Evening star., 1897-03-26
VISIT OF VETERANS
A Grand Army Delegation Calls on
the President.
A PRINTED STATEMENT PRESENTED
How Ex-Union Soldiers and Sailors
Have Been Treated.
T II f X f NJ f ID y sou G. ii II

received ana welcomed a delegation OF
Grand Army men of this department, con-
sisting of Thomas s. Hopkins. department
commander; DIR. j. F Raub. senior vice
department comma nder; Gen. S. s. Bur
dette past conmander-in-chief; Arthur
Hendricks. assistant adtutant general of
the department of the District of Column
hia. Calvin Farnsworth. commander Post
No. ;; and Captain Miller. representing
eighteen One-armed veterans The visit
was for the purpose OF presenting a state
ment of their case. and asking for the res
toration of veterans and their widows who
had been removed from the public service
or reduced In salary during the past four
years The statement showed that of re-
ductions. removals etc, during that pc
riod twenty-one and one-half per cent were
veterans or their widows. and of promo
uons for the same class they received but
eight per cent
The President accorded the department
commander most respectful hearing. and
the delegation departed with the assurance
that their case would receive speedy at
tention at the hands of the executive
marked feature of the visit was the
assembling in the east room of eighteen
one-armed veterans. who had been
moved from government service during Mr..
Cleveland's incumbency. They selected
Captain Miller. one of their number. to ac-
company the department commander in
the Interview with the President
The President showed his callers the
greatest attention and evinced the deepest
interest in the matter. He assured them
that II was subject he greatly desired 10
take IN. and that he should do so at the
earliest possible moment The del"GaIi ion
went away feeling confident that Justice
would be done and that in the President
they had friend and comrade- The Pres
ident instead of handing the printed brief
TO his secretary. as is customary in all
frET MIA in h
stating that ii In such form that he
could keep II near him. that at a mo-
ment when he had time he could take 1t
UP for consideration. The following is the
statement presented by Commander Pop-
kins.
The Statement Frcscnted
The Undersigned commander of the De-
partment of the Potomac G. \. r. re-
spectfully invites the attention of the
President TO the following statement coll
cernins the injustice and violation of the
spirit if not the letter. of the law under
which many members of the department
nave suffered during the past four years
at the hands of an administration which
has been indifferent. If not actually hos
tile. TO their welfare
In the name OF the Grand Army of the
Republic of this department and in behalf
of all ext Mon soldiers. sailors and
marines, he appeals to you, the chief
executive of the nation. and as corlrade.
full measure Of justice
During the past four years ,3g4 ex-sol-
dierS in the government departments in
Washington have been discharged. forced
10 resign or reduced to inferior positions
This does not include the cases of widows
nor does il include any case in the navy
yard OF the government printing Office.
Recent official reports from the eight
executive departments show that since
March 4. 1899. 1854 appointments in the
clfh service We're made, and hat but oi2
per cent of these appointees were ex-Union
soldiers. sailors and marines.
During this period there were JOi4 pro-
motions. of which the veterans received but
per cent
OF the reductions. designations and re-
movals during this period Zig per cent
were veterans of the war OF the rebeIJfCn
This illustrates in a striking manner how
the veteran has been Disseminated against
What Investigation DiscIo.ex.
Investigation discloses that in a large
number of cases the resignation of the en-
ploye was demanded and given II he re-
fused TO resign, he charged OIL the
record with delinquency, or misconduct
and summarily dismissed. Not infrc.turnf
ly he became the object of the petty spi; 8
of a superior officer. such as the chief OF q.
division or of a section. and his record for
efficiency was Systematically forced cow,
until II reached the minimum and his dis
charge followed
In many cases one-arInei and otherwise
crippled veterans. although perfectly com
petent to perform clerical duties ,ye,a
transferred 10 positions involving different
duties and requiring physical strength and
endurance Failing to do hat which was
Impossible, they were charged with ineffi-
cleiicy and dismissed. Loss of limb or pos
session OF a medal of honor for gallantry-
upon the field OF battle was NJ guarantee
OF security
Those who were not discharged or com
PEELED TO resign were. in many instances.
reduced III salary. though often required 10
perform the same duties before Not n
few who We're receiving 81 900 and 81 500
per ahrluin were reduced as low IS S12U
StDp and 81 .Hsl.
In all these cases respectful protests and
requests Tor Il hearing were invariably de
MED, and political favorites were appoint ed
to the vacancies thus made.
Those who were permitted to remain in
the service were, in many of the Offices
subjected 10 insult and ANNOYANCE and
compelled to listen TO slurs Upon the I-nion
soldier. until the situation became almost
unbearable- So unpopular was the veteran
in office that many believed # NECESSARY
In order 10 retain their positions tha. thew
should conceal the fact o. heir military
service. and cease 10 wear the honored
Grand Army button
Reign of Terror.
II has been a reign OF terror TO the old
soldier during the past four years In this
capital city. which he helped TO save
Many a brave man whose body was torn
and maHgl~d In the service of his country
Eas seel his wife and children suffer for
food; many dead veterans poor widow
has suffered in silence and in poverty
while, be II said to the everlasting disgrace
and shame of the nation. in many in
stances positions they were abundantly
able to tn have been occupied by men. or
the WIDOWS or children of men, who served
In the confederate army. Even the sacred
lortals OF the pension bureau have been in
Naded, and ex-confederates and their
widows and children permitted TO sit i'm
Judgment on the claims of ex-Cnion SOL
diers.
During these four years of suffering de-
preston and wrong the comrades have been
sustained by an answering faith that the
succeei eiing administration would be friend
" 10 their interests Their faith was well
founded And words cannot fully express
their JOY over the welcome change
The attention of the President is also
respectfully invited 10 the fact that the
civil service rules now cover the positions
OF watchmen. assistant watchmen, messen-
gers. etc. in the several departments re-
quiring an examination as the condition
Precedent TO entry of the public service
Crippled yeterans.