The National tribune., 1882-07-01
PENSIONS AND OTHER THINGS.

The committee appointed at the last session
to consider the question of pensions, and. to
whom all resolutions on that subject were re-
ferred, designated a subcommittee Of fye
Past COmmander-in-Chief Wagner, Comrades
BrOdie, Tanner, AmeS and the Commander-in-
Chief who spent some days in Washington i'll
consultation with the Commissioner of Pen
sions and the committee OF the two houses of
Congress, with the most satisfactory results:
their report will present this matter in detail
committee of five, as directed by resolution
OF the Encampment, was also appointed con-
slstlng OF Past Command der-in-C Chief Robinson
Comrades Tanner Ames, Brodie, and the Com
mander-in-Chicl, who waited upon the Presi-
dent OF the United States to present the views
of this Encampmcnt in relation to giving the
preference III positions in the Government
service to veteran soldiers and sailors of the
Union. The President kindly made for US
special appointment, and expressed himself
heartily la favor of the principle presented with
the assurance that his influence would be cor
daily III the direction of the most liberal in
terpretation of the provisions of the statutes
declaring that in appointments the preference
be given to the defenders OF the Republic. The
committee on testimonials to Past Commander
in-Chief Wagner viii be ready to report during
the Encampment. In accordance with your
vote, complimentary resolutions to the former
Adjutant- General Beath and Chaplain in Chief
I%ONtIIiS nave DcCil UaIuSOlltIy CnSTOSSBu Dy
our one-armed Assistant Adiutant- General
Monroe, and suitably framed for presentation
The Committee on Military History has been
CO Sttuted, as directed by resolution of the
Encampment, with Comrade johnson, of Hi
nOis, as chairman, and its report will be pre-
scnted in due time. Memorial Day, the services
OF which some We're but short time ago pre-
dieting would soon decrease in interest, was
never SO generally observed as the past month {;
all over our land citizens We'd with comrades
in the graceful and tender mission of covering
with bright 1lOWcrs the mounds above our
fallen comrades, recalling to our own memories
and renewing III the minds of the fast rising
generation the lesson Of patriotism and loyalty
which frightened the lives and gloriiied the
death of those whose muster-out has already
come. And here let me emphasize the perti-
ncnt suggestion of my predecessor, that the
Both day of May is legally and properly
Memorial, and not Decoration Day; the latter,
while justly included within the former, far
from cOmprehends the broader more touching
and patriotic suggeStiVcnCss Of the name right
fully chosen; but while we hear comrades con-
tnually using the expression Decoration Day.
it Is only to be expected that in so many of the
addresses and public journals the same mis-
nolncr will be applied. Let it be our care and
duty, my comrades that the better more fitting
maine be applied TO this special creation of the
Grand Army of the Rcpublic-M Memorial Day.
Since The adoption of the rank badges OF the
Grand Army, based upon official designations
III the Regular Army, the regulations OF the
latter have been SO far changed as to substitute
for tie four stars for general two stars, with
the arms of the United States between | sug
gest whether it would not be well to authorize
a corresponding change in the badge of the
C0mmander-in-C Chief
A SOURCE OF REGRET.
| exceedingly regret that one Post, in one of
the central Western Departments where it
would seem the lesson of the past in relation
tointerference with partizan or political topics
ought never to have been forgotten, has SO