The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-26
THE VETERANS PROTEST.
AntagoniSm TO Renovating the Rec
ords of Discharged Soldiers.
Pennsylvania L. V. l.. Posts Resent
the Action OF Congress-LcEisIa-
tion Prompted by Dishonest Claim
sGcnts-The President Invoked to
stop the Passage of Such Bills.

PHILADELPHIA, March 25.-Veterans
all over the State have been aroused by
certain bills OF general or special nature
that have been introduced in Congress
to renovate the records of dishonorably
discharged soldiers of the civil war. The
feeling OF antagonism to legislation of this
character has focused itself in resolu-
tions of more or less emphasis, fair sam
pie of which are the resolutions adopted by
the Union Veteran Legion of Pittsburg.
At meeting of Encampment No. l,
Union Veteran Legion, of Pittsburg, COM
posed of upward of 1000 honorably dis
charged survivors of the war for the Union
who enlisted for three years or during
the war and who served not less than two
years in active service. unless earlier dis
charged for wounds, the following pream-
BILE and resolutions were adopted:
Whereas it has come TO the notice of the en-
campment that from various parts of the country
now thirty-fye years after the close of the war
for the Union numerous acts OF Congress are from
time to time being introduced and passed in
Congress purpGrting to be bills to amend the
military records of soldiers in said war, and
Whereas to the knowledge of members OF this
encampment many OF said acts for amendments
OF records are really to wipe out the records
OF soldiers dishoncraby discharged for cowardice,
eseTion, ard other disSTaceful in the time
OF and convictions for said crime occurring
after fair trials and at time when all the facts
were fresh in the minds Of the military authorities
and
Whereas this encampment believes that many
of said acts to amend the military records are
instigated and prompted by dishonest claim
agents throughout the country to enable un-
worthy dishonorably discharged soldiers to have
their names added to the pension roll Of the coun-
try. Therefore be it
| Resolved, That this encampment hereby enters
its solemn protests to Congress against the pas
sage of any such acts of Congress on eX partc
evidence at this late day to change the military
records SO to make the record of the cowardly
1861 to 1855 in the Of the rebellion the equal
OF all honoraby discharged veterans who did their
duty for their country in those trying days.
Resolved further. That this encampment re-
spectfully calls upon the President of the United
States, himself a comrade Of the Union Veteran
Legion OF honoribly discharged soldiers. and also
/ upon the senator's and Congressman from Penn
svvania 10 vigorously $crutnize all of said acts
purparting to amend military records when intro
! duced in Congress; and appeal 10 them 10 Op-
pose and vote against the same. where, as in nine
eases out Of every ton, said acts are merely
schemes. stated, to secure the names OF the un-
worthy soldiers tine bcneiicaries in said acts a
! place on the already heavily burdened pension
/ roll of the nation.
| Resolved That duly attrsted copies Of this pro-
test and resolution be forwarded TO the President
! of the United States aud To the Senators ard
Congressmen OF Pennsylvania.
+. L. BLAIR, Colonel.
| J. NJ KEYsER. Adjutant.
Approved March Is, 1900:
| WILLIAM r. WOOTERS
| National Commander uion Veteran Legion.
| Official: JOHN Y. REBER, Adiutant General.