The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-10-04
The RigAts Of vst.rs.s

INV 1oRK, Dot. IA number o
discharge. were made In the Brooklyn
navy yard Last spring, owing to the
amallnsss Of the appropriation avail
Sblc. Among thoao first discharged
were seven veterans. Tho matter vss
at oncs taken no by tho Veteran
Rignts Union, and efforts wore made to
have the men reiustated Ia thcir posi-
lions. Commodore Chandler Wss an.
peAied to by the coMuittse, and thew
were referred to the foroma an, bat NO
satlsf action could be obtained. A COM
mtttse, oOnslstin1 OF George p. Little,
Joseph w. Kay and George +. HOpps,
on tho 18th OF last July, wrote q leltsr
to Secretary whitney, In which thew
asked that duo attention be
kivea TO laws ocncerning veterans,
either In original appointment to DO.
sition, . preference to which they are
entitled WHOM reduction in force 10
necessary. The letter continues: UIn
this connection, we would state that
too frequently in reduction OF force
soldiers or sallers have been the hrst,
not tho last, to No. We have been told
when wv have sought TO obtain for
these men, generally occupying 90
siiiops as mechanics or lab0rers, that
the soldier and sailor business was
played out, or have been advised 10
TO plead for the men. The main trou.
pie In tho Brooklyn navy yard, We
And, III among foremsn, who are more
anxious to retain their infiuonoe in
politics than they are TO do Justice t0
veterans. Car wo not AK thst vou
will iaauo An order to each and every
branch OF the navy department. cover.
,iSg prcfsreuoe, which has bean prom.
tsed by law since 1866, and never ave,
partially enforced until this 0rEanixa.
ti0n beoame necossity."
10 tho above appeal the fellewina
letter was received short time age:
Navy Department, Washington Sept. r.
10 homas 1rade1, chairman; GeoYeo D.
| suite, Joseph W Kan. George r Hop
per, sun-comm ttee Of the q. A. y. vot-
| "G1MTLKMaN:-Yau aur latter of re-
cent date, requesting that duo Alton
ton be given to the claims Of kop er-
ably discharged soldiers and sailors,
for employment and retention Ia the
navy department and yards under its
control, has been received. In reply, l
have to Say that 1t will rive me Rrspt
pleasure at all tines to give preference
TO thsso hOnorably discharged from
the military and naval servios of the
United States, either for appointment
to or retention in office, ~ the case
may be, II equally competent and de-
serving. Tho efforts Of ths Grand
Army OF the Republic to maintain
In this wav premium OH the patriot-
Ism displayed by tho.e honorably
discharged aoldiers and eailors are
oommendable, and sbsll have my CO.
operation. You may rest assurod that
tho fact that . man is an honorAbly die
charged soldier will not initiate
against HIS obtaining employment In
any OF tho establishments under the
control Of tho navy department, but,
on tho contrary, tho fact will
be a. II has boon horeto.
fore considered by me, M n
recommendation In favor of tho sppli-
cant for the employment he seeks. I
should bo Glad to have my attention
called to any violation Of law with
reference u this subject.
Yours respectfully,
VIC. WHITNEY,
Secretary OF the Navy.
Secretary Whitncy's letter vas at
once shown TO Commodore Chandler,
aud seven veterans were Immediately
rotnettt0d In their pnsitiOnu.