The sun., 1908-04-03
PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS.
Policy Of Other states and NatlOnS CITED in
support Of FOwler-CObb Blll.


much misstatement, probably inadvertent.
concerning the Fowler-Cobb bill that In fair
meas space for reply should be accorded me
as the official spokesman OF the Spanish war
veterans OF this State.
We do not invoke a grant OF preference
legislation from the State Legislature. We
merely ask a referendum Of our resolution to
! the people The proposition that preference
In the civil employment OF States be accorded
to honoraby discharged soldiers ann sailars
is one that has merited the consideration of
modern civilized governments. How shall
! recruiting be stimulated? How is a better
! quality OF recruit Obtalnable? How shall
I desertion from military service be deferred?
While yearnlng for the sodierless millennium.
we are confronted by the grim realities OF
the time The army is necessary, The navy
Ia paramount essential. Service In war
fare means sacrifice. Enlightened sef-in-
terest should impel Government to offer
! privileges in order TO induce men to lend
themselves TO jeopardy. Ordinary dccenoy
should move Government 10 a recognition Of
those who, without heed Of self, volunteer for
national defence.
Both the English and German Governments
| provide as an inducement to enlist that
| the recruit at the expiration Of his term OF
| service, with an honorable discharge. shall
! receive preference in the civil service. The
| questions bropounded were tho subject Of
investigation by select committees Of the
British House OF Commons In 1871, 1895 and
1909. the recommendations Of which have
| been in large measure crystallIzed into Law =
| The primary question certified TO the hrst
| committee was. Whether better class ot
! men would be induced to enter the military
| or naval service II the protect we're held ont
| to them OF civil employment after certain
! period Of meritorious service" to which IL
responded aflrmatiyely. tReport Of Com
mittee on eN-Soldicrs and Sailors, 1909, Cd.
| 29si, y, IT, The more recent committee finds
That their character and behavior eG soldiers
snd sallorsl is quite up TO the average, and th,t
| they are more punctual. generally cleaner and
more subject TO discipline than civilians. "a
p. 49,
We cannot loo strongly urge this view. Whatever
claim the soldier may have for employment upon
the patriotic citizen, his claim on his old employer
the State, IL greater I'D r. IA We
therefore most urgently urge that dehnite In
sirucllons should be issued 10 the various depart
ments that eI soldiers and sailors are 10 be given
prior claim 10 employment In the various pos'
in the Government service. We feel. more
over that by this means only can the State relieve
II for those who have borne arms and endangered
their lives In lis service. I'D. D. 2sJ
The English, like our own Government.
maintains a system OF voluntary enlistment.
RUSSIA. Belgium and Sweden grant such
preference by executive order. France.
Spain. Portugal and Switzerland make ample
statutory provision The Canadian Govern
ment ia about TO grant preferred land priv
legcs to resident volunteers who enlisted
for service in The Sotfth African war
The national Government provides pref
erence for ability incurred in line Of duty
whether in wgr or peace. a.. ). Rev. ST..
Sec, 1851 A regulation adds TO this abso-
lute preference 1--WE points on the percentage
received IN e1aminati0ns. tSee form No.
1885,. August, 1907, I. s. Civil Service Colu-
preference is given TO both civil war aud Span
ish war veterans Navy yard order a. re.
yised, Section ?1 dated July !, 1907
Minnesota. with no civil service system.
by chapter lis Of the laws ct 1907 provide,
that any resident Spanish war veteran msr
be prrmitted TO pursue any course in thu
University Of MinnCsota without the pay
Inent Of tuition.
Michigan and Ohio stand in the vanguard
OF American States ia reVdrdinI their soldier
Sons Act No. Si, section I " the Public
Acts Of lNgl Of th' former prCs,Iihss hat all
"hOnOrably DISCHARGED lriOn soldiers sUlOrs
and marines OF the late rebellion and IN"
soldiers, sailors and marines Of the late Span
ish American war Shalt be preferred for
appointment and employment" By Sections
Sln1-N OF the Revised Statues OF Ohio Hll
"honorably DISCHARGED soldiers, sailors mud
marines OF the nited states shali be pre-
ferreu for appointments
IA the face Of the pldctmCntS Of such typca
American COmmOnWealths ~ Ohio and
Michigan can the Empire state alOrd TO be
nlggardly and PROVINCIAL Public 1tat emeut
has been made by well intent oned but mis-
informed persons that the granting Of
preference will preempi ali positions in the
state Tor Spanish war Vet Grams for wears to
come. Al authorit on the subject. eY-Judge
lewis L. Grifi,ths Of roy. estimates that less
than per cent Of the position in the civil
service OF the state are occupied by Union
veterans, and Prank 4. Spencer, ,ecre-
tary OF the New York Municipal Civil Service
Commission. recently told the uudersignpu
that the number In the service Of the ,itv ap.
Dominated per cent. II less than per cent.
OF the Positions in the Ciyil service Of the Stale
aud iis rolitiCal subdivisions are now re-
Cruted from the survivors Of the half million
Union Vcicrans who are entitled to absolute
preference In appointment what percentage
Of such employment will he sought by repre-
sentdtiNes OF il 10000 Spanish war We terau-
Who may be invested with ten point prefer
enCe?
The measure applies not 10 veterans FROM
the whole country, but only 10 men NiU o.
thr time 9i enI istment we're residents Of Nc'
YORK, and II heCOmeS oDerative only gItcr
the applicant has demonstrated his cOWpt-
tsncy 10y attaining rank ON the eligible list
the great mass Of New lurks volunteers
WtIc SUuug uIru, some entering on 7 rauC Hu.
premiership and others COnplPting n prnioe-
siOnal education. Their servfre 20 the ultir'
either crippled or terminal ed this preparation
Tor chosen career. The state by HCuOriias
the desired modiclm Of preference nereI'
eDdeayoTs o replace them on plane Of equal
tC with none Ombatants,
In attempted elucidaton OF the effect Of
the proposed measure the Civil ServIrr
lOmmiaGinn IL
partments OF New. York city as DOM
mating examples The choice Is an unhappc
one. Nowhere is army discipline 50 requisite
as IN the former, nor Valor 30 essential as
IN the latter. The experience Of our civ
and OF foreign municipalities proves that The
eN-soldier or sailor makes the ideal policeman
The TACT Of the matter. however Is that q
law calculating the proposed constitutional
amendment necessarily could moi be enacted
until 1911, at which time the are limit o.
thlrty-one years would debar the beneR-
ciartes Of the act from eli gibilty to appoint
ment In these departments.
In actual practice epp0intment is not
determined by the standing OF the applicant
on tile eligible list. but rather by the nature
and weight Of his partisan connections The
veteran, therefore, though both conpeten'
and eligible, his appointment not being com-
pulsory, might rest in "innocuous desuetude
To contend that these men who In the spirit
OF sacrifice volunteered from the crafts and
professl Ions would form a dangerous priv-
legged class Invites deTision and ia belied by
experience. MAURICE SIMMONS,
Judge Advocate United Spanish War Vete-
rams. Department OF New York
NV NoPg. April2