Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-05
Soldiers ana Sailors in Office.
ATES AND FIGURES FROM TIE REPORT OF THE Sc!

DATES AND FIGURES FROM THE REPORT OF THE SEN
ATE SELECT COMMITTEE
Mr.. Harrison presented to the Senate Monday
Jas stated in THE STAR OF that day. the report of
the Senate military committee in response to the
inquiry addressed to the committee in March last,
on motion of Mr.. voorhees,, as to whether the law
giving preference in civil appointments to persons
honorably discharged from the military and naval
service has been faithfully executed. The resolu-
ton requires that the report shall state whether
committee report that the law was passed at
he close OF the war as an expression OF graft
ude from the loyal people Of the nation,
Ut 1naSmuch as the number of those who
were unable or incapacitated from holding offices
as very great, and that the gratitude OF the IA
ion found expression in very liberal pension laws,
sible. The civil Est or the United States numbers
more than 100000, scattered in all parts OF the
country. Very measre information could be OBJ
tanned on the subject, and even il the exact per
cent OF hOnOrabiy discharged soldiers employed
could be obtained it would be necessary to pursue
the inquiry much further before could convict
the appointing power OF a violation OF the law.
The committee also decided that the terms of the
law apply only to such persons as being enlisted
In the military or naval service were honOrably
discharged therefrOm by reason OF wounds or sick
ness Incurred in the line OF duty.
AT THE CAPITOL. - 90
The committee reports that there are employed
by the secretary OF the Senate four Union soldiers,
or whom two We're wounded, and six cOnfederates,
OF whom one was wounded. Seventeen employees
were in neither army. The number OF male en-
ployeS under the sergeant-at-arms, not including
the Senate pages, is 107. Or these nine are mes
sengers nominated by the committee which they
serve, and appointed by tie sergeant-at-arms. OF
these Mr.. Bright has marked seventeen persons,
little less than Is per cent OF his force as
having served IN the Union army, and sixteen per-
sons, or little less than Is per cent, as in the
confederate army.
ployed In the different executive departments is
!oI'y Per cent, While the average in the Senate
Offices IS 10 per cent There are thirty-sx clerks
and assistants employed by the clerk OF the House.
Oh WhOm seventeen. or a little more than 40 per
cent, served in the Union army, and one in the
confederate army. The sergeant-at-arms OF the
House reports that OF the seven employees in his
Office five, or a little more than II per cent served
In the Union army. The Goorkeeper of the House
reports That OF ninety employees on the permanent
roll forty-seven served i'll the Union army and
three In the confederate army. Among the pages
tnere are fourteen who are the sons OF Union SOL
d1erS 1t will be seen that of the total number of
employees in the offices OF the clerk serrcaut-at-
arms, tthd doOrkeeper OF the House OF Representa-
ives nearly 81 per cent We're Union soldiers
IN THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS.
The statements OF the heads OF departments, as
embodied in the committees report, show that in
the Treasury department, out Of 1,54S appoint
mentS and reappointments from March, 1877, to
March, 1882, SOB were persons who either served in
the military or naval service, and were honorably
discharged or were widows or orphans of soldiers
and sailors. In the War department 8 G2 civilian
employees have been appointed since March. 1865
who have served in the army or navy In the Ia
terror department the record shows that 457 en-
pioyeS served either in the army Or navy, and
That or the female force OF the Office 12S persons
are either widows or orphans, wives or daughters
OF soldiers Or sailors. In the Post Office depart
nent out OF total force OF 1885, 1873 were either SOL
dcrs or sailors during the late In the Attor-
nsy Generals office about g per cent of the force
are reported to be eX-S0ldlers. In the Navy de-
partncnt, e, or about "a percent of the employees
served in the army or navy during the late war
in the Department OF State about 25 per cent of a
t0t3! force OF about SO male clerks discharged
soldiers. ana in the diplomatic and consular ser
vice not less than 40 per cent OF the whole number
are reported as honorably discharged Union SOL
dierS.