The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-01-26
WILL GREATS 4 SENSATION.

Retired Army Officers Who Draw Two Sal
aries From the GOvernment-What this
Veterans Want.
spectat Dispaieh 10 he LlllNigeneT.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-It is believed
that II the resolution OF Representative
Evans, Of Tennessee, calling for list OF
the men on the roll of the army and
navy, together with a sho wing as to their
whereabouts and occupations, is sent to
Congress it will create somewhat of a
sensation.
The statement is made that one-third
of these men are now drawing two sal.
aries from the Government. There is a
statutory law which prohibits persons
from drawing more than one salary at a
time from the Government, but another
makes exceptions OF men on the retired
list Of the army. This was done to
cover the demand for retired officers to
act as postmasters in some remote local
tiles, and in q few instances to permit
them to fill minor positions in the ex-
ecutiye departments; but no one ever
dreamed that this class OF men would
rise up in such numbers as to be potent
rivals 10 the veterans Of the late war who
seek appointments under the Govern
ment. such is the fact, however.
In almost every instance the retired
officers were given appointments in civil
life on account OF their services during
the late war, and in no instance was the
fact known to the appointing power that
they were already drawing salary from
the Government as retired officers.
Strange TO say, no private or corporal on
the retired list can be found serving
Uncle Sam in civil position. They are
all otlicers, who have salaries ample as
retired officers to give them competence
which should satisfy their deaires. This
is the feature Of the practice which the
vetsrans, who have raised the row, OBJ
jsct 10 and upon which they demand
that the men drawing pay as retired Off.
GERS of the army or navy shall give up.
one or the other Of their salaries. 1.-THE
privates, whose pay on the retired list is
small, were enjoying these salaries ex.
ira II is safe to say that, although the
principle was reprehepsibte, nothing
would be said in complaint.
II has been sBid that this protest
against men drawing two salaries, to the
exclusion Of disabled soldiers and sailors
who haye neither pension nor retired
pay, came from the fact that General
ROsecrans, Register OF the Treasury, ia
drawing 5000 year from his civil
office aud tne pay Of a Major General on
the retirey list, and he is Democrat
and should give way to poor soldier
Republican who has none OF these
emoluments. But not so. The discoy.
cry was first made that rstited officers
were filling lot Of the good places in
the departments by Republican Con-
gressmen who sought positions for their
soldier constituents, and the latter made
the demand OF the House that pro.
vision be made In the army appropria.
ton bill compelling these men TO vacate
one OF their salaries, and this was done,
An effort is being made to have the
Senate Committee on Appropriations,
Senator allison, OF Iowa, Chairman, to
have this amendment stricken out. Re.
markable as it may seem, the retired
Oiticera are working their war influence
to defeat the amendment, when the sole
object In keeping it in the bill is 10 give
places TO soldiers who have no means oi
support. Tho principle involved is a
popular one, and it will Gttrgct much
attention before passed pPon,