New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-04
HOW HEROIsM is REWARDED.
,rpopr op THE SENATE COMMITTEE on TIE

REPORT OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON TIE EN-
PLoYMENr OF SOLDIERS AND SAILORS IN THE
CIVIL SERVICE
WASHINGTON, July 3.-Mr. Harrison, OF
presented to the Senate to-day the report OF the
Senate Military Committee in response to tne inquiry
addressed the committee in March last, on mooh Oh
Mr. Voorhees, a. to whether the law giving prefer
ence civil appointments to persons disabled In ana
honorably discharged from the military and naval ser
vice have been faithfully executed
The committee reports that Section 1854, of the Re-
vsed Statutes is in fell te, and binding on the
appointing power; that suffers are not IN the pur-
view of the section, and that no new legislation could
be more specific and mandatory than that now IN e4-
istence. The committee adds:
We think however, that resolutions expressive
OF the Of the Senate upon the subject would II
unanimously adopted promptly correct the Inconsistency
into which our BODY has fallen and would also serve
10 call increased attention u the subject IN
menis of the Government. This would probably serve
GOOD purpose, cannot be denied that mer1tofOus
Soldiers have been compelled TO give way TO those whose
claims are by the law we are now considering ue-
The average per cent Of soldiers and snors employed
in the different executive departments il 40 per cent,
While the average in Senate Office is Is per cent
While condition OF things exists the senate does NOT
occupy favorable ground from which to lecture tue
ether departments OF the Government Tie state
OF the Senator who moved t1e resolution now uhder
consideration nine employees under the sergeanIat-
Arms receiving aggregate annual salary of @l49lO;
and there is single Union soldier among them, ana
Your committee nave also caused inquiry TO be made
Of e officers of the House of Representatives as TO the
enforcement of section 1754 III appoininents undeI
them We received from tue Clerk of the House OF
Representatiyes letter rcm which the following 1acts
are taken There thrtyslx clerks and assistants en-
ploycd this office, OF whom seventeen, or m "Io
Than 40 pcr cent served in the Union Army AMI cne IN
the Confederate army. We are also informed by iet
fer from the SergcanaATns Of the House that OF tle
seven empoyts In his office i've, or little more than u
per cent served in the Union ARMY The D0orke per OF
the House informs us that OF ninety ouiploye,,
ON the permanent roll forty served
in the Union Army ana three IN @ ene
Confederate Army. He also adds that among the ages
there are fourteen the sons Of Union soldiers.
Ii Will be seen that Of the total number OF employees IN
the office the Clerk SeTgeantt aud DOOrheeer
of the House OF r. preseDaVes nearly % per cent "oI
union soldiers - a, - 1900 ,r.,,
concurrence rule which gives deserved preference
to those VINO cleapened their ves 10 save inc country
from death. -
Tne statements Of the heads Of departments arc
embodied in the committees repOftad SLOW tha1 III 'c
apuointneuts IRON March, 1877, 10 March, 1857, oo5
we're persons either served IN the military or nA'al
service and honOraby discharged or were WILLOWS
or orpuaus OF soldiers and sailors. In tne war depart
ment COZ CIVILIAN employees nave Deen aPponoeu sinTu
March I365 " ho have served Iii the Army or Navy In
the Inferior Department the record SHOWS that o' cur
poyes served either in the Army or navy, ahu tha vi
ihe female force of office l2s persons are either
vidoWs or orpnans wives daughters OF soldiers OF
sailors In .he Post Office Department-out o. loiSiI
force Of 496-3S were either soldiers or sailors cuIs
the lae war In the Attorney encris once ABOUT -
per cent OF The force reported "a DC eX-solder5
In the Navy Department ~ or ABOUT 81 per cent Oh
the employees served in the Army or Navy duriH5 thc
late In the Department or state ABOUT % per cos
of a total force OF about male clerks are discharged
soldiers and Diplomatic aud Consular service not
less Than 40 per cent the whole NUMBER are fepOfeu
as honorably discharged Union soldiers.