The Washington times., 1914-10-13
c. A. R.. CHIEF SCORES.
PENSION OFFICE HEAD
Commander ]. K. GIeeson Saws
Commissioner SaIzgaber Is
Demoting Veterans.

commander J. X Gleeson. of the Dc
D rtment of the Potomac, Grand Army
. the Republic, fired a broadside today
= Gaylord VI. Saltzgaber, Commissioner
q Pensions, who has issued a warning
Union veterans employed in his bu-
? III that their tenure of office cannot
L.. definite or certain.
commander Gleeson accused the Pen
e. n Office of holding up old soldiers
f,r the amounts OF their pensions, by
d noting them and reducing their sal
a les.
lie declared the Federal statute pro-
Y ding that no honorably discharged
Sc ilor, soldier or marine, whose record
is good in the office where he is en-
pIoyed. shall be discharged. denoted or
c anged in rank, under a severe PEN
q ", was put upon the books by Con-
6 ess to be observed.
To test the validity of this law he
O i his associates upon the joint COM
y ttee of the Grand Army of the Re-
? bic, Spanish War Veterans, and
A my and Navy Union are nearly ready
L. take the matter into court.
Would Stem Tide.
These test cases, Or. Gieeson asserts,
a. the only hope of stemming the tide
D, furloughs and demotions which he
claims the present Administration is
directing against old soldiers.
We claim" said DR.. Gleeson, that
IT, law protecting veterans has been
\ aIed, again and again, by the exc
e We neaas of Government depart
n. rts. ana IN the Pension Office, where
Il Commissioner hImSeIf Is a Union
Y, eran, and a member OF the u. A. r.,
u violations have been more flag
l. t than in any of the rest,
We have not abandoned our lnten-
ton of taking the fight into the courts
v have cases now in the Postotf.ce
l., paTtmenL, in the navy yard, and IN
n ny other branches of the Government
" ICh we think can be won by an ap-
p Il to the law. But Just at present
H. Pension office presents vastly dlf-
f. ent problem.
Cowed by the fear of antasonizing
T.. superiors who have already reduced
L m in rank; frightened at the bare
D. ssibillty OF losing their bread ana
.ljer; these men who fearlessly faH-d
death on a score of battle fields in
4 elr youth, are now unwilling TO take
The risk of coming to the front and
lting for their rights. AS soon as
s Gle man is willing to bear the brunt
O. a test case, we stand ready to put
tie case into the courts.
Looks To the Law.
And 1 believe the existing statute,
/. tested in the courts, will supply the
with which TO save our old
3 ldiers from being cast into the down
and outerS.'
We fought the furlough of a man
In The Navy Department last spring,
and accomplished nothing until We sent
an ultinatum to the Secretary through
our attorney, giving the department a
certain time to restore him to his posi-
ton with the alternative of having US
Tile suit. in the courts. Upon the morn
ng of the day previous to the time set,
u 5 empIoye was returned to duty.
In the Pension Office today the Of
f ais are trying TO evade the law. In
2 st cases, where demotions have been
E. cred against veterans and the widows
C veterans, the clerks so reduced have
J. IN kept at the same desks, doing ile
+ me work under the same conditions
Z existed previous to the reduction OF
| cir salaries.
Seeks An Inquiry.
What is now needed, in conjunction
' IN a few test cases, is a good and
| orough ventilation Of the methods
how in vogue. in the Government de-
rartments. d and especially the Pension
glaCe, to down the old soldier. and we
{ the committee are determined tc
t s ht TO the last ditch.
CoL John 7. McElroy, editor of the
stional Tribune, and himself q GrInC
!. my man, today did not agree with
p erything DR.. Gleeson had to say con-
{ ming the situation at the Pension
ice.
The only solution which ! see in the
: sent attack upon Union veterans in
c Government departments, he said,
in a civil service pension. There has
/ doubtedly been gross injustice prac-
ed toward old soldiers by the present
T. lninistration in many OF the Govern
mt departments, but l believe the
i..usion office presents a different as
yet than the rest.
In the Immigration Bureau, ! am
d that only tour Republicans have
en- allowed to retain their positions.
say nothing of the veterans who USED
De employed there
From the Postoffice Department |
Ar a world of complaint.
At the United States Capitol they
p treated the veterans mercilcssly.
p lose who a few months ago had salar-
..- amounting to 81, 100 have been re-
ed to $500. and sent TO do heavy
0Tk in the basement.
Hears of Requirements.
From all over the country | am
aring from postmasters that all vet
MS among them are being replaced
speedily as possible.
But in the Treasury and in the Pen
On Office. ] believe that a great deal
consideration has been given them.
~reIary NcAGoo is entitled to a lot
credit. Nor do | hear very much
nplaint from the War, State and
ayN departments.
But coming back to the Pension Of
=. ] believe that Commission Saltz-
Der has proceeded with a great deal