The National tribune., 1909-08-19
FORTY-THIRD
NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT.
CONTINUED from page one.)
q. S. Revenue Cutter Service.

At the Toledo Encampment the De-
partment OF Maryland presented
proposition to have declared as eligible
to mem be r5hip in the Grand Army of
the Repuuiic men who had served dur
ing the var of the rebellion in the u S.
Revenue Gutter Service. who had been
declared ineligible under several opin-
ions given by dge-Advocate General,
duly approved by the National Encamp-
,ment.
The committee was then impressed
by the PORTS presented in behalf of
the admission of such persons, but the
statements we're not accompanied by
official papers, which would have justi-
fled the committee in forming positive
conclusions to present to the Encamp-
ment.
1t was therefore necessary to report
back to the Encampment with the rec
.ommendation that the question be
referred again to the Judge-Advocate-
General by the Commander-ip-Chicf so
that further and closer inquiry could be
made than was then possible, and the
result of this recent investigation is Civ
en- in the report Of the Judge Advocate
General on pages 73 and "a.
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. after
reviewing the former decisions upon
this subject, sustains those decisions
that officers and men of the u. S. Reve-
der the present Rules and Regulations.
but he adds: Whether they shall be
made so eligible or not is a question for
the National Encampment in its wis
dom to decide
1t therefore becomes the duty of this
committee to report TO you their opin-
ion as TO what should be done at this
time with this important matter, which
practically involves an enlargement of
the eligibility clause of our Rules and
Regulations. If The National Encamp-
ment shall now decide that the men
who served in the u S. Revenue Cutter
Service between April II, 1861, and
April 3, 1865. in the war for the sup
preston of the rebellion and honorably
discharged after such service are eligi-
bic it would simply nullify the recent
and former adverse decisions, and no
further action would be necessary.
The Regulations of 1861 give these
men a pen5i0nable status. which the
Judge-Advocate General states was as
compensation for additional service and
dangers. and could have been extended
to other employees of the Government
1t may be answered that Congress has
not so legislated for others. but has for
these.
1t is declared and no doubt correct
ly, that these men performed duties
under orders of the Secretary of the
Navy, tho they were directly under the
control of the Treasury Department. Ii
is contended their services under the
Navy Department during the war en-
titles them to full consideration when
State militia are made eligible who
served under U. S. general officers.
The statements presented from the
Department of Maryland are positive,
but there are no further official refer
ences than before presented. and we
must assume that the Judge-Advocate-
General has had all the facts before
him. and on these has based his ad-
verse opinion.
We have not been convinced by the
arguments presented that the honor
able service performed by these men
renders them eligible 10 membership in
the Grand Army of the Republic. and
we therefore repor. adversely to the
proposition.
Adopted