The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-05
9 Ers. 8 JET BACK.
Secretary whItnsy's Letter Ordering pi
charged Union Soldiers ReInStatsd.

Secretary .whltnsy's Letter Ordering Dis
charged Union Soldiers ReinStated.
NEw YoRK, Oct. ga number Of dis
charges weremads inths Brooklyn navy
yard last spring owing to the smallness Of
the appropriation available. Among
those first discharged were several veter.
ans. The matter was at once taken up
by the Veterans Right Union, and efforts
were made to have the men reinstated In
their positions. Commodore Chandler
was appealed to by the committee, and
they were referred 10 the foreman, but no
satisfaction could be obtained.
The COMMITTEES on the 10th Of last July
wrote o letter to Secretary Whitney, In
which they asked, 80 -
''That due attention egiyen thelRw con-
cerning veterans, either In orlgldal ap-
pointments TO positions or to the prefer
ence to which they are entitled when
reduction Of force Is necessary. In this
connection, We would stale that too fire.
quently, in reduction Of force, q soldieres
sailor, has been first, not the lastto 20.
We have been told, when we have sought
10 obtain for these men generally occu-
pying positions as mechanlcs or iaoorers)
their rights under the law, that the soldier
and sailor business was played out, or
have been advised to bring some ward
politicians to plead for the men. The main
trouble in the Brooklyn Navy Yard We
find iS among the forernen, who are more
Rnxiousto retain their influence in poll
tics than they are to do justice to veterans,
Can We not ask that you will issue an
order 10 reach every branch OF the Navy
Department covering the preference which
has been promised by law since 1865, and
never, even partially, enforced until this OF.
ganis ition became necessity. F
wH1rSEY's LETTER.
To the Abovs appeal the following letter
was received short time ago;
Navy DEPARTMENT., [
WAsHISGroN, D, o., Sept. %, 1885. J
GExr1EaES-Your letter Of recent date
requesting that dus attention be given to
the'claimsof honorably discharged soldiers
and sailors for employment and retention
in the Navy Department and the yards
under It's control has been received. In
reply, 1havs TO say that II will give me
pleasure ut all times to give preference 10
those honotably discharged from the mill.
tgry and naval service Of the United
States, either for appointments to, or re.
tention in Office, as the case may be, II
equally competent and deserving. Tbs
efforts Of the Grand Army Of the Rapub-
lie to maintain in this way the premium on
patriotism displayed BY these honorably
discharged soldiers and sailors, are
comrlsniable; and shall have my cooper
atiDn. You may rest assured that the fact
that q man Ia an honorably discharged sol
der will not initiate against his obtaining
employment in any OF the establishments
under The control Of the Navy Department,
but, on the contrary, the fact will be tas 1t
hiss been heretofore) considered by me as
recommendation in favor ofthe applicant
for the employment he seeks. l should
be glad to have my attention called to any
violation OF the law with reference to the
subject. Yours respectfully,
I-tU.f.g. W. @. WHITNEY,
Secretary Of the Navy.
To Thos. B. 0deli, EsQ., Chairman; Geo. S.