New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-06-11
FINE MEMORIAL
To SOLDIER DEAD
ARLINGTON AMPHlTHEATER Is
THE RESULT OF A LONG
CAMPAIGN BY G. A. r.
WAS ERECTED BY CONGRESS
Eighty-Fo our Other National Gene
teries Are Maintained by the Unit
ed States, Of Which Gettysburg,
Was the First Established.
BY N p.

BY JAMES p. HORNAOAY.
Wash,ngton.-The dedication the
other day of the memorial amphi-
theater in the Arlington national
cemetery across the Potomac from
his city recalls to mind that
no other nation takes as much
pride in the burial places of its
soldier dead as does the United States.
The completion and dedication of this
particular memorial brings to an end a
campaign which the Grand Army of
the Republic started many years ago.
That organization insisted that con-
gress should make provision for at
soldiers buried In national cemeteries,
and ii suggested that the memorial be
placed In Arlington cemetery. More
han two thousand bodies of unidenti-
fled soldiers. men who served in the
Union army during the Civil war. are
buried in n tomb in this cemetery.
The memorial is in the form of a
large open amphitheater. 1t will be
used In the observance Of Memorial
day as long as the living shall remem
Der the deeds Of heroism of the dead.
Unfortunately the question has arisen
since the dedication Of the memorial
as TO whether the names of men who
served In the Confederate army are
to be inscribed on Its walls along with
the men who served In the Union army.
Arlington cemetery was. Of course, es-
tablished as a burying place for SOL
diers who served In the northern army,
but for a great many years it has serv-
ed as q resting place for men Of the
regular army Of the country. This
means, Of course. that a large number
Of men Of southern birth are buried
there. This question as to whether
the men who served In the Confederate
army are to have recognition in the
memorial has been submitted to con-
gress. For the time being it is with
the committee on library OF the SEN
ate. II is doubtful. however, II any
definite decision is ever reached. The
disposition all around seems TO be to
prevent any further controversy by
doing nothing.
Other National Cemeteries.
The United States now maintains 81
other national cemeteries. These Gem
eteries were established by act Of the
Thirty-seventh congress, In May, 1862.
This act gave the president power to
purchase cemetery grounds to be used
a national cemetery for soldiers
who shall die in the service Of the
country" whenever In his opinion II
should be necessary. On July %. 1886.
the first appropriation of $4,000 for
purchase Of cemetery sites was made.
In the second session of the Forty
congress-, the secretary Of war
was empowered to select superintend-
ents of national cemeteries. from mer-
torious and trustworthy soldiers, either
commissioned officers or enlisted men"
At the time Of the establishment of ma
tional cemeteries. 1t was established
;.lso that all those buried there should
have an honorable discharge from the
of the United States.
Gettysburg was the first national
and dedicated by President Lincoln
IN his immortal address. now a classic.
The governors Of the states whose SOL
Her dead lie in Gettysburg purchased
the land and gave II to Pennsylvania.
In turn the government took II owe In
1870.
Arlington national cemetery was es-
fablished May 13. 1864. Over 5000
soldiers who had died in and around
Washington had filled the soldiers
cemetery here. Lincoln had
out on hat morning to visit the
rarious hospitals and speak a cheering
word to his "boys." Arlington at that
line was one vast hospital. When the
president and Quartermaster General
Ieigs reached Arlington. just at sun
twelve bodies were awaiting burial.
luartermaster General Meigs. In des-
,eration, and with the consent Of the
president, ordered the bodies buried on
he Arlington estate. So Arlington be-
the second national cemetery.
Radio Stations for PubIic's Use.
Congress In all probability viii
authorize the use of government
,wned radio stations by the gen.
raj public. A bill for such author
has been reported favorably
" the house committee on merchant
marine and fisheries after exhaustive
hearings. Prior TO the outbreak of
he world war. radio operation and
he use Of radio apparatus on chips
md on land within our Jurisdiction
we're governed by the act of congress
IAN act to regulate radio com
nunication," approved August 10. 1912.
md by the provision Of the interna-
ional radiotelegraph convention.
more commonly known as the London
uhich fook effect nv prOc-