Evening star., 1900-12-04
NATIONAL MEMORIAL
Gen. Breckinridge Suggests an Arch
and Court of Honor.
LOCAL MATTERS TOUCHED UPON
Post Exchange at the Soldiers
Home Advised.
HIS ANN NUAL REPORT

Several local matters are touched upon in
the annual report of General Breckinridge.
inspector general OF the army, in an inter-
esting way. Chief Of these Is "a national
memorial" in regard to which General
Breckinridge says:
"As the centennial in commemoration of
the transfer Of the national government to
the District Of Columbia is approaching, it
may be appropriate to invite attention to
the lack of adequate artistic outdoor me-
MORALS in the national capital Of any
of those men who did most to establish,
preserve and maintain our country and
liberties. except men on horseback, which,
OF course. does not indicate a lack of ap-
probation. The beginning of a new CEN
tury would seem fitting time to recog-
nize such distinguished public services, in
manner fittingiy commemorative of our
country's history in the nineteenth century;
and it has been suggested that memorial
arch hanked by court of honor would be
suitable form for such national and inn
posing work of art, naturally adding to the
attractiveneSS and dignity of the architec-
tural and historical features of our national
capital. which now lacks such a feature,
though ii is familiar in foreign capitals.
Some recognition seems also due the heroes
of the eighteenth century, who laid the
foundation of this great republic; and their
last resting place and the battlefields where
they fought for independence deserve to be
as carefully preserved and legally guarded
as those of any other Of our wars.
Post Exchange at SOldiers' Home.
Regarding a recent inspection Of the Sol
diers' Home in the District Of Columbia,
he briefly suggests the advisability Of the
establishment of post exchange at that
institution. THE discipline says he.
''seems to have greatly improved during
the year, and a decrease is noted in the
Lotl, Nffe nd E1ff
even among these diminished offenses the
desire for liquor continues to be the princ-
pal cause Of most derelictions. In the
army and at the volunteer homes post ex-
changes are generally in favor. but such
an institution has never been tried here.
1t would doubtless. as elsewhere, conduce
to the comfort. economy and good behavior
of those who benefit from 1t.
Recommends Increased Pay.
In concluding his report Gen. Breckin-
ridge pays high tribute to the efficiency
of the members of the clerical force of his
office and recommends an increase in their
pay. On the subject of the retirement Of
Clerks, he says:
Many of these valuable public servants
have devoted their best years to the public
service. and some consideration seems due
them when years of constant and faithful
application to their work have rendered
them helpless and dependent upon others.
Their pay is hardly sufficient to acquire a
competence in old age. and the deserving
cannot always be promoted for lack of op-
portunity. 1t is believed that the public
service would be greatly improved if a
snail increase were granted deserving
clerks every five years. or if they could be
retired some such plan was proposed
in House bill No. ID of the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress. which contemplated the creation of
retirement fund without expense to the
government. In Europe some of the ma
tiCns maintain a civil retirement list at
their own expense. and in this country some
OF the more progressive corporations have
found II advantageous to adopt similar sys-
tens Surely when the efficiency of the
service be increased by such con-
siderate plan, and that without expense to
the government, 1t should receive fair and
favorable attention..
Retirement With Higher Rank.
Gen. J. C. Breckenridge earnestly recon-
mends that the benefits of the law of March
;. 1899. providing for the retirement Of off,
GERS of tn, navy, under certain conditions
with the rank and. pay of the next higher
grade, be extended to include officers of the
army. Most Of our wars have been fought
on land says the general. and as matter
of simple justice rewards for army officers
should be no less extensive than those
joyed by officers of the naval branch. He
touches upon the disadvantages imposed by
inferior rank in the army citing as an in
stance the China campaign, when Gen.
Chafee, junior among the international
commanders. was advanced from a~briga-
der to major general to give him the rank
requisite to his status as commander-in-
Gen. Breckenridge also notes that the grade
of brgadier general Is abolished in most of
the European armies, and is nearly
chaic as the rank Of commodore af1oat.