The National tribune., 1885-12-03
WASHINGTON c., THURSDAY 1885,

George Mcfarland, roller department, served
three years and two months on United States ship
St. Lawrence.
r. Mccartney roller department, served four
years in the United States Marine Corps.
VIM. Knapp, cutting department served three
years and nine months in Co. b, 9lst Pa.
VIM. H. Smith, roller department, served three
years in Co B. 114th Pa.
Samuel Bailey, medal department. served three
years on United States ship st. Lawrence.
p. A. Voorhees,, conductor, served in Co. X, Goth
Pa.
G. G. Berkenslock, carpenter, served three years
in ssth Pa.
T. v. Chadwick melting room, served three
years in CO. B, goth Pa.
E. F.. Hilferty, clerk in medical department,
served three years on United States steamer Miami.
Theo. X. Vogel, clerk, served in 29th Pa.
Frank Roby, night watehman served three years
in the Sd Pa. Cav.
E. h Crout. melting-room, served three years in
Co +, 6Sth Pa.
We come to You, sir, asking act Of simple
justice to these veterans that they be restored to
their places and permitted to earn their bread in
the employment of the Government they suffered
for and fought to save. Many of them bear upon
their persons scars of honorable wounds received
in defense of the Union One in particular. Frank
Roby, who was watchman in the Mint has a
since its nfction.
We believe that in the exercise of your high office
you will see all the laws of the land enforced, but
especially ono of this beneficent character and APP
peailng to your well-known sense of right and
justice and your patriotism as an American citizen.
We respectfully present this memorial, request
ing your earnest consideration of it and trusting to
receive such an answer thereto that we shall not
again be compelled to have recourse to petition or
remonstrance.
We are, Mr. President, very respectfully, yours,
William Greer, Chairman; James Mccormick,
John L. Bowers, Thomas Ayres James r. Holt,
Committee.
A copy was also sent 10 the Commander
in-Chief of the GAR, with the following
letter:
HEADQUARTERS GAR,
VETERANS RIGHTS UNION or PENNSYLVANIA,
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Oct. 81 1855.
Endorsement
Respectfully forwarded to s. 6. Burdett, Com
mander-in- Chief of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, for his official information, and with the re-
quest that such official action may be taken by the
Grand Army of the Republic rs to insure the sue
cessiul issue of the matter presented therein and,
If possible that the President of the United States
may be induced TO set forward in answer thereto,
the reinstatement of the Union veterans therein
mentioned, and also in answer such matter as may
clearly indicate to each Department Officer of the
United States in civil military employment, that
Sections No. 175I and 1755 Revised Statutes of the
United States, and the spirit of laws of 1876 ex
pressed in Section 8. Chapter 2s7. must be carried
out, in SO far refer to the Union soldier, his
widow or orphan, in their preference to employ
ment and retention in Office in the Civil Govern
ment of the United States.
(Sgncd) j. C. ArTKEN, President.
Ofiiial E. CALDWELL, Secretary.
The President promptly returned the fol-
lowing reply:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, Oct. 81, 1885,
DEAR SIR: The President directs me TO aclSnowl-
edge the receipt of communication, signed by
Committee of the Veterans Rights Union of Penn
sylvania, calling attention to the cases of certain
exsoldiers and sailors who have recently been dis
missed from the U. S. Mint at Philadelphia, which
will be brought to the personal notice of the Sec
retary of the Treasury. Very respectfully,
(SgnedD ID. S. LAMONT,
Private Secretary.
MIR. WILLIAM GREER
Chairman Committee, Philadelphia, Pa.
Last week the issue was still more def
nitely presented by the President receiving
from the hands of Gen. N. P. Lane, of Phil
adelphia, the following communication:
HEADQUARTERS GEORGE G. MEADE Posi- No. IL
DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA, GAR,
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. %, 1885. }
To His ErceHency Grocer Ciereldad President Wash
iigton, ID. c.:
SIR: Post No. /, GAR, of Pennsylvania. has re-
solved upon the following for presentation to you
Whereas Gen. Henry s. Huidekoper, a conrade
of this Post Union soldier who lost arm in the
service, has been removed from the position of
Postmaster at Philadelphia without far we
know, any just cause; therefore it behooves us to
ask the President,
FirSt-Whether, in the absence Of charges affect
ing wounded soldiers official character ability,
such removal is not contrary to the spirit that has
pervaded and should pervade Executive appoint
ments?
Second-Whether such action Is not contrary to
the direct implied pledges of the President often
heretofore made that i'll removals from office, In
the absence Of charges or any known disqualifica
ton, the fact that incumbent has been honor
able Union soldier should weigh in his favor sufi-
cieDt to overcome simple political considerations,
all things being equal?
Thid-Whether in removing our fellow w-sOIdier
without charges there is not direct viola
tion of a statutory requirement that the fact of
soldiership shall be protection to official in
cumbent until it shall appeor that he is in some way
culpabe or deficient?
Fourth-Whether the removal of our comrade
without charges cause, in opposition to an al
most unanimous business and non-partisan senti-
ment and in the midst Of great official usefulness
is not detrimental to the public service?
And it furiher behooves us as q body to say, and
herein disclaim all politics and every political
motive, that in the of our comrade, and all
others like it, the wrong of removal is aggravated
by the substitution of one who is not soldier |
This adds to tho reflection contained in removal |
without cause.-The sting of discrimination against
the soldier 1t is not thought that your action is
tho result of an unyielding policy. If not let us
petition you to modify not to appear hostile
to the soldier element. They ought to have the |
rights conferred by law, conveyed in public prom
ises demanded by liberal public sentiment More |
they do not ask. Very respectfully submitted by
order of the Post.
ALEXANDER REED, Commander.
DAVID X. WEAVER, Adjutant.
THE appointment of Comrade Robert Nc |
Kinstry, of Jackson, Mich, to be Pension |
Agent at Detroit, seems to have been very
to his fellow-citizens The |