The National tribune., 1900-09-13
VETERANS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

The report of the Committee on Legis-
lation for Veterans in the Public Ser
| vice to the 34th National Encampment
was second in interest only 70 that of the
Committee on Pensions.
The Committee consisted of Jos. W.
Kay, N. Y; Chas. Burrows, n. J.; 1. f.
| Mack. o.; n. HI. Cummings, Pa; and w.
w. Eldridge, Potomac. 1t was 4 very
strong committee, with its head the faith
| been laboring diligently and effectively in
the field for more than quarter of CEN
tury. The report opened with an eloquent
and convincing presentation of the right
of veterans to preference in public employ
ment, and then proceeded to a recital of
its efforts to secure that right by appro-
pirate legislation.
Promptly on the assembling of the 56th
Congress the Committee renewed the eff
forts it had made in the 55th, and secured
introduction of the following bill, which
had passed the Senate of the 55th Con
gress and been favorably reported to the
House:
BE it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives, of the United States
of America in Congress assembled, That
in every Executive Department of the
United States Government, and in each
and every branch thereof, whether reached
10y competitive or noncompliance eNaml-
nations under the civil service laws TN
which case the rules and regulations af-
fecting the same shall SO provldel, honor
ably discharged soldiers sailors OF marines
who served rs such between April i,
1861, and Aug. %, 1865, shall be certified
and preferred for appointment to and re-
tention i'll employment in the public ser
vice. and for promotion therein: age, loss
of limb, or other physical impairment
which does not in fact ncapacltate, shall
not disqualify them, provided they possess
the business capacity necessary TO DIS
charge the duties of the position involved.
And persons thus preferred shall not be
removed from their position except for
good cause, upon charges and after hear
Ing.-
Sec 3 That all laws or parts of laws
inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed
Senator Platt, of New York, introduced
this bill in the Senate. and worked 10y
ally for its passage. The Senate Com
mittee to Examine the Several Branches
of the Civil Service, to which the bill WAS
referred, held session for its considera-
ton, at which Comrade Kay and some
members Of his committee were present.
to advocate the bill, together with Com
mander Slaybaugh. of the Department of
the Potomac; Comrades e. G. johnson
and 81. C. Cobaugh. and Special aid Geo.
H. Patrick. The President of the United
States Civil Service Commission. and
representative of the Civil Service Reform
League were present to oppose the bill
by inserting a clause extending the pref
erence to include those who served in the
Spanish war and in the Philippines. The
bill thus amended was favorably reported
to the Senate, and passed May 16, but the
very next day Senator Hoar took advan-
tage of the absence of Senator Plat TO
nave lUe Dill EtcdiIeu anu StHl DdCh u
the Committee, where it still remains.
The bill was introduced in the House
by Representative Jas. T. Tawney, of
Minnesota, and referred to a sub-commt-
tee of the Committee on Reform in the
Civil Service. This committee accepted
the amendment made in the Senate i'll
favor of the Spanish War and Philippine
soldiers, the bill thus becoming known as
the "Bromwell Bill and ordered its ia
vorable report to the House.
BY this time the end Of the session was
at hand. just before adjournment Rep
resentative Cromwell succeeded in getting
the floor, and asked for unanimous consent
for the immediate consideration Of the bill
There were many expressions in favor,
but Williams, of Mississippi, objected, and
Allen, of the same State, raised the point
of No quorum" They were appealed to
to withdraw their objections, but without
avail, and Mr.. Cromwell thought it good
tactics to withdraw the bill from consid-
Grafton. The bill is therefore still before
Congress, and in an advanced position.
The National Encampment adopted the
Committees report, Endorsed the Cromwell
Bill, and asked its passage by Congress.
In the report Chairman Kay pays this
compliment to the President:
During the year the Chairman of your
Committee has many times had occasion
to go to our eomrade, William Mckinley,
President of the United Suites, in the in
terest of other comrades who needed help
or protection. And never in vain. Nu-
merous RESERVATIONS to the public service
of veterans wronged, gave needed help,
and some sweeping reforms in ideas of
administration adopted by him for the
protection of other veterans in their rights,
have produced good results for our people
in other directions.
"a letter of the President TO the Cabi-
net officers dated July Il, 1899, requiring
that where in any place in the Civil Ser
vice exempted from examination under an
Executive order Of May 20, preceding,
position was held by any honorably dis
charged soldier or sailor of either war,
he should not be removed therefrom until
the papers in the case he'd first been sent
to him, personally, was far-reaching. In
line with the desire of your Committee to