Wichita eagle., 1889-06-19
INJUSTICE ALLEGED.
Grand Army Circles Incensed at Discrimi-
nations by Railroads.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, June 1s.-G. A. r.
circles are becoming somewhat exercised
over the refusal of the various passenger
associations to grant q rate of cent mile
to veterans attending the national encamp-
ment at Milwaukee in August. 1t will be
| remembered that some time ago Comman-
der in Chief Warner and Adjutant General
Weigel went to Chicago and made applica-
| ton for such rate, and Chairman Abbott
| promised that the matter would be duly
considered at the next meeting Of the ex-
ecutive committee A few days ago let
ter was received at G. A. X. headquarters
from the secretary Of the committee stat
ing that the application would
be taken up in a few days and
he thought it would be favorably acted
upon. The passenger associations, how
ever, refused to grant rate less than one
fare for the round trip and the gentlemen
at G. A. r. headquarters are naturally
much exercised.
The result of the refusal WILL it Is
claimed, cut down the attendance at Mil
weukee to nearly one-half what it would
have been with rate Of l cent mile.
Commander-in-Ch Warner is in Dakota
sitting on the Sioux commission. and the
national Headquarters in this city are
overwhelmed with letters from Old
soldiers urging that the place of holding
the encampment be change from NIL
waukee to Chicago.
Adjutant General Weigel said yesterday
that such change would not serve to re-
duce the rates and that no change would
be made. He however, last evening, ad-
dressed letter to @. r. Blanchard, COM
missioner of the central traffic association,
Chicago, ILL.,, and also to Lucius futile,
commissioner of the trunk line assocla-
ton, New York city, of which the follow
ing is a copy:
Headquarters Grand Army of the Repub-
lie.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, June 17.-Dear Sir:
/ have the honor once more to bring to
your attention the fact that unless rate
of cent per mile can be agreed on by the
various traffic associations 1t Will serious
ly cripple the attendance OF old soldiers at
the Milwaukee encampment IN August.
When the encampment for this year was
located at Milwaukee, Wis, it was done
on the faith of promises made that the
railroad fares should not exceed the rate
of cent per mile travelled, the same as
was given by the various railroads to the
Columbus encampment last year. 1t has
come to the knowledge of the national
headquarters, G.. A. r., that discrimina-
tions have been made and are still being
made. by the railroad companies in favor
of certain civic organizations, allowing
them lower rate of fare to their reunions
than is now fixed for those who risked
their lives that this government might
live.
Therefore earnestly ask of you that you
will not let this appeal to give the old vet
eran chance to once more meet with
his comrades (many of whom are
obliged to lay aside the money required to
pay this railroad fare from the pittance
received as pension from the govern
ment) 60 UNDECIDED, but will favor me
with an early and affirmative answer.
have the honor to be very respectfully,
WILLIAM WARNER,
Commander in Chief G. A. r.
EUGENE F. WEIGEL, Adjutaut General.
What is stirring the 6. A K. officials up
is the fact that they have heard that the
Turner's have obtained l cent rate to the
national turnverein, which will be held in
a few weeks at Cincinnati.