The National tribune., 1907-09-12

saved this Union, and no President has
evinced a stronger desire to adequately
recognize that service and its results
han Theodore Roosevelt.
Increasing Infrmitics.
AS the years go on increasing num-
bers Of the men who served in the war
of the rebellion are forced to enter
Soldiers Homes there to find asylum
when no longer able to fight the bat
ties of life. During the year which
ended June 80, 1906 CHE last available
report of the Board of Managers of the
National Homes for Disabled Soldiers).
34S10 were cared for, and 2i.lO5 We're
maintained thruout the year in the nine
National Homes. In the 80 state
Homes 1878 disabled soldiers AMI
sailors were cared for. 11,lO9 being
maintained thruGut the year The whole
number cared for in National and State
Homes was 54.593. an increase over the
preceding year of S62 The total num-
ber maintained during the year was
32S14. The average cost per capita
per wear was $154.55. The total mum
ber of deaths was 2,14S, and the aver
age age of those who died was 69.fS
years. The total cost of these Homes
to the National Government was n lit
ernmeat has been generous in this am
pie provision for the care and comfort
of the aging men who are rapidly
marching to the westward
Eattie Mountain Sanitnriurn.
Our great Order can never adequate
ly recognize the services of our COM
rade, Henry f. Palmer of Omaha,
Past Department Commando of Ne
braSk;, in tuunding and completing th:,
Battle Mountain Sanitarium for Urdtei
States volunteer soldiers at Hot Springs,
VI t1,a hi nt
Grand Army. First indorsed at the
Cincinnati Encampment in 1898, Com
mander-in- Chief Sexton appointed "A
committee. of which Comrade Palmer
was the Chairman, to procure neces-
sary legislation. Under his direction.
after three years of patient work, the
bill authorizing the building of the
Home became a law May 20, 1912. The
plant comprises 10 buildings, and has
cost to cate little over 100000. 1t
was opened May l, 1907. and marks a
most notable advance in the care of a
grateful Nation for the men who de-
Tended the flag on the battlefield. The
Sanitarium is the only one of It's kind
in the world, and within its hospitable
walls are to be treated comrades who
suffer from certain severe and serious
ailments. Thus far the most sanguine
hopes of the promoters of this enter
prise have been realized. To the wis
dom, unwearying efforts and PATRIOTS
devotion of Henry +. Palmer are we
and the Nation indebted for this unique
and most valuable addition to the chain
of Soldiers and Sailors Homes which
reaches across the continent from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. In the name of
the Grand Army of the Republic. the
loving care Of our comrade who builded
so wisely and tenderly for the afflicted
is here recognized. When others hesi-
tated he pushed the mere resolutely to
the front; objections were overcome by
unanswerable argument; official indif-
ference only inspired renewed effort
and like the true soldier he halted not
until victory was won. To-day we give
a soldiers thanks and blessings to 4
modest, large-hearted, intrepid worker
in our ranks, Past Department Com
mander Henry E. Palmer, of Nebraska,
and his loyal associates in a great cause
Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington.
/ regret to report that the Congress
has not as yet recognized the earnest
efforts of our most efficient Committee
on Legislation for Veterans in the Pub
lie Service. to procure a small appro'
priation for the preparation of plans
for a Memorial Amphitheater at Ar
lington, aptly termed the American
Westminster Abbey. The President il
/
session of the 59th Congress gave this
patriotic enterprise his unqualified
sanction. The Secretary of War con-
Cured in a recommendation of tht
Quartermaster-Genera of the ARM foi
the second time that an appropriation
of $1,000 be made to secure plans fror
architects in a competitive contest, but
the House Finance Committee failed tC
include the item in the general appro-
priation bill, and when pressed by the
! Commander-in-Chief and Chairman o!
| the Committee, the Chairman of tn.
| Finance Committee was not able t.
| offer q satisfactory reason for ignoring
the direct recommendation of Presi
/ dent Roosevelt and the Secretary o.
! War mem orial of dignified charac-
ter and ample proportions should bt
erected by this great Cover 1ment d
Arlington, where rest the mortal re-
mains of heroes from every State il
the Union. The Grand Army has Ions
pressed upon the Congress the duty o
providing an amphitheater at the Ma
tional Cemetery, which is annually Wis
| tied by thousands Of people from ever,
section of the Republic. Mr.. Secretar,
! Taft has again and for the third tim
recommended an appropriation by IN
! 60th Congress. and the matter will b'
strongly pressed upon the lawmaker
| of the Nation this Winter, / trust, ant
if so we may reasonably hope for sue
cess this time.
The Woman's Relief Corps.
! Twenty-Five years ago at Denver
Colo. was organized the Woman's Re
! lief Corps Auxiliary to the Grand Arm
Of the Republic. This noble sisterhoo
| is the pride of us all. With a hal
hundred loyal women as charter mem
| bers the organization has grown in tn
brief space of quarter of centur
to be the greatest civic body of wome
/ in the world. its membership eXceedin
l $50, 900. More than $4,000 COO hav
been expended in its work in behalf o
the veterans whom they ere proud I
serve. AS we locked TO our mother.
wives, sisters ana sweethearts durin
the days of active service for the in
. spiration which made us men in tn
presence of deadly peril, so now W
! turn to the great-hearted women G
this mighty order for blessings Still
Py their aid nj always cheerful CO
!, operation the Grand Army has bee
+ strengthened and ennobled. To thei
unselfsn devotion and untiring zeal /:
, this holy cause. we are largely indebte
for the proud position we occupy /
/ public esteem. / charge you, my CON
rades. to ever hold in loyal regard thes
tenderIy devoted women, who have $
constantly aided us by their sympath,
prayers and well-directed efforts.
, eXem plfy!ug the lofty principles of til
! all the sacred memories of the past an
support and defend these, our be-
frt. 10. hA Ta1 10.