The National tribune., 1885-05-28
THE VETERANS.
Visit of a PENNSYLVANIA Delegation to
the President.
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Visit OF pennsylvania Delegation 10
the President.
A delegation consisting of Hon. Thomas J.
| Stewart, Assistant Adutai1t. General of Penn
sylvania GAR. James Mccormick, Inspector
| General of Pennsylvania Mai ]. C. Aitkin,
| President of the GA. Z. Veterans Rights Union
| of Pennsylvania, and DIR. j. G. Z. Miller, Quar-
master, GAR, called on the President last
Friday with reference to the observance of the
laws relating to the appointment and retention
of old soldiers in Office. The President received
them very cordially, indeed, and Comrades
| Mccormick and Stewart explained to him that
they had been delegated by the GA. r. and the
| Veterans Rights Union of Pennsylvania to call
| on him in behalf of the old soldiers now in
| Office and those who were candidates for posi-
tions. They asked that those in office should
not be turned out on purely political grounds
| to make room for others; that the law guaran-
| teed them from such removal, and that when
| it was necessary to remove a man that the
vacancy should be filled by man who had
been in the service of his country in her hour
of need, and not by civilian. They also told
| him that there would be meeting in Phila-
delphia on Saturday evening, to which they, as
| a Committee, desired to report the result of
this interview and such definition as he might
make Of his position in regard to the law.
| They asked him to indicate as his wishes that
| when reductions were to be made that they
| should be made from others than old soldiers,
! as provided for by law, as the man who had in
Cured disabilities in the service of the country
! deserved superior consideration from it to
| those who had not made sacrifices; that these
men have but few years left to them at all
! events, and that the men who were in position
now, if turned out, would be unable to earn a
Twelfth God, and then their darkest days would
| commence.
The President said that he was fully cogni-
zant of the fact that there was such law on the
| statute book and he sustained it. He had been
interviewed on the same subject by delegations
| from the Departments of New York and the
Potomac; that he was DESTROYS, as far as it
was possible, to see that the old soldier was
| properly cared for; that he desired the laws
| to be fully enforced in all respects but there
might be individual instances, of course, in
which violations would not come to his notice.
Comrade Stewart replied that he would quote
one case which was believed to be a fragrant
violation of the law; that is, the removal Of
man who had q splendid record as soldier.
from the position of Assistant Custodian of the
United States Court house and Post office build
ings in Philadelphia, and the appointment in
! his place ola man who was q civilian during the
war, and had recently been defeated for Magis
| trate in Philadelphia. The man appointed
would have under him large number of men,
| 20 of whom were old soldiers, and these men,
! knowing of the existence of the law, and deem
| ing the removal of their former chief viola
| ton of the same, they would of course proceed
with fear and trembling, not knowing how
soon the ak might fall on their own necks.
1--WE realize" he said, 1.-THE fact that you can
not give personal supervision to ali these minor
details; but we ask the privilege, and we desire
that we may feel at liberty, to call your atten-
ton, by letter, or otherwise, to any violation OF
law
attention is called to such violation, that you
! shall personally investigate the matter"
The President replied: Il would be glad at
all times to give due consideration to any mat
ter to which my attention may be called"
The delegation then visited Col Lamont, the
Presidents Private Secretary, and stated the
objects of their visit to Washington in the
same way that they had presented them to the
| President. Is
| Col Lamont said "Don't you think that
this soldier business is being pushed pretty
hard, and that all old soldiers not the proper
/ persons to fill public otficeS2"
The delegation did NOT discuss this point
with him, as it would seem hopeless but went
| to the Pension Office and called on Gen. Black,
who, after listening to their statement, said:
| The law does not need any Interpretation.
1t is clear enough for me-"
Next the committee went to the Treasury
! Department. where they found Secretary Man
|
him in the interest of old soldiers who occupied
positions under the Government which they
| desired to retain.
Secretary Manning said: "What would you
do with soldiers who have been waiting outside
| for 90 years."
Comrade Mccormick explained that in the
| event of removals being made, that the soldier
who fought for the preservation of the Union
should be preferred to the civilian who did
| nothing
| Maj Aitkin called the Secretarys attention
| to the act of 1876 which provides that when a
reduction is made in a Department that any
| exceptions shall be In favor of the soldier.
Secretary Manning said: "When / appoint
head of Department leave that to him ex-
| cusiveiy. have hardly time to look out for
| it, have hardly time to give you gentlemen
this interview. The time l am giving you
should be devoted to mailing letters"
He went on to talk about the matter, and
| stated that many soldiers had been placed by
the previous Administration in Offices for which
! they were not capable, and instanced the ap-
! pointment of watchman for the Treasury,
who had lost leg and had to go around the
! building on clutches. This man would be Of
no use in a wrestle with burglar. He had re-
moved him, but would give him another place.
| COmrade Stewart said that in the multitude of
cases there might be many exceptions. This
was inevitable. He then called Secretary Man.
ning's attention to the removal of Maj. Jones.
"This act could not have been occasioned by his
/ inefficency, because he had occupied the posi-
| ton for some time and had discharged its duties
| to the satisfaction of all his superiors and yet
he was removed and civilian appointed, who
| had no reason whatever to love the soldiers.
| The President has granted us very cordial
| interview, and has agreed to give our commun-
cation attention. but you, being the head of
Department, will come in direct communication
with the men who violate the law and who may
make removals without proper cause, and we
| desire to arrange with you for the privilege of
communicating with you by letter or otherwise,
and when your attention is called to any such
violation we desire that it shall receive your
personal attention. We do not desire to nomi-
nate anybody for Office or urge any individuals
| for positions, but ask that in appointments and
| retentions the soldier shall have the rights
given him by law"
Secretary Manning: Certainly he shall"
| The Committee thanked him and withdrew.
THEIR RECORDS.
The following are the war records of three
of the soldiers who were RECENTLY removed in
| Philadelphia in violation, it is claimed, of the
! law: ~ ~
Capt. Harry d. Rplon, private, Co. F, 10Th
Pa; mustered April q, 1861 assigned to duty
| at Baltimore, Nd; mustered out Aug. 90, 1861
| private, Co. b. 114th Pa; mustered Aug. z, 1862;
promoted to First Sergeant; Second Lieutenant
| JAN l. 1868; First Lieutenant Nav 3 1863