The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-16
OVERRIDING THE
a mania for Medals Which Congress
VIII Have to Check.


Washington Special in New York Evening
Post.
THE medal business has been complete
iy run into the ground were the express
tee on military affairs this morning In
speaking OF the movement described some
weeks ago to give medals to the first de-
lenders" or the capital. The desire to re-
ward various meritorious military services
by medals provided by special act OF Con-
gress has become st general that the COM
practice. and has postponed consideration
OF the various bills before 1t till the next
session. which will last but three months.
award of medals by this Congress.
The bills already introduced when this
accession was reached would have pro-
ion of Chairman Hull. with a consequent
cneapening OF the honor. las it is now"
said Mr.. Hull. the War Department will
give a medal to any soldier who performed
a specially heroic task or who for any
re ison out of the ordinary is entitled to
sncn 3 distinction. but for Congress to
sented would result In making medals as
plentiful. as Grand Army of the Republic
buttons" Among other bills are these:
Mr.. Hicks, Of Pennsylvania; for the volun-
teers in the Gettysburg campaign, by Mr..
B1ngnam, OF the same State; for the Dis
Massachusetts Sixth. by Mr.. Hermann. of
Oregon; for the Worth Infantry, of York.
Pa. by Mr.. Stable, of Pennsylvania. and
"a. .arst 'n def Massacaus wfts m ana ps 41HsIly sSs
readers OF these dispatches are already
familiar. Mr.. Mahany, Of New
give the National Guard Gas of New eMl York tS
the medals promised them by General
Order 1876, of 1853: and Mr.. Cummings one in
ments. Then the Port Hudson For.orn
Hope medals cut a conspicuous figure i'm
any list. When General Banks was in Con-
"a he ada N
the award of these medals. Some dispute
exists as to whether the Forlorn Hope peo-
pie should be so rewarded. The task for
which they volunteered was so dangerous
that General Banks did not feel like or
dering n of his men to II, but invited a
thousand men to volunteer. and afterwards
be decorated. AS it happened, Port Hud-
son fell before the assault for which these
men prepared themselves could be made.
almost certain death, their friends demand
f0r them the recognition promised by their
old commander.
II has been facetiously suggested that the
silver In the treasury might be coined into
medals; and were all the bills passed watch
nave been presented, quite a part of the
redundant bullion would thus be disposed
Of. Chairman Hull shook his mead grayelv
at this suggestion, and said that II was
entirely out OF the question. since the silver
pose and could not be SO used. But whv
might not a compromise plank for the ma
tional party conventions be worded as fol-
lows: BY tradition and interest we are
very friendly to silver, and while anv fur
Their purchases OF the metal for coinage
purposes are not warranted by the crescent
condition or the treasury or the M dis Of
business, we pledge the party to the fullest
use OF silver in the manufacture of medals.
to be bestowed on all meritorious soldiers
OF the Union. their widows and chiicren.
This~we believe to be the best reco2 nticn
OF a great American product possible. and
the only large purchase of silver which can
be Undertaken by the government without
serious disturbance Of our monetary sys-
tenn"