The National tribune., 1885-10-08
OPINIONS
Grand ARMY RuleS-

BY PAST OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES R. B. BFATH
tNoTIcE-Inquiries on Grand Army matters of
general interest and proper for publication will be-
answered IN this column by Past Commander-in-
Chief Beath 1t will be of course understood that
such answers are simply personal or in the way OF
advice which one eomrade may properly give an
other Questions requiring official answers must
De submitted to the proper authorities.l
RANK BADGE.
Veteran" asks: Is it proper for an A. d. C. ON
the Staff of the Commander-in-C Chief to wear the
expires?
Yes; but the badge must be in accordance with
the requirements of Section e. Article TX Chapter
V, Rules and Regulations. This section restricts
the use OF Post officers badges to that proper for
the highest position held by him. The terms of
appointed officers expire with the term of office of
the officer making the appointment
RELIEF.
A comrade, Co. <, 18th Ind. presents a question
upon which great deal may be said upon both
sides. and then, after any discussion each Post will
necessarily act for ITSELF as the circumstances in
each case may require.
An honorably- discharged soldier "a pensio,,er
not member OF the GAR. was fatally i,.i,.s,.;I
dying soon after the accident
A Post Commander took charge of the Injured
man by employing nurses to attend him. anu al his
death arranged for his interment.
The Post Commander then presented the hill of
expenses to the Post and the Post refused I yyent
on the ground that that it was under no ob.l.s.on
ny IT'S by-laWS, either expressed Imult.H z
render assistance to any ex-soldier not member
OF the Order.
1t is possible that the Bylaws are entirely sieut
on this question, and that the Post Commander ex-
eeeded his authority in caring for an old Scatter
fatally injured.
The action of the Post must be assumed 20 bs
governed by the circumstances and if the se,.,.ier
had friends to for him and bury hin. or If
there was any law, as in several States, rcauTing
the authorities to give him an honorable burial
then the Post might be honorabIy relieved from
any pecuniary obligations, from doinl, more
than to see that the best possible care WAS taken OF
him. Common humanity would dictate that much.
But If the injured man was friendess and il became
question of the Commander acting, as he did or
permitting the man 10 be taken almshoI.ss and
be buried in pauper's grave, then the Command
er's duty was to that this latter disgrace did
not happen to his Post.
He would be recreant to his duty to his Pest to
permit that, for it is part of fundamental law
To assist such former comrades-in-arrns rs need
help and protection" and the Rules and ReeuIa-
tons also require Relief Fund for the assistance
of needy soldiers, sailors and marines etc. to be-
established by each Post, and the Commanders
action was in accordance with law both expressed
and implied
To be sure this old soldier ought 10 haze been n
member of the GAR, if his circumstances ever
permitted it; but seolding him after his death
would be useless, and to have permitted him to
have lived after the accident unattended and then
be buried as pauper would be simply al disgrace
to any Post of the Grand Army.
Unless there extenuating circumstances not
given, for the action of this POST unless there are
reasons not stated by the comrade the member, Of
this Post have failed to grasp the fundamental Prr-
ciples of the Grand Army of the Republic aud
such Posts can be of practical use 10 the ORR
iZation.
y life lived simply for self is not worth li;:l..
A Post that can do no good outside lis OWN actual
membership will be unable to be of any practicable
benefit TO them for it will be unworthy M ,,y
sacrifice the part of members. and it will err-
tainly not have any support help from the public