New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-27
VETERANS ASK REDRESS.
PRESIDENT MKINLEY PROMISES TO GUN
sIDER THEIR GRIEVANCES.

SIDER THEIR GRIEVANCES
A DELEGATION OF OLD SOLDIERS fRE'rNi'
STATEMENT or REMOVALS UNDER THE
CLEVELAND ADMINISTRATIONS WHICH
SHOWS SOME ASTONISHING FACTS
Try TELEGRAPH To THE TRrBUNE.l
Washington March pa delegation OF G'auu
Army men, representing the various posts III INV
D,s,ric, Of Columbia which called on the PRESIDENT
Yesterday presented a statement relating 10 re-
moyals OF veterans under the Cleveland Aui"is
tration which disclosed some rather astoi'S"'.
facts The paper showed that OF redncuohs anu
dismissals made In the public service IN 'he ''e
four years 2lis per cent were OF veterans or 'neN
widows. while the promotions ioi NV '
were only per cent.
The President gave n courteous nearing ~ '"' ~
partment Commander and the delegation oepar'eu
with the assurance that It's Appeals lor reu''s'
would receive speedy attention at the hands Oh INC
Executive marked feature OF the visit was tho
assembling in the East Room Of eighteen one-armed
veterans who had been removed from the Govern
ment service during Mr.. Cevelands incumbency
The statement presented TO the President was IN
part follows:
During the last four years 1894 ex-sodiers " me
Government departments In Washington nave Deo
discharged. forced 10 resign or reduced 20 dnus
nor does il include any case In the Navy YARD OF
the Government Printing Office 1T. o.oo,,,,o
denarmonts show hat since March 4. 1898. 1894
ponmen;s in the civil Service were made ann INV
Union soldiers sailors and marines purhlhtS lie ih
veterans received but per OF the reductions.
designations and removals during nus p15l1ul Lias
Investigation discloses that In large number OF
cases the resignation OF the employ was deIhanned
and given If he refused to sign he was charged
on the record with delinquency or misconduct ana
summarily dismissed: Not nfrequeny ne became ,rn
ne as the % cher Of division section and
his record for efficiency was sysematicaIy torf ,e
down until II reached the minimum ana MS us
charge followed ,,,
In cases one-armed ana otnerwse Geppgu
clerical duties were transferred to positions nvolvt
Ing different duties nna Ts S 6 Eat P" WHICH I'M
possible they charged with inehclency ana
dismissed. Loss OF limb or possession OF incnaI
OF honor for gaantry upon the field OF battle was
no guarantee Of security. ,,, -,
resign were in many instances, reduced In salary
though often required TO perform the same duties
81 800 per annum were reduced as low as Wv, S9
and 5000 In all these cases cro r,npparablv denied
and political favorites were appointed 10 'ne
The attention of the President is also respectfully
invited TO the fact that the Civil Service rules now
cover the positions OF b
requiring examination as the conai,on rmpI t
legless and otherwise crippled veterans are not able
to pass a Civil Service examination. ,althoush WI, Wen
adapted to employment of such nature AS tnere
is no other Government employment open to them
and they cannot hope at this late day to meet WIN
success In civil life 1t Is hoped that the presldenl
will remove this barrier to their appointment u, TO
the positions mentioned. and that they may nave
preference all others. !,
It is also respectfully submitted that It would be
a gracious act toward these fast-aging veterans II
the President would recommend 70 congress tre
modification OF the Civil! Service rules so as 10 per
diers sailors and marines and their widows TO any
branch Of the Civil Service not requiring techncai
or regulation is not above 5000 per annum. or 50
per day. without Civil Service examination. want.
ex-so:ders and sailors were nnusily discharged rd
from the though me sca
lied those of the last four years lnder the 60. o,d
rated from classified position in the Civil Service
could be reinstatei after the lapse or one Yea, year
dent Harrison was appealed to. and he modified the
rule so that the limit OF time within which one
inststed without new examination certincation
done away with so far as honorary discnargeSd
thus making them eligible to reinstatement at any
Under this modification. quite number succeeded
In re-entering the service. but many OF them were
their families took inferior positions. and have
to this day been able to recover me POSITIONS
succeeded at all. During the last four years the
modification OF the above rue has been practically
The relief which these comrades seek is simple
They respectfully ask that. by executive order or in
such other manner as he may deem best. the Presi-
dent will direct:
Frst-That ali honorably discharged , ex-un lon
War OF the Rebellion. the widows OF such. who
have since March 4 1855. resigned been discharged
or reduced in salary. without just cause In any or
the executive departments OF the Government. or
I'm any other office bureau of the Government In
the District OF Columbia. shall. upon application In
writing and without examination be promptly re-
stored to their former positions.
SecOnd-That If any such soldier, sailor or marine
or the widow OF such. has been discharged or re-
duced I'm salary during the said period for alleged
DELINQUENCY misconduct he or she shall upon
making anDlicatOn I'm writing Ia) be accorded an
nyestlea for the purpose OF determining whether
or not he 4 she guilty OF the delinquency or
misconduct charged. and, II so. whether or not
such delinquency misconduct of such grav
ity as to warrant dismissal. And he or she shall
be heard in his or her defence. II such charge
grave o debar him her from re-enterlng the
service. then such soldier. sailor marine. the
widow Of such. shall he promptly restored TO his
her former position without examination. Or (b)
he she shall. notwit hStandng such charge, upon
filing an application in writing be promptly reap
nation upon n probationary term. however. OF
six months, and IT, at the expiration of that period
he or she be found capable efficient and Of good
habits. he she shall receive permanent ap-
pOntment
Thrd-That no honoraby discharged soldier
sailor marine. who served during the War of
the Rebellion. the widow of SUCH shall be obliged
10 take a competitive examination for promotion
Fourth-That no honoraby discharged soldier
shall be discharged from the Government service
without being first heard IN his or her own de-
fence.
MORE TROCBLE OVER THE DRYDOCK