The times., 1897-05-25
kRETz ANSWERS CHARGES
Superintendent Of Philadelphia
Mint Denies Discrimination.
VETERANS FAIRLY TREATED
of Old Soldiers Took Place
Prior to His Induction Into Of
nce-Has Requested the Resigna-
ton of But One-C0mplaints to Be
Considered Separately.

Major Herman KIetz, superintendent Of
the mint at z Philadelphia, In response 10 o
letter from Director Preston of the mint.
has written as follows:
In reply to your letter of the 18th In
stant. which incloses paper indorsed Pro
test and appeal Of sixty veterans dismissed
from Philadelphia mint, Jno. C. Hunter
son, ct al, ' addressed 10 the Secretary of
the Treasury, herewith returned, leg 10
inform you that for wnat took place in this
institution pliOr 10 my induction into Of
flee on the st day of June, o95, am in
no way responsible You are fully aware
that as chief Of the division of appoin tments
l had nothing to do with disnissals OF ap-
pointments in the Philadelphia mint, they
being made by the superintendent and aD-
proved by the director OF the mint My
favor or tlisappiovaI could in no wise affect
them.
While IL is true that stxty-eight ex-sOl-
diers We're dismissed by the late super
intendent, Eugene Townsend. esq, dur
ing his incumbency, and while the peti-
TONERS charge in their communication to
tie Secretary of the Treasury that thirty
two of our number were dismissed on Ne
mortal Day, May 80, 1884 the records
uf this mint do not show a single dismissal
on that date. DisInissaIs were made dur
ing tie latter part OF the month OF May to
take effect in J une.
while it appears from the records that
ex superintendent Townsend discharged
siXty-eight and ex-Superintendent Bosby-
smell fifty-three eX-sDidiers, have re-
quested the resignation Of but one, on the
recommendation of his superior officer
"0ut ofless than 300 naleemplOyes there
are ~ veterans in this institution, draw
ing total compensation of SAT sos. 50,
out of appropriation of S2S5,O0, for
salaries, wages, etc, certainly fair and
liberal proportion OF the whole expense;
and venture 10 say that the proportion
OF ex-UniOn soldiers in the mint is larger
than in any other department in PhiIa-
delphia, city, State or Federal
''Since my fncumbency here only three
applications for reinstatements by ex-
soldiers have been made personally to me.
one of whom I appointed, and seven others
sent their applications 20 the department
at Washington, which applications have
been referred 70 this office.
unfriendly to the veteran. or net in sym
pathy with his proper efforts TO better
bis condition by appointment TO public
office or otherwise, is IN the highest de-
gree unjust and without foundation. 1
was a soldier myself with an honorable
record, and c0uld have no reason 20 be
unjust to those who with me stood in
defense Of the Union in thelate war.
II beg to say in case of vacancies OF
increase of force, everything being equal
the soldier will always have The preference.
ut is COO well known to need repetition
that this great institution is largely, ;f
not exclusively, devoted to manufacturing
purposes of the highest Importance, and
that the interests Of the Government de
pend upon efficient service. It is, there
fore. fair TO submit that to positions which
require abilities of a high order. beth
mentally and physically none should be
appointed except those who can stand the
test of efficiency ANY other theory would
transform it from a business concern OF
national Importance into an establish
ment where favoritism. sentiment and
sympathy for various reasons, some II
them no doubt excellent in themselves. but
not calculated to promote efficiency, would
be the rule"
Director Preston says that the claims Of
each man will be taken up and separately
investigated, and that if unjust removals
Rave been made, the veterans removed will
be reinstated-