National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-13

The report Of the employment commit
tee, g. A. r., department Of the Potomac,
adopted at q late session Of the encamp-
ment, has Just been made public. The re-
port shows that applications for employment
have been received from 151 persons, and
that employment has been secured in only
fifteen cases, adding that "wbile the en-
ployment committee Of former years were
principally engaged in securing employ
ment for applicants, and with fair success,
the present committee have, we regret TO
report, owing to conditions that will be
mentioned hereafter, received but little en-
enlargement in proportion to the amount
OF labor expended In that direction. In
deed, this has been an of year. for the
class we represent. The gloomy forebod-
ings Of Commander Alexander, In his adj
dress TO the latest department encampmont,
seem TO have been realized. But we have
the pleasure Of knowing, however, that in
the few cases where employment was Sc
cured, much real misery was relieved aud a
few homes and flresides made happier.n
Soon after the Inauguration OF President
Cleveland, the committee carefully con-
biNNiNu hhV niNuhtiOh VI uldllbt huu Tb-
solved not to take hasty action, but proceed
cautiously and wisely. In April last the
following address was adopted
HEADQUARTERS EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
DEPARTMENT OF THE POTOMAC, GRAND Army
OF THE REPuBLic, GRAND ARMY HALL, WASH.
NoToN, d. G., April $. lSS5.-To THE PREsT-
GRAND IND G "a SE AS Gu are the
bipartisan organization of ex-unlon soldiers
and sailors, whose chief public object is the
promotion OF good american citizenship; the
practice of fraternity and charity. To en-
courage honor and purity In public affairs Is
one Of the high obligations Of all IFS members
pal practical methods of caring for our com.
rades, perhaps the best, Is by organized efforts
TO secure employment for those who need itand
cautions are taken in this important matter to
avoid improper Endorsements and recommend.
ations. and no distinction Of sect or party Is
of our comrades are In the employment of the
government. We are naturally solicitous for
their duties satisfactorily, except in high
political Offices.
We therefore beg leave respectfully to pro.
invoke In behalf Of our NV worthy comrades in
the government service that consideration and
protection in their places where they are en-.
e wReh sa Of ne es
relating to ex.soldicrs, their widows and or
phans. and the grateful sentiment OF the peo.
foTmed thIs peesPnt Nd duty condenlV IN tRe e
behalf heretofore upon each change Of national
administration, always meeting with kind
and Just response, and we renew 1t now with
duty bound.
by order of the employment committee,
SOLOMON Il. FAUNCE, Secretary.
The President received the deputation
very kindly, and the committee were greatly
rod with tho fntnraat ha annmaI IN
manifest, he evidently being in full sympa-
thy with the spirit Of the address. Some
time elapsed, and In the meantime many
of the comrades In the department were
being rapidly displaced, and, feeling that
the appeal had not been as effectual as
they had hoped It would have been, a second
address was prepared, signed by all the de-
partment officers and post commanders,
and was then delivered to the Presidents
private secretary, Col Lamont, to be laid
before the President The address was as
follows:
HEADQUARTERS EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE, DE-
PARTMEET OF THE POTOMAC, GRAND ARMY OF
THE REpuBLIc, WASHINGTON, ID. c., May 90,
1oS5.--THE PRESIDENT; You will no doubt re-
call that some few weeks ago q committee,
representing the Grand Army of the Republic
of this department, by your favor, had the
honor of an audience, when the claims of eX-
Union soldiers and sailors and their widows
and orphans for retention In government en-
ployment were brought to your attention, aud
you were requested 10 protect them in their
places
you are In full sympathy with our request, ir-
respective Of the laws that have been enacted
for their protection. We know you realize the
fact that The great office of President OF an un-
divided Union was made possible after 1861 by
the heroic devotion and selfsacrifce of the
class OF men we have the honor to represent.
We were strongly impressed with the reply
you made us in manly and patriotic language
assuring us that, except for good cause, cur
comrades would not be removed. We have
placed full faith and confidence In the senti-
ments you then expressed, but we fear that
particular interposition of your authority may
be required to give them full effect
Our attention has boon called to several
cases Uhree in the Treasury Department.
where reputable .ex-Union soldiers have re-
Gently been discharged, and, so far as we are
for such action. We desire TO emphasize that
while we are urging government and other
employment for our comrades whenever neces.
the employment of any who arc really In
capable or unfit for the duties they may be
called upon to perform. In the instances OF
recent discharges, therefore, II upon investiga-
tion 1t should be ascertained that the parties
are unworthy, or unfit for their places, we
shall be satisfied with the action that has been
taken. But we do most sincerely request and
earnestly urge that you adopt such measures
as shall fully protect our comrades In the en-
ploy of the government until good reason, ac-
why they should be discharged. We have the
honor 10 be, Mr., President, very respectfully,
your obedient servants.
The report expresses surprise "that any
ex-Union soldier or sailor, holding office
under the government, should have cause
for anxiety about his official tenure, pro
vided his official and personal record Is
good, is somewhat strange, when 1t Is re-
membered that Congress has passed laws
which have never been repealed, but are
now in full and binding force on those hay,
4 90 tIn.,, "A t.rlt oh, -,
only prefer such for appointment, but also
protect those who are In government en-
ploy from discharge. II is also somewhat
humiliatipg that we must knock at the
doors and beg for that recognition which Il
not only ours by right, but is acknowledged
both by statute and by public sentiment
In concluding the report says.
Heretofore, while there may have been SOME
reason to find fault with the appointing powe
In failing to appoint, there has been but little
opportunity 10 criticise for failure to retain
our comrades In office. Provided a comradt
had q good personal and official record, he fol
tolerably secure in his position, and that with
out regard TO party aifiliation; IL was be
Neved, and the belief was put into practlca
effect, that even though an ox-Union soldle
was so Extensively partisan as 10 cast his yot,
against the dominant party, yet such an act or
an office under the federal government no
outweigh the good he had done the Union IL
fighting her battles Mt time when offensive
anu hSNhoiNN puiNiSunahlpt WI tuS IlBul hlue
was at a premium. Then what great unpar
donablc political sin have our comrades at thl
late date committed to render them obnoxiOu,
10 some of those In power and cause boycott
to be placed upon them2 Nor Is this the wors
feature of the case, bad as II may be- Not sat
isled with looking with disfavOr upon the
''boys IN blue" II has sometimes seemed as l
the 'boys in gray were to DO recognized a.
prOdigal sons returning from their wandering
for whom the fatted calf was to be especially
devoted. We have seen c0mrade who's
amy record was of the very best, and who's
civil service record was irreproaehable de
graded from high position that he won b!