor; and these later days of close companionship have proved to me how firm and lasting is her love for the Order, to which she is devoting so much time and labor. Thanks are also due National Treasurer Mrs. Armilla A. Cheney, for her never-failing patience amid the many perplexing duties that come to her while guarding our finances; and to Mrs. Hannah R. Plimpton, National Secretary, for her cheerfulness and zeal in the discharge of all the duties of that responsible office. Careful and painstaking, her efficiency has only been equalled by her fidelity; and the ties formed in the "long ago have been broadened and strengthened by the mutual cares we have shared in this year of National work. To the thousands of loyal women who have given their best endeavor to make the work of this year abundantly successful, I can only say, that in the consciousness of known duties well performed lies your fullest meed of praise. RECOMMENDATIONS. In view of the continually increasing demands upon the National treasury, and the necessity of having a fund sufficiently large to guard against emergencies; of providing for allowances to our army nurses outside of the National W. R. C. Home when necessary, and the probability of a large increase in the number of inmates in our National W. R. C. Home the coming year, I recommend: 1. That the per capita tax be raised to two cents per quarter, and that one-half of the same be placed in the National W. R. C. Home Fund and disbursed by the Board of Directors of the National W. R. C. Home. 2. That the National President be allowed, by and with the consent of the National Council, to issue appeals to Corps through General Orders, for relief in cases of emergency. Corps responding to such appeals shall transmit their donations to the National Treasurer, through the Department Treasurer, that Departments may receive proper credit therefor; the National Treasurer shall keep an account with the fund thus established, called the National Special Relief Fund, and disburse the same only on regularly-drawn orders, thus controlling amounts donated for special purposes within the needs of the cases called for. The National President and National Secretary being members of the Board of Directors of the National W. R. C. Home "by virtue of office," I therefore recommend: 3. That the chairmanship remain in the elected Board, as provided for by Eighth National Convention. In view of the large correspondence that comes to National Headquarters, not entirely official, but which requires and deserves answering, I recommend :— 4. That $150 be allowed the National President for an assistant in her office. REPORT OF NATIONAL SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT. HANNAH R. PLIMPTON, National Secretary, W. R. C: In compliance with our Rules and Regulations, I have the honor to submit to you, and through you to the Ninth National Convention, the following report. Deeply sensible of the honor conferred upon me by the Eighth National Convention in giving me a unanimous election as Senior Vice-President, I have held myself in readiness to respond to any demands the National President, or any member of our Order, might make upon me, for any good I could render the Order. In February the National President requested me to visit Corps in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia, as I was to go through those States. I trust the outcome of those official visits will bear fruit hereafter in their better understanding the work in which they are engaged. In my judgment and experience joint installations of Posts, Corps and Sons of Veterans should be held whenever possible. I believe they are of untold good to our Order, stimulating a mutual interest in the grand and noble principles to which we stand pledged. This is shown where Corps are far apart and have little opportunity for social meetings with the Post. I have written 286 official letters and represented our Order at 34 gatherings of Posts, Corps, and Sons of Veterans. I have not been as useful to the Order the past year as I had hoped to be, but feel my best work has been given to the Colored Corps in the South. In closing, I desire to express my thanks to the National President and all National officers for kind expressions of approval for whatever good I may have accomplished. And when the harp of time is strung with the chords of memory, may one chord vibrate in all your hearts for Yours in F., C. and L., LIZABETH A. TURNER, National Senior Vice-President. REPORT OF NATIONAL JUNIOR VICE-PRESIDENT. OFFICE OF NATIONAL JUNIOR Vice-President, W. R. C. HANNAH R. PLIMPTON, Madam: National Secretary, W. R. C. In compliance with the Rules and Regulations of our Order, I herewith submit my report. My official duties have been very light, but in all cases have received due consideration and prompt attention. By invitation of our National President, I was with her at the Department Convention of Nebraska, held at Plattsmouth, in February. Although perplexing questions arose, and there were times when it seemed difficult to decide what course would be best for the Order, our President was equal to the occasion, and maintained the honor and dignity of her position, and the laws of the Order. By her firm but just and impartial manner, the Nebraska ladies were convinced that the welfare of the Order was of greater importance than any personal interests. I would not be understood for one moment as citing Nebraska as an exceptional case: what existed there, exists everywhere, differing only in degree. It is earnestly to be wished by all right-minded and patriotic members of the Woman's Relief Corps that the time will soon come when the introduction of any personal feeling in the Corps room, which would have a tendency to disturb the peace and harmony of our work, will be absolutely excluded, and that those who persist in dragging such themes into the Order shall be justly con |