News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-04-29
FROM WASHINGTON
Correspondence of the News and Citizen.l
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
April %, 1856.

anu hOO UNI '
on account of their discrimination
against the soldiers in making new
appointments, but in their removal of
these old veterans from place. The
Marshal removed six eX-Union sol
diers recently and was called upon by
a committee of the National Veterans
Rights Union, with Maj. j. B. Burke,
Democrat, as chairman. They in
formed him that he had discharged
every ex-Union soldier who had been
under him, and filled their places
with those who had no record of mil
itary or naval service under the United
States. He further said: "Col. Will
son, the committee of the Veterans
Rights Union understands that you
have discharged five ex-Union soldiers
who were capable and efficient, and
for no cause except that they were
Republicans, but the sixth ex-Union
soldier discharged, was for cause?
''That is true, and l have put Dem
ocrats who were efficient men in their
places" he replied.
"Did you know that sections l754
and 1855, revised statutes, and the
act of 1876 required you to retain
ex-Union soldiers when reducing the
force, and to give preference to ex-
Union soldiers in making appoint
ments?"
Col. Wilson replied that he did not
know anything about that; his office
did not come under the civil service
law. sHe had always been Demo
crat he has worked for the party %
years. He filled the vacancies with
Democrats, and did not whether the
men he had discharged were soldiers
or not, nor whether the men he APP
pointed were soldiers.
Every one conversant with the spir-
it of legislation as to appointments
and the retention of employees in place
know that it has under Republican
rule been in the interest of the men
who saved the nation from disruption
and death. Now it appears there is
to be a new deal, and loyalty is to be
punished rather than sustained. The
same course, it is stated, is being pur-
sued in other places as we'll as here.
and the old soldiers heretofore Demo
Gratis are being awakened to the fact
that if matters continue as they are
now going it will be but short time
until there will virtually be written
over every door to Office, "no Union
soldier need apply" Veterans and
sons of veterans number no less than
two million of voters in the United
States, and these, with the best num-
Der of their friends and relatives that
they can influence, can, when united,
control the elections in every north
ern State, as well as the old border
States of Delaware, Maryland and
Missouri. In the light of transpir-
ing events it is not for their interest,
nay, is not their duty to unite, to
the end, that patriotism shall be sus-
tanned, and their labors and sacrifices
not be accounted as worse than use
less. When nation forgets her de-
tenders, when her preservers are
thrown aside to make place for those
who would destroy her, it will not be
long before decay and death will fol-
low.
From the close of the building ses-
sion of last year, and up to so days
ago, it was predicted that Washing
ton would improve this year more rap
dly than ever before in its history;
hat more money would be expended
and the class Of houses erected would
De finer than ever anticipated by the
oldest inhabitants. Now all this is
changed and it appears that really
nothing will be done. Heretofore
have worked ten hours
md received S. per day carpenters
en- hours and received $3.50, and all
'ther workmen like proportionate
wages for ten hours work. They have
low all determined to strike on May
st for eight hours as a days work,
tut not reduction of wages in pro-
'ortion. In other words where the
heretofore received so cts.
Ter hour, he now asks Sc IA cents
nd where the carpenter received 50
ents be now asks 81 1-2 cents per
our. Gu.