The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-03
COL. WEARING On THE &c. A. r.
An Outrageous Statement by q New
York Official.
New York Telegram.

new York Telegram.
A morning newspaper published long
article purporting 10 be an account OF a
conversation held between Col. Waring, OF
the street cleaning department, and Or.
John Wilson Gibbs, formerly OF the health
department. In the course OF the talk
Col. Waring was made to say that c.. A.
r. veterans are "a damned lot OF drunken
buns
This nsrning Col wartng issued the
follwing statement in regard to the mat
ter:
1T is really too bad that simple and
unoffending gentleman like myself should
have to make public announcement of
the fact that he Is not bhckguard.
"A morning newspaper reports me as
having said that the Grand Army of the
Republic are a damned lot of drunken
buns and follows up this statsnent with
lot of unfounded Rubbish about my in
terview with DIR. Gibbs who came inuo
the room of tho board of health while /
was transacting some official business
with that body. He said he had had q
bill passed compelling the employment OF
veterans; that he now made Application
for "a $1,000 place and he demanded his
appointment 4 discussion of the veteran
subject followed.
"Dr. Gibbs said that he was a captain
OF cavalry, and that he took John Nor
gan. The official certificate OF veteran
ship on which he bases his Application
for a. position shows that no was dis
charged from the service in january.
1866 as a sergeant of infantry, and that
he had entered az an enlisted man in
April. 1885. He belonged 10 Company x,
1854 Regiment. of New York Volunteers.
II said l thought injury had been done
90 veterans by this legislation, that / for
one never appointed a veteran, however
good, without telling him that did SO
with regret, for the reason that / could
not get rid OF him without difficulty IL he
proved unsatisfactory. may have said
that IL veterans We're the men now that
they were in 1851 they would he willing 10
stand on their own feet and take their
chances on their merits. / said that II "a
veteran should be dismissed for sufficient
cause he would not go into the courts,
because his chances Of success would NOT
be good enough 70 warrant anybody In
lending him the money for his expenses.
''Dr. Gibbs said the Grand Army would
do that. and asked me II was a Grand
Army man. ] said no. and that would
not be I said that regarded the Grand
Army OF the Republic as a lot OF pen
sion humnferS' He few into rage but
his rage didn't last long. There was moth
ing In the nature of an alteration The
president OF the board OF health took no
part in the discussion. but Gen. La
orange, the president or the IRE commits
ssoners, who. like the writer is himself a
veteran, attempted TO convince DR.. Gibbs
thar he was taking offense unnecessarily.
This is the whole of the story.
To avoid the Necessity for recurring
10 this subject. I may as well say that
my statement concerning the Grand Army
OF the Republic was deliberately made
That organization has. in my Judgment
sold itself for cash TO the claim agents OF
M tFVf~ rs4fs
Gus action the workingmen OF this coun-
try are now paying annually 500 Go 00o
more IN pensions than they ought to be
paying.
GEO. E. WARING. Jr..
Com missioner"