The Washington times., 1906-03-13
Owes Defenders Debt.

When the victorious columns OF Grant
Sherman, and Sheridan marched DOWN
PeHusyl- auia avenue in 1850, they found
swUrg acIOss from the Treasury q great
banner bearing the legend. The only
debt the country can never repay nor
forget is the debt it owes its defenders
Was this Lest We forget
On March g, 1s65, almost forty-one
years 10 day from the action OF your
committee, when every nerve III tlis
country Was stretched 10 tine break
ing. and every man and fragment Of =
man able 10 hold a gun was encouraged
even impressed 10 hold il, when. the
whole world wondered If the pendulum
would swing back again, the congress
at Washington adopted the following
5oiuI resolutions now enacted into the
Revised Statutes. viz
Sec. 1914. Persons honorabIy dis
charged from the military or naval ser
vices by reason OF disability resulting
from wounds or sickness incurred IN me
of duty. shall be preferred Tor appoint
meuts 10 civil offices. provided they are
found 10 possess the business capacity
Necessary for the proper discharge or
the duties OF such Offices
Sec. 100 In grateful recognition OF
Jnt services. sacrifices ana suffering o.
persons hOu3TabIy isgnarZed from the
military ana naval service OT tie cOun-
Try. by reason OF wounds. disease or
the expiration OF terms OF enlistment,
u j. respectfully recommended 20 bank
-TS. merchants. manufacturers m-chssn-
les farmers. and persons engaged in IN
duStrlal pursuits 10 give them lue IEet-
eIerce for appointment To remuueratVe
situations and empi1ymeHt-.
There was am implied promise in this
tnat Uo citizen would dare to disregard
II made In his private business and be-
cause OF IT, perhaps none than any
home from the field IF war to the
quiet. everyday pursuits Of peace
without disturbance or excitement 4
grateful people. grateful then. prom
cd HHFa a q fs-H q
you cast out the hale and halt alike,
condemn the soldier for Gvius-uutl
now
March 3. 1903. there was taken from
the House Committee 0u Reform Tu the
ClEll Service. Of which Mir. Glllettr OF
Massachusetts. now OF your commit
tee. was chairman and against his
vigorous protest, the only mEdSuTe 50
houorej during the late lameuted
Speaker HendeTsOn'S term. a bill TO
amend Section 1854 r. = supra so as
To apply its provisions Ia all hOnOrably
discharged soldiers and sailors, both in
the matter OF appointment and reteu-
JIOu in civil service and emplONmCnTS-
Under seDpenSi0u Of the rules, this bill
was passed by an oEeTWEelm Inning ma
jOTity Of the House. and sent to the
Senate, where II failed by reason only
Of the confusion attending the closing
hours OF the session uUt II marked the
sentiment of the House Of the 51th
Congress.
Chapter IS, act approved August -,
K
- Provided that ia making any re-
dUCtiou of force in any of the executive
departments, the head of such depart
meut shall retain these persons who may
De equally qualified. who have been hon
orGhly GiscIarEcd from the military or
naval service of the United states. and
the widows and orphans of deceased SOL
GiCrs and sailors
With the following. all of us are IA
The attention Of the departments IS
hereby called to the provisions OF the
laws giving preference 10 veterans in
appointment and retention
The President desires that whenever
the needs Of the service VIII justify it
and the laws VIII permit. preference
shall be given alike in appointment ana
retention to honorabIy discharged vet
Grams of the civil war. who are fit and
qualified II perform the duties of the
places which they seek, or are filling.
White House, January Il, 1902.
Not Extravagant.
When you reflect that all Of the above
statutes. executive orders and long
practice would be repealed by your pro-
posed section S, l think you'll not charge
me with extravaganza in Character1ziuS
the introduction thereto in your report
Limitations not heretofore imposed
as about the mildeSt hammered express
sion ever used 10 sCuttle the snip or
state.
This letter is, Of course. you under
stand. wholly impeTSORal / happen TO
be the official representative OF my
comrades as are You OF the powerful
committee that, like THE hand mat
rocks the world dominates the AFFAIRS
of the Nation. I write not IN anger,
but i'm deep sorrow, for II is my couI-
try and my comrades with WnOm We
so long touched elbows in whose name
this great wrong is being done
They counted not the cost in the days
of their youth health. and strength.
now they're almost at the turn of the
tide nearly all in. For years they nave
given to the Government IN Civil me lHe
same earnest. hard working. 1alLhIul:
loyal service that they gave IN uIne OF
war; for years and years 10 come tnelr
verV experience viii be of lncdlcHlaE1e
value Your bill makes their superior
competency an absolute DISCRIMINATION
because of the wears taken to acquire
it. In the civil service as in the army
or navy il is the Man behind the gun
upon whom we lean most heavily, VINO
fights the battle. who does the things
that get into general orders under some
one else's name, but what would we
Go without him.
This subject Is one which by the very
emphasis of our declining years. stan IS
closer to the representatives of the
vanishing army than any other obiiga-
ton on earth except 10 our cod and
country. | shall be pardoned. therefore.
| am sure. for speaking long and feel
ingiy.
our comrades in the Government serv-
ice are. by the circumstances of their
positions. powcrless TO defend them
selves. / beg you to speak for, instead
CT against, if you cannot leave them
With assurances of my distinguished
consideration, | have the honor TO be,
Very truly, your obedient servant
JAMES TANNER.
Gbi1f- G. A. r.