The National tribune., 1892-09-29
wAsHrseroE, D. G., Sept. 81, 1892.

WASHINGTON, d. G.. Sept. 81, 1892.
On motion of Comrade Fenton, of Wiscon-
sin, the hour of IL o'clock was designated as
the time for the election of officers, and on
motion of Comrade Prentiss, speeches in nom
mating candidates were limited to FIVE min
utos and speeches in seconding nominations
two minutes.
The Commander in Chief announced that
Comrade Wagner had resigned the Chairman
ship of the Committee on Seniority. Comrade
Woods of Illinois, stated that he had mi
nority report to make from the Committee on
Seniority, and Comrade Wagner objected on
the ground that no majority report had been
agreed upon. The matter was passed without
definite action being taken.
THE LOGAN MONUMENT.
Comrade Thomas, of Illinois, reported that
the Committee for the Collection of Funds for
the Logan Monument. appointed in former
Encampment, had collected the sum of $91. As
from different Posts throughout the West.
which he would turn over to the Treasurer of
the Logan Monument Association.
The Committee on Legislation presented a
report which, on motion of Comrade Kaufman,
Of Illinois, was adopted.
The report is as follows:
Aug. 22, 1892.
JOHN PALMER. esq, Commander in Chief
CIR.
CoMRADE: The undersigned, a committee
appointed by you under General Orders, No. Z,
c. s., mainly to consider. formulate and urge
on Congress such legislation as would secure
the veterans of the war the right to preference
in the public employment Of the Nation they
helped to save, submit the following report:
The members Of your committee met in
Washington, ID. g., in January. and after con-
ference decided the text OF a measure in
tended to accomplish the result sought. Com
rade John Raines was selected to introduce the
same In the House Of which he, as also Com
rade Amos J. Cummings Of this committee is
member. This he did Feb. !. The bill was
referred 10, the Select Committee On Reform in
the Civil Service. 1t is known as H. r. 5098.
In the meantime, Jan. Ii. a bill similar
i'm scope. but slightly changed in language was
introduced in the Senate by Hon. ]. ri. CALM
ger, aud referred to the Committee on Civil
Service and Rstrenchmcnt. 1t is known as
Senate Bill 1888.
Boil, these, as introduced originally. cn-
bodied in one act the very benefcent laws OF
the State Of New York on the same subject
and more. 1t was such a measure as exper-
ience had dietated was necessary If the veteran
was to be made secure in his rights.
The bill. as amended by the Senate Commit
tee, and reported to that body May 13 did not
by any means cover the purpose intended, and
this. notwithstanding that Hon. Z. o. Wolcott
Chairman OF the Senate Committee informed
the Chairman of your committee that the bill
as introduced would receive favorable con-
sideration.
The striking out of all after the word and
retention therein" cnrtailed the privileges
your committee sought to secure, and again
left to a discretionary power, which has been
too frequently abused by some public officials
with power of appointment and employment
during many years, both the letter and the
spirit of mandatory enactment. As reported
to the Senate, its strong points as a protective
measure well as the punitive section, were
entirely eliminated. Against the passage of
the bill, in any shape your committee entered
an earnest protest. 1t stands on the Senate
Calendar No. 709.
The Committee of the House also amended
the original bill, reporting the same favoraby
July l6 and it is nov on the House Calendar.
TIE amendment made by them strikes out the
words "and failure to so comply shall be a
misdemeanor, to be prosecuted by information
or Indictment, aud punishable accordingly" +"
in the second section. aud inserts after the
words "both in letter and spirit" the follow
ing "and any person who shall be deemed
guilty Of violating any provision Of this act
shall be guilty of misdemeanor and Shall on
conviction thereof be punished by q fine not
exceeding $1,000. or by imprisonment for a
term not exceeding three years, or by both
such fine and Imprisonment in the discretion
of tho court" As thus amended, it is even
stronger in its protective features than the
original.
1hs best thought aud judgment was given
to formulating the bill. and every honorable
means in our power taken to secure action
by Congress on the part of each individual
member OF your com mittee: but notwithstand-
ing our most earnest efforts to obtain consider
tiou, persisted in up to the day OF adjourn
ment, we were unable to reach the goal. For
this reason our report must necessarily be one
of progress
We are assured by friends of the veterans in
both branches that early in the second session
of the present Congress they will endeayor to
pass the bill. In the interval, we believe that
members of our Order should visit Or COM
municate with the Representatives from the
respective districts. and Senators from the sew
eral States, in regard to this important matter.
| This bill should become a law. Then and rot
until then will the sincere-yet apparently
| idle, as far as present results are concerned-
promise made to the veterans Of lS6l-lS6o. in
| section 1854 Revised Statutes United States, be
redeemed.
| TO Just what this bill provides, the faith of
| tho Nation was plighted 27 years ago; and the
carrying out of the pledge, even ut this late day,
simply requires honesty of purpose, then ex-
| pressed in the form of statute law. Not O
| single dollar of appropriation is involved.
| We submit and ask you to recommend the
| adoption of the following:
| ReyoIred That the Grand Army of the Republic,
| in National Encanpmcnt assembled Mt Washing
ton d. O., in full knowledge Of the duties imposed