Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-28
IMMUNE CAMP MEETS
STATUS OF SPANISH WAR VET
ERANs DISCUSSED.
Will Appeal to President to Remedy
Defects in Existing Law-other
Matters Considered.

That section of the civil service law in
tended to give preference in federal APP
pointments to soldiers of the war with
Spain was discussed and criticised last
night at a meeting of the Fourth Immune
Camp, United Spanish War Veterans The
meeting was largely attended and was held
at Spanish War Veterans headquarters,
10 9Th street northwest Commander Jo-
seph L. May presiding.
The section In question is supposed to
give certain advantages to soldiers of the
Spanish war, provided they were discharged
from the military service for disability in
Cured in line of duty.
Lieut. William Peacock, late of the 4th
United States Volunteer Infantry. was
heartily applauded when he declared that
the civil service law gives a Spanish war
veteran certain preference, provided he
was disabled in the service.
Then, added the Lieutenant should he
succeed In passing the examination, he Is
turned down by the commission as unable
TO perform the duties OF tie position he is
seeking. because of the very physical disa-
biiities which had given the preference.
IL was explained that the law as Ii now
stands is an anomaly, because 1t rejects
man Tor the cause which allowed his ap-
pointment at a lower percentage than other
applicants are required to attain.
The camp finally decided to petition the
general officers of the United Spanish War
Veterans to instruct the national commit
tee on legislation to take suitable action in
the matter
This called forth the statement from
Capt. j. Walter Mitchell, secretary of the
national committee on legislation. that
resolution was adopted at the recent ma
tional encampment of the Spanish War
Veterans at Milwaukee calling upon Con-
gress to SO amend the law complained of
as to give Spanish war soldiers preference
in federal appointments, whether dis
charged from the service for disability or
not.
The camp then decided to assist the COM
mittee on legislation in bringing about the
desired result as suggested by Lieut.. VIII
liam Peacock.
Another matter of Importance to Spanish
war soldiers in the District was brought be-
fore the meeting by Capt. William H. Mel
ZACH, late of the 4th Regiment United States
Volunteer Infantry, and the original or
GAMER of the 18th Immunes into fraternal
association. Capt. Mellach presented a mo-
ton, which was unanimously passed, IN
structing Commander Joseph L. May of the
4th Immune Camp to communicate with De-
partment Commander John Lewis Smith
and the six other camps in the District OF
Columbia. urging concerted action in laying
before President Roosevelt a petition re-
questing that soldiers of the war with Spain
employed in the navy yard the government
printing Office and bureau of engraving and
printing be excused from duty, with pay, by
an executive order, whenever their services
are required as pallbearers for the soldier
dead, or on occasions of public parade ETC.
Capt Mellach explained that while Span
ish war veterans in the War, Navy, State
Treasury and other executive departments
are excused for such service without loss
of pay, those in the government printing
office, navy yard and bureau of engraving
and printing are compelled to lose their
pay for such periods of absence.
Phi1adelphians Coming.
Mr. Edwin ]. Robb one of the original
members of the 4th Immune Camp, who
LII, ,l,Sa
office, was enthusiastically welcomed by his
comrades of the camp last night. In an
address Mr. Robb said the Philadelphia
Camps of United Spanish War Veterans
are already making tentative arrangements
to attend in force the national encamp-
ment of the organization to be held in
Washington in 1905.
They are going to charter steamboat"
said Mr. Robb, and there will be full
cargo of the boys, and they are going to
parade along Pennsylvania avenue in their
uniforms of blue and gray
Lieut. D. c. Eberly made a report on the
recent burial with military honors by the
camp of George P. Robinson, former
member, who was drowned in the Potomac,
as described at the time in The Star. He
said the law making an allowance from
the quartermaster's department, United
States army, of $40 for the burial of SOL
der of the war with Spain, states that the
amount named will be available provided
the soldier died "in Washington or vicin-
ity.' Some question having arisen as to
the bounds covered by the word vicinity
the matter had been submitted to the con-
troler of the treasury. He decided, it is
said, that vicinity covered an area of
ten miles from the center of the city. 1t
was said that the body of Robinson was
found at point on the Potomac that
came within the legal limits
Remarks were made by Commander
Joseph L. May, Chaplain Samuel Bedford,
Capt. Homer ]. Locking. Capt. George
West Byron, Mr. ]. P. Ruppel of Miles
Camp, No. l; Lieut.. William Peacock and
others.