Evening star., 1898-02-22
FOR RANK AND FILE
Steps Taken to Build a Suitable Mon
ument in This City.
II
TO RAISE" one MILLION DOLLARS
The Bill Recently Passed by the
Senate.
HOUSE COMMITTEES REPORT

Practical steps have been taken for the
erection Of suitable monument in this
city to the memory of the rank and file of
the army and navy who served during tn,
war of the rebellion. The matter is in
charge of the National Reunion Monument
Association. the principal officers of which
are Col. VIM. H. Michael president; Maj.
john McElroy, vice president, and Col NJ.
+. Anderson, treasurer. Their purpose Is
to raise one million dollars by popular sub
scription for the erection OF a suitable mon
ument in this city. Congress has already
taken favorable action and the promoters
of the movement are confident of its sue
cess.
The Senate recently passed joint reso-
luton authorizing "the National Reunion
Monument Association to erect on ground
belonging to the United States within the
limits of the city of Washington suitable
monument to the soldiers, sailors and mar
ines who served the nation during the war
of the rebellion
A similar resolution was introduced in
the House of Representatives. 1t was re-
1erred to the committee on public buildings
and grounds That committee has decided
to report it back with a strong recon-
mendation for it's adoption.
me committee has prepared its report
and it will probably be reported to the
AAoiSS eoihoiioW. Lie iCpoIt, III part, 10
as follows:
The committee on public buildings and
GROUNDS, to whom was referred the House
Joint resolution No. =, having fully con-
sidered the same, report 1t back with the
recommendation that 1t do pass. The reso-
luton simply asks for authority from Con-
gress by the National Reunion Monument
Association to erect on ground belonging
to the United States within the limits OF
washington suitable monument to the
soldiers. sailors and marines who served
the nation during the war of the rebellion.
1t asks for no appEopriat ton of money, but
| simply asks the authority to erect the
monument proposed on 4 site to be selected
by the Secretary of War. The organiza-
ton is incorporated under section 545 OF
the Revised Statutes of the United States,
and was perfected July 49, 1893.
The organization has been holding pre-
liminary meetings with a view to active
work in carrying out its object sine,
its incorporation, and has SO far progress
ed as to be ready to enter upon its legiti-
mate work az soon location has been
secured for the monument. The object and
purpose OF the organization has been in
dorsed by the National Encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic by the Ma
tlonal Encampment of the Union Veteran
Legion and by other soldier organizations.
The committee are firmly of the opinion
that the request Is a most reasonable one
Sites have been granted and set apart for
monuments to army and naval heroes, gen
erals and admirals; and it seems but fitting
that the Congress Of the United States
should authorize the designation and set
ting apart Of desirable location for the
erection Of monument to the soldiers
sailors and marines who served in the
Union army and navy during the war for
the Union. This is a project in which the
soldiers. sailors and marines throughout
the United States are deeply interested.
and awaiting our action in the premises be-
fore responding to the call for funds to
carry out this grand object.
Ihe Senate, without reference to COM
| mittee, passed joint resolution of the pre-
else wording of the House resolution, and
it is the opinion of your committee that
the House should promptly meet the ac-
tion of the Senate by favorable action
Spurred to Action.
This Reunion Association was formed
and Incorporated uIder the laws of the
District of Columbia shortly after the en-
campn ent of the G. A. r. in this city in
1882. 1t is organized by army corps, and
| its active membership is limited. 1t had
held no meetings and had made no progress
toward erecting monument until there
was organized Union Soldiers and Sail
ors Monument Association, having for its
object the erection in this city of a mon
ument to the Union soldiers and sailors
who fell during the war. This association
was formed in ignorance of the existence
of the Reunion Monument Association, but
as soon as that fact was known an effort
was made to unite the two societies, but
without success, for the Reunion ASSocia-
ticn declared every proposition made look
iIg to amagamation. Those who were
most prominent in the new associa ton say
that the only object they had In banding
together was to secure the erection in this
city of the proposed monument, and that II
their action has spurred the older body into
definite effort, they are perfectly satisfied.
All they wanted was to the monument
erected, and ii the Reunion Association
will do that and rot go into another four
years trance they will render all the as
sistance in their power.