New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-26
War Veterans Charge That
Large Numbers Have Been
OuSted to Provide Places.
NO WARRANT FOR DEMOTION
Old Soldiers Declare Republi-
cans in Civil Service Have
Been displaced for
Political Purposes.
From The Tribune Bureau.


Washington. Oct. S.-Ruthless raids or
the civil service personnel by the Demo
cratic administration are the subject Of
rigid inquiry by a joint committee Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic and the
United Spanish War Veterans, and a po-
litical scandal Is. imminent IL charges
made by members of the two organiza-
tons are true.
Five futile efforts have been made 10
present protests .to,.the President. accord
ing to Thomas II. Mckee. commander OF
the Department OF the Potomac, G.. A. r.,
who heads the joint committee and has a
, mass of information about the employ
ment Of the "spoils' system" in the various
departments No accusations have yet
been made that the President has any
knowledge OF the widespread demotions
promotions and determinations. but
members Of the compnittee are angry be-
cause they have not been permitted to lay
the facts before the Chief Executive.
The inquiry of the, joint committee is
directed principally toward ascertaining
the number of Union soldiers who have
been denoted or dismissed. but the inves-
tigation. IL is asserted, has already de-
veloped the fact that Republicans gener-
ally have been dismissed or denoted with
out regard to the principles Of the civil
service and that their, places have been
filed by Democrats.
1T is a crime to ornst these veterans
who are still capable uf performing their
duties as well as ever,V said Commander
a., a. n haliaya tina
President Wilson would tolerate the tac-
tics which are being employed for politi-
cal purposes by his subordinates, but the
fact remains that the positions of APP
proximately 1000 G. A. r. veterans are
jeopardized and that several hundred
faithful civil service employees already
have been denoted under the spells sys-
tenn"
The Joint committee comprises Com
mander Mckee, Colonel john McElroy ed
itor OF THE National Tribune" official
organ OF the G. A. r.; Dri ]. X. Gleason
senior vice-commander of the Department
OF the Potomac: John Lewis Smith, COM
mander in chief of the United Spanish
War Veterans, and John j Costello, past
commander of the Department or the 70
tomac of the United Spanish War Vet
Grams Mr.. Costello is a Democratic poll
tician.
Commander Mckee said ho-day that ne
was compiling a list of the demolons In
the various departments, which he hoped
the committee would be able TO submit TO
the President. with arguments showing
that most of the demotions were wholly
without warrant and made solely to make
room for the army of Dem ocratic ONCE
seekers and Democrats already In the
civil service. He said he expected to have
the report ready within week.
According TO Mr.. Mckee. the investisa-
,ion has disclosed that the chief OF every
division in the Pension Office"has peeh oe-
NOTED and every vacancy chus created
has been filled with a Democrat. 1t Is also
charged that there have been large
number Of other undeserved 'semotions IN
tho Pension Office dictated soSely by par
tisan politics.