The National tribune., 1908-09-10
fore recommend the adoption Of the
amendment so proposed
Sons OF Veterans.

so proposed.
Sons of Veterans.
The Department of Oklahoma pre-
sents a resolution duly adopted, provid-
ing for an amendment to the Rules and
Regulations under the article on Eli
gibility," prescribing certain rules under
which members in good standing of the
Sons of Veterans shall be admitted to
all meetings of the Grand Army of the
Republic only as social and honorary
members.
1t does not appear from the resolu-
tions that it is intended that Sons OF
Veterans be made members of the
Grand Army of the Republic, but to
provide for their admission probably
to Post meetings.
Many Posts do now provide, as they
have the privilege to do, for open meet
ings, at which Sons of Veterans should
be welcomed, but admission to member
ship as provided by amendment to this
vital article is an entirely different and
more serious question.
A somewhat similar proposition has
been frequently presented to this Ma
tional Encampment, has been discussed
time and again, and the feeling has
been practically unanimous that oul
Grand Army of the Republic must be
maintained for those only honorably
discharged from the service of our
country fully entitled to membership
and Regulations. ....-.-
We therefore report adversely.
ReveEms-Cutter Service.
The Department of Maryland pre-
sents resolution for admission of per-
sons who served in the United States
Revenue Service during the war of the
rebellion.
There is in force and has been for
many years a decision of the Judge
Advocate General, approved by the Ma
tional Encampment, that officers and
members of the Revenue Marine Ser
vice are not eligible to membership in
the Grand Army of the Republic. De-
cision 8, page "a, E. b. 1860
Accompanying the proposition now
made are extracts from the u. S. Reve-
nue. Cutter Service Regulations, 1861
which provide:
Sec 2757 The revenue cutters shall,
whenever the President so desires, CO.
operate with the Navy. during which
time they shall be under the direction
of the Secretary of the Navy, and the
expenses thereof shall be betrayed by
the Navy Department.
Sec. 1892. The officers of the Revenue
Cutter Service, when serving in accord
ance with law, as part of the Navy.
shall be entitled to relative rank as
follows:
Captains will rank next after Lieu
tenants commanding in the Navy, etc.
Sec. 4741. The officers and seamen of
the revenue cutters of the United States,
who have been or may be wounded or
disabled in the discharge of their duty
while cooperating with the Navy by
order of the President, shall be entitled
to be placed on the Navy pension list at
the same rate of pension and under
the same regulations and restrictions as
are provided for the officers and sea-
men of the Navy.
This latter clause giving officers and
seamen of the Revenue Service pen
status is new to your commit
tee, and raises a distinct question as to
the decisions of the Judge-Ad-
should not be reconsid-
cred, but 1t is simply impossible for
your committee to secure the necessary
at this time which would
enable them to make a report satisfac-
tory to themselves or to this Encamp-
meut.
We know that time is quickly passing
for many of us, yet as this decision has
Stood unquestioned over a score of
years little time will be lost by some
further and unavoidable delay.
We therefore recommend that the in
coming Commander-in-Chie refer the
question to the dge-Advocate-Genera
for examination as to whether the pre-
vious decision is now applicable under
the laws of the United States as they
may have applied and now apply TO sur
vivfng officers and seamen of the u. S.
Revenue Cutter Service for the years
1S61-1S65.
1t is important that this should be
decided right, and we therefore recon-
mend postpOnement at this session, so
that it may be brought up as unfinished
business at the next session of the Ma
tional Encampment, upon the finding
which a more careful examination may
develop.
The report was adopted by sections
and then as a whole.
Widows Pensions.
r. B. Brown, of Ohio. presented
Mesdames Kate B. Sherwood, Isabel
Worrell Ball and Mary n. North.
Mrs. Sherwood presented the urgent
moval of the limitation upon the date
of marriage. 1t should be at least eX-
tended to the date of the passage of
widows pension bill.
W. S. jenkins, Provisional Command
er of the Department Of Kansas. was
given membership in the National En-
campment.
Address Of COmmander-in-C Chief.
A G. Weissert, of Wisconsin, report
ed, approving all the recommendations
in the Commander-in-Ch Chiefs address.
John C. Black, of Illinois, reported
approving the Judge-Advocate-Gen
decisions.
]. w. O'Neall of Ohio, reported, ap-
proving the Adjutant- report
and strongly commencing that officers
administration of his responsible posi-
ton.
Cordial Prnise for Comrade Beath.
w. A. Ketcham, Chairman of the
Committee on Resolutions, offered the
following, which was adopted by ac-
clamation:
On this, the 25th anniversary of the
election as Commander-in-C Chief of this
organization of our well-beloved COM
rade, Robert B. Beath, we deem it emf
nently proper to express our sincere
affection for and confidence in him.
We believe that we are stronger
wiser and more patriotic because of his
connection with and interest in oul
welfare. With him on guard we always
feel safe. We have relied upon his
judgment; we have leaned upon him
for advice, and when received We have
followed it in the supreme confidence
that he was wise and prudent coun.
sellor.
We congratulate ourselves that hi,
life has been so long spared to us, and
we trust that for many years he ma,
still be spared to expound to us tn,
law and the gospel of the Grand Arm!
of the Republic, and that he may to tn,
full appreciate and enjoy our love, re-
gard and confidence.
We recommend that q committee o