The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-10-04
VETERAN VOICES
The Secretary of the Navy
Gives Preference to the
Veterans.
4 Texas Editor Catches ON 70 nm
Once In the Land Of the
sphynx.
y ormons go out TO shear and |
Get shorn--A killing at
Albany.
An Important Transfer at Gal
weston - work Of the
Texas Pool.
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.
veseran,s 20 Have First Pick Mt

veterants 60 Have First Pick nj the
Positions.
New York. October 3.-A number
of discharges we're made in the
brooklyn navy yard last spring owing
To the smallness of the appropriation
available, and among those first dis
charged were seven veterans. Tho
matter was at once taken up by the
Veteran Rights Union and efforts
we're made to have the men re-iusta.
ted in their positions. Commodore
Chandler was appealed to by com
mittee and they were referred to the
foreman, but no satisfaction could be
obtained. The committee, consisting
ofGeo. p. Little, JAS. w. Cay and
Geo. Il. Hopper, on the 10th of last
July, wrote letter to Secretary
Whitney in which they asked that
"due attention DO given the laws con-
corning veterans, either In the origi-
nal appointments to positions or to
the preference to which they are Gu
titled when a reduction In
force is necessary" "In this con.
nection," they said, eve would state
that too frequently IN the eduction
of the force a soldier or a sailor has
been the first, not the last, to go. We
have been told, when we have sought
to obtain for these men, generally occu-
plying positions as mechanics or labor
era, their rights under the law, that
the soldier-and-sailor business was
played out, or we have been advised
10 bring some ward politician to
plead for the men. The maln trouble
in the Brooklyn navy-yard we find /,
among the ioremcn, who are more
anxious. to retain their influence in
politics than they are to do Justice to
veterans. Can we not ask that You
will issue an order TO each branch of
the navy department covering the
preference which has been promised
by law since 1865 and never, even par
TALLY enforced, until this organiza-
ton became necessity"
In reply 10 the above appeal, the
following letter was receive short
time ago:
NAVAL DRPARrMEsrl
WARRINGTON. September q
lGENTLEMEN Your letter of re-
cent date requesting that due atten-
ton be given to the claims OF hon
orably discharged soldiers and sail
ors for employment and retention In
the navy department and the yards
under its control, has been received.
In reply have to say that II will give
me great pleasure at all times 10 give
preference 10 those honorably dis
charged from the military and naval
service of the United States, either
for appointments to, or to retention
in office, as the case may he, If equal.
ly competent and deserving. The eff,
forts of the Grand Army of the Re-
public TO maintain in this way the
premium on patriotism displayed by
those honofably discharged soldiers
and sailors, are commendable and
shall have my cooperation. You
may rest assured that the fact that
man is an honorably discharged
soldier will not initiate against
his obtaining employment in an,
of the establishments unde
the control of the navy department
but, on the contrary, that fact will be
as it has been heretofore, considere,
as recommendation in favor of tn
applicant tor the employment b
seeks. should be glad to have IN
attention called TO any violation @
the law, with reference to this sui
ject. Yours respectfully,
VIC. WHITNEy,
Secretary Navy.
To Thos, Badell. chairman, Geo. l
Little, Jos. w Cary aud Geo. +. HoI
per, subcommittee Grand Army {
Republic.
Secretary Whitney's letter was {
once shown to Commodore Chandle
aDdthe seven veterans were at once r,
instated in their positions.