The National tribune., 1892-03-17
PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS.


We regret to say that there is not that
interest shown by the comrades in the
amendment to Section 1,754, of the Revised
Statutes, that we hoped would be shown,
and which certainly should be shown. This
section, it win be remembered, reads as fol-
lows:
Sec 1.754. Persons honorably discharged from
the military naval service by of disability
resulting from wounds sickness incurred in the
line of duty shall be preferred for appointments
to civil offices, provided they found to possess
the business capacity necessary for proper dis
charge of the duties of such offices.
This is practically dead letter for the
following reasons:
L. II confines its provisions to those who
were discharged by reason of wounds or
disabilities, and makes none for those who
served their time out.
2. 1t contains no punitory clause, and
therefore leaves it entirely optional with ap-
pointing officers whether they will obey it
or not.
We have urged the comrades that they
take vigorous action to have this section so
amended as to extend the preference to all
honorably discharged soldiers, sailors. and
marines, and then make this preference
real effective one by stringent penal clause
which will adequately punish any appoint
ing officer who shall disregard it
These suggestions to our comrades have
borne fruit in several bills introduced into
Congress-one very excellent one by Senator
Gallinger. of New Hampshire-whichh have
been placed on the calendar, and will prob
ably remain there in quiet uselessness until
the end Of this Congress, unless the comrades
take more interest in the measure than they
have up to date.
We urge that there should be strong
insistence by the comrades everywhere upon
their Senators and Representatives for the
prompt passage of Senator Gallinger's bill,
or some other measure which will insure
veterans a real preference for all appoint
ments and employments. Such an enact
ment has been too long delayed. 1t should
have been made part of the law of the
land at the close of the war, and the
comrades have had the benefit of it for
the past quarter of a century. That
this was not so has been a great in
justice to them. The passage Of such law
could have injured no one, for no one has the
slightest right to an Office or employment
except the men who saved the country at an
enormous cost to themselves. No one has
the least ground for complaint because
veteran is preferred to him, because no
civilian can have acquired the slightest claim
to appointment.
Such bill can be gotten through during
the present session if the comrades will 90
to work at once, and in the right way. Let
petitions praying for the passage of such
law be sent in from every part of the coun-
try. Let every Post and every Department
Encampment memorabilia Congress to pass
such law, and all comrades write to their
Senators and Representatives urging them
to do all in their power to promote the de-
sired legislation.
If this is generally done the success of the
measure will be put beyond doubt. All that
is needed is a decided manifestation that the
veterans are solidly united in demanding
that this preference be prescribed by the laws
of the land, that they will not be satisfied
unless it is, and that they will hold those
who oppose it to account at the polls