Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-10-10

Thirty Nine Per Cent. Removed from
Once During the Present Adj
mlnistration.

cratic party and Administration are
against their interests it is only neces-
ssry for them to consider q few facts
in order to settle this important ques-
ton in which they are all interested.
Since the war on veterans of the
Union army was commenced by the
present Administration thirty nine per
cent. Of all such brave men who risked
their lives and fortunes for the cause
of their country have been removed
from Office. This great proportion of
discharged veterans does not admit of
any theory that such removals were
the result of a coincidence. 1t can not
be said that these men lost their places
because of the removal OF clerks by re-
auctions and in order to improve the
service they happened to be the unfor-
tunate ones. In the first place the
number Of removals for the purpose of
reducing the force in the departments
have been comparatively small. In an
entire force Of twenty three thousand
Government employees here the net re-
auctions claimed by the Democrats do
not foot up beyond a few hundred. On
the other hand there is a great deal of
reason to think that the actual number
is much less, for to Offset the reductions
there have been many additions to the
force in all the departments to meet
the demands of Democratic who have
shown an inordinate hunger for Office.
In the second place great numbers of
the veterans who have been discharged,
have been known throughout the de-
partments for their faithfulness and
efficiency. Especially in the War and
Interior Departments have there been
q large number Of dismissals Of men
who were most familiar with the work
with which they we're charged, and
whose f~aithfulness was never question
ed before Democrats were placed at the
helm of the ship of State to run it until
they should demonstrate their incom-
potency to the American people, which
task they have about completed. In
view Of these facts the dismissal of
thirty nine per cent. of the Union vet
Grams employed by the Government in
Washington is clearly the result of an
enmity on the part Of the Democratic
Administration toward the veterans.
The record of pension legislation in
Congress shows quite as ~conclusively as
do the acts of the Administration that
the Democratic party is opposed to
everything that might show q liberal
spirit toward the old soldiers. Col, But
Ter Fitch, late a clerk Of the Pension
and Record Office of the War Depart
ment. has compiled from official sources
the vote of the House of REPRESENTS
tives and of the Senate on important
pension legislation during the last If
teen years, and these figures show that
the Democrats have been with great
consistency cast in opposition to the in
terests of the veterans.
The arrears Of pensions bill was pass
ed by the House on January 10, 1879,
the vote being as follows, Democrats,
for the bill 48, against 81; Republicans,
for the bill 116, against, none.
What is known as the a~mputation
bill, providing larger pensions for men
who have had limbs amputated, was
passed August A, 1883. The vote was
as follows; Democrats, for the bill, rs,
against 81; Republicans, for the bill,
Oh, against, none
The widows pension bill was passed
February Q. 1885, by which an increase
was granted from 80 to $12 per month
for widow pensioners. All the Repub-
lican votes, numbering 118, were cast
in favor of this measure, while of the
Democrats in the House, 80 voted for
and go against the measure.
An important measure for the widows
Of soldiers was the "Widows' arrears
BILL" passed in 1881. This measure
gave arrears of pensions from the death
of their husbands 10 widows en-
titled to pensions, and was a boon to
many a family that had been about
impoverished by the long illness of
veterans who had incurred disease in
the army. This bill passed the Senate
by a majority Of one only, the vote be-
ing, with one exception, a party vote.
Twenty two Republicans voted for it,
w~hiletwenty Democratic Senators voted
against it, and n Democrat voted
favorably to 1t.
The disability pension bill became a
law in June, 1890, having III Republic
a votes in the House in its favor and
not any against it. OF the Democratic
members So voted against and only 20
for the measure. "
The prisoners of wal bill of 1891 was
defeated by five votes, as II required q
two thirds vote to carry it. This bill
was approved by every friend of the
veterans, but vas not q welcome meas
ure to those men who had no special
use for the Union men who served as
prisoners Of war in Southern prisons.
There were voting for the bill 119 Re-
publicans and not any against it. OF
the Democrats only "a cast their votes
for the bill, while rs voted againstit,
defeating it by five votes.
During the past session of Congress
the Democratic party has not had the
courage to show it's sentiment by open
Iv attanlntinO tn ranaaI anv pono;ov,