National Republican., 1884-04-10
VETERANS OF THE WAR.
The Attention Of Congress Called to Two
Neglected Sections Of the Revised Statutes.
An Interview with n Representative OF
the Veteran Rights linton.

Joseph w. Kay, chairman Of the executive
committee Of the Veteran Rights union, Of
Brooklyn, N. Y, is at tho Ebbtt house.
One Of the objects Of his visit to Washington
is to look after n bill introduced in the
house of representatives by Con. Slocum
early in the session, and referred to the COM
mittee on military affairs. The same bill
was subsequently introduced in the United
States senate by Gen. Logan. 1t pro-
poses to make a very important change in
section 1854 Of tho revised statutes, with
regard to civil Offices
A representative of TIE NATIONAL RE-
PUBLICAN had an interview with Mr.. Kay
and learned from him something about the
objects OF the association with which he is
connected, and its plan Of operations. Al
though composed mainly of ex-soldiers, who
are connected with the Grand Army of the
Republic, tho Veteran Rights union is q
separate and distinct organization. The
Grand Army of the Republic Is on-political;
the Veteran Rights union is political only In
tn sense that IL aims TO accomplish certain
objects by means of political action IL neces-
sary, although it is strictly non-pnrtisan.
A convention, composed Of representatives
| from the Grand Army posts in the state of
| New York. was held in New York city Oct.
| 13, 1882, to consider the complaints made by
members Of the order of unfair discrimina-
| tions in various departments of the govern
ment against veteran soldiers who were
entitled to preference in civil appointments
under existing laws. The outcome of this
convention was tho appointment of n general
committee TO take charge of the matter, and
this committee orystalli2od into tho Veteran
Rights union. Mr.. Kay is chairman Of its
executive committee. and in connection with
Corp. Tanner, past department commander,
G. A. II. of New York state, is pressing upon
the attention of the heads of departments tho
sections of tho revised statutes relating to the
appointment ofex.soldiers to civil office, land, as
already stated to urge the passage Of pend
ing amendment which will greatly enlarge
the scope of these provisions of law.
"What amendment do you propose to tho
revised statutesW
I'VE simply want single line stricken
from section 1854. The section now reads:
Persons honorably discharged from the military
or naval SERVICE by reason Of disability resulting
from wounds or sickness incurred in the line OF
duty, shall be preferred for appointments to civil
offices provided they are found to possess ths 6usi
ness capacity necessary for the proper discharge
of the duties of such offices.
We want the phrase, "by reason of dsabil
ity resulting from wounds or sickness in
Cured in the line OF duty" stricken out and
the section will then read:
Persons honorably discharged from the military
naval service shall be preferred for civil Offices
provided they are found to possess the business
capacity necessary for the proper discharge Of the
duties of such ohioes.
"The object then, ia to extend to all SOL
diers of the union army who have been honor
| ably discharged the preference which the
law now gives to those who were discharged
| OH account of disability or wounds incurred
| in the serviceW
"That is it exactly. We think that tho
men who fought to save the union ought to
have the preference, whether they were dis
l Il. T.. nV,t AE hA
war with sound bodies
SIS this provision Of the law as It now
stands strictly enforced"
at is not. On the contrary, 1T Is con-
| stantly violated. Ex-soldiers are frequently
| turned down to mako place for civilians who
never smelt powder. Our association was
| organized for tho purpose Of compelling the
enforcement Of thelaw.
| "How do you propose to do this?"
| "By sound argument and moral suasion, il
we can. If these are not effective, then
through the ballot box. We represent 10000
soldiers and sailors in the state of New
| York alone. The strong republican city OF
Rochester has somo reason to know how the
| ex-soldiers will enforce their claim to be
| recognized in the distribution Of civil offices.
Candidates for congress will be closely ques-
toned as to their views on section l754 Of
| the revised statutes"
"Does the civil service law stand in your
way?'
"The civil service commissioners have
| recognized the paramount claim of the union
| soldier to civil appointment by exempting
him from the limitations with regard to age,
| which debars oil others after they are 40
years old; and the civil service law virtually
re-enacts, under section z, Of the same, tn o
| rights guaranteed under section 1854 of tn Q
revised statutes, which gives disabled and
wounded union soldiers the preference
| Practically, however, the law operates against
| the union soldier. man who fought for his
| country twenty years ago bas not much
| chance in a competitive examination with q
youngster fresh from his school books"
HAS your association taken any action
with regard to the proposed pensioning of all
union soldiers P
"We have not. We arc not asking for
| pensions What we want ft present is tho
extension Of the preference given to disabled
soldiers by the existing law, to all union
soldiers whether disabled or not, so that the
same may be practical in effect whore the
applicant 10 worthy and his necessities re-
quiro."
"Havo you any other object in view?'
"We have no other fixed object unless it be
to secure tho passing of such amendments to
| section l7j4 of the revised statutes as will
mako II operative. OF course it IS our pur-
pose to SEQ that ii Is carried out in good faith,
and we must use whatever political power we
| possess, if necessary, to compel the appointing
| power TO obey tho law"
"Yon are familiar with the provisions of
section 1855 of tho revised statutes 2"
"Yes, sir: and it is one of theiobjects of our
association to keep this provision of tho law
before the eyes of the people. There are
great many needy soldiers who are seeking
| employment, and we think they ought TO
have tho benefit Of q law enacted when the
| heart of tho nation was warm with gratitud O..
| This section of tho law is merely advisory,
| aud cannot be enforced by political methods,
but ii ought not to be overlooked. And in
Brooklyn the G. A, r. have a labor bureau
thoroughly organized and now in effective
operation, which covers the ground as far as
section l755is concerned. | remember
when marching up Pennsylvania avenue,
the day Of the grand review, at the close of tho
war. there was very conspicuous banne r
stretched across the north face Of the capitol,
which told us there was one thing tho nation
would never forget-the debt of gratitude it
owes its defenders We trust that these
pledges have not been forgotten"
Section 1855 of the revised statutes is as
| follows:
In grateful recognition of the services sacrifices
| and sutierlngs OF persons honorably discharged
from the military and naval service of the country
| by reason OF wounds, disease or expiration OF
| terms OF enlistment, 1t Is respectfully recon-
| mended to bankers, merchants, manufacturers
| mechanics, farmers, and persons engaged in in !.
dustral pursuits to give them the preference for
| ployment,
| Il l.. u. 4 l..