Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-30
tional legislation in the interests of


our Grand Army is thru the regular
committees and officials of our organ
izations. Hundreds of pension bills
were introduced in the last congress,
the vast majority of which failed to
pass. In such confusion there is
weakness for out of the mass of these
bills some are found to be so drawn
as to shock the reasonable judgment
of prudent people and thus our posi-
ton and claims as veterans and COM
rades are prejudiced in the minds OF
many would be friends.
I'VE are all nearing the final sunset
of our lives and our work is mainly
done. Let us SO live as to inspire our
youth with safe ideals of patriotic love
of country, and thus insure the Gull
ture of a citizenship worthy of our
age and one that will dominate all the
future along the loftiest planes of en-
during liberty"
Following his address came long
list of reports submitted by minor Of
ficials and the various committees in
Guiding the committee on legislation,
and the committee on pension legis-
laLion. The report of the later COM
mittee follows:
The committee on legislation for
veterans in public service regretfully
but necessarily reported progress.
| AS the result of war two obligations
were incurred One was financial. 1t
required money, principal and inter-
est to liquidate this. And the prom
Use to pay was well kept. The other
was sacrifice. To be cancelled by
gratitude. Not in eloquent words,
but acts. To care for him who had
borne the battle, the widows and or
phans of the fallen, and to suitably
recognize those who survived. How?
| Pensions to those who deserve them;
a reasonable preference in the public
service to those who were worthy and
sought needed employment. This in
Justice. In mourning this obligation
of sacrifice, a national debt was ere
ated. None more sacred. In settling
it, political considerations have no
rightful share. Such sacrifice was a.
paramount issue.
| Looking over the debates of the
congresses there can be found many
kind words spoken for the soldier
and sailor, but absolutely nothing in
| the way of statutory law insuring to
those who enter the military or ma
val service in times of war-serving
until the end of their terms of enlist
ment or the close of hostilities, being
| honorably discharged-a reasonable
preference in the public service in
times of peace. Pensions, yes. Will
any American urge that any meagre
pittance as a pension dealt out COM
pensates loss of manhood? The man.
hood that was ready to sacrifice life
itself, voluntarily, in battle, in order
that the republic might survive? And
the inherent desire to earn bread by
labor. Perish the thought. We will
not believe it.
Instead of public office being "a
public trust" it is too frequently re-
garded as "a private snap" This
permeates all our government in
spots. An honorable discharge from
the military or naval service-the
1 greatest badge of honor that can come
to any citizen in this republic-as a
recommendation, when applying fol
employment to public officials, ought
by them to be respected. In some de-
partments, however, in recent years
the badge or button of the Grand
Army of the Republic. evidencing ser
vice and sacrifice in the days which
tried mems SOULS notably so in the
Navy Yard at Brooklyn, New York,
is not alone regarded with disfavor
by some of the little bosses there,
but makes him who wears it the sub
ject of ridicule and not seldom of in
sulting language unworthy to come
from one who claims to be an Amer
lean. And besides this, tho preferred
for appointment, veterans are the first
discharged. And usually in such a
way that they cannot hope to get
back. This is no fancied picture.
While such conduct has not the ap
prevail of Hon. John P. Long, secre
tary of the navy, who has many times
when appealed to, shown in various
ways his regard for the just claims Of
veterans of war, the statute affecting
employment at navy yards and the
system in vogue making the petty
boss" sole Judge, jury and eX
ecutioner, concerning the merits o.
men when reductions OF force are
made necessary for any cause, permits
it. Some of these bosses hate the
veteran who is Grand Army man
The fact that no statutory law pro
tects worthy veterans enables dis
elimination and wrong, many times
due to prejudice alone-being done tc
them.
During the year the chairman o.
your committee has many times haC
occasion to go to our comrade vii
liam Mckinley. president of the Uni
ted States, in the interest of Other
comrades who needed help or protec
ton, and never in vain. Numerous
restorationS to the public service o.
veterans wronged gave needed hell
and some sweeping reforms in ideas
of administration adopted by him fol
the protection of other veterans II
their rights, have produced good re
suits for our people in other direc
tions.
That the war for the Union ant
what it cost in sacrifice may not bt
forgotten, nor it's survivors be BELT
particularly by the politicians
in this day and generation, is the su
preme duty, with us, in this hour.
That volunteer service in the ar
- Il V,1.r Nxl. n ~