The National tribune., 1891-11-26
The GRAND ARMY,
News From the DepartmentS---NeW
Posts, ETC
HEADQUARTERS NOTES.
The Communicating Chief on the National Memorla
Hall at u lcaturs

The Commandcr.i Chief on the National Memorial
Hall at 1catur.
In last General Orders issued NJ Albany, n. "
tv command of John Palmer, COMMANDMENT
Chief GA H. are these paragraphs
The 24th National Euoampment authorized tie
erection al "A Soldiers' National Memorial Hall al
Decatur Ill.. la which shall bc preserved such ON
cinl records Of tie lIncamnmenis BephrimentHhnd
Posts oi the Grand Army ui the Republic, aud such
trophies relics records aud nienurlai- oi the Wa.
of the rebellion, ~ may be received ana approved
by the Tru-ieps oi ths Association. Pursuant 10
this action " The National Memorial Tall hHsncli''
ZION Gtsnd Arms uf the Republic was ineorpO-
rated under the laws OF tbe State oil ILLINOIS, ""u
chartered July ~. 1891
The 2Hh National EncRmpment required the
Association provide ga a. bylaws iorhn ADVISORY
Hnarr CD consist ui the Commander lllei hha
tile Department Commanders OF the Nthhd ARMY
Of the Republic Hud for the appointments OF Tour
,,tasnhsrs 81 iis Board az Trustees 10y ihe Gum
niandpr-in-C hicL The National Memorial HAL
Association has complied with these requirements
and b. now authorized 90 solicit contributions Tor
the erection and maintenance OF the proposed
Memorial Han.
Tie Grnnd Army Of the Republic in two EucnmP'
nents las authorized this pr ieci; There " thcre-
fore uo NECESSITY 60 say more iu commeudHuon ol
a tlinu that d h. The Memorial Of tie Grand
Army itself, aud a. thc most Effective method ol
praVldng means, thp ComHRUder-in+'hiei orders
That each aud every Post of the Grand Army ap-
point 90 once committee iu solicit contributions
foT this purpose. The money collected WI be Tor
Naricd by Post Commanders To MAJ. Frank i.
Have Treasurer Decatur ~. accompanied Win
last al the names at the contributors, hs under ie
by-lnws each contributor becomes an honorary
member Of The National Memorial Hall Assooa'
tiUn Grand Army OF tIe Republic"
SOLDIERS RECORDS
II having been the practice Of the War Depart.
nlent "a furnish the Grand Army 81 the Republic
with official statement ~ a soldiers record when
a. has been requested for use in an application ioi
membership and because of frequent complaints
tlnt reached the Mar Department of tIe improper
uze Of information obtained osten-ibly Tor tle ust
Of tie Grand Auiv, the Commander iu-Chiei, Ritcl
consulting with the Secretary 81 War, recunneHds
that hereafter military histories from the War DE.
partment can only hc ObtHiued upon the request 81
approval OF the several ID partmeni Commanders
To- future all communications ai aforementioned
character must be- sent through Department Head
0unrteFE Tor approval aud signature ~ tie Depart
meut Commander. The importance 81 this meas
ure will prevent Unauthorized OF Improper persons
obtaining information from tlle official records, End
will undoubtedly become more apparent when We
consider that such information can be used in the
prosecution 81 fraudulent claims against the Gov
eminent and may be used 10 the discredit al lndl'
viduals TO satisfy the purposes OF personal spi'e
and malice,
Further the Commandment Chief says that be
observes with great regret that the number Of sus
pended mcuibers iB large-ln fact, much too
large. Under aur Rules aud Regulations each Post
has tlie power 10 remit the dues oi comrtde not
sble 90 pay them, aud keep him thereby IN good
standing The Commander iu- Chief las no nu
thority la this matter, hut desires 10 remind the
comrades that suspension deprivcs members oi
moral aud practical aid in times when they need i
most aud hc recommends that. uHiii suitable leEis.
lniion can be had each Post appoint a commit.
See 20 examine into tile circumstances Of members
in arrears. carefully and thoroughly, and that
uponR favorable report 81 this committee, the Post
remit the dues unpaid, or Rl except 40 much
thereof as may be needed 10 pay the per cHpitf
lax Should worthy comrades not he able o. pas
even this small amount be hopes those whom
Providence las favored Will come 10 the n-sisnIcs
Of their unfortunate brethren for one OF The pillar
OF our Order 10 Charity,