Evening star., 1914-06-05
Defense and Criticism of Attj-
tude of Administration To-
ward War Veterans.
SENTOR STONE TAKES UP
REPORT OF P. o. OFFICIAL S
Senator Smoot Deprecates Treatment
of Ex-Union Soldiers-Others
Express Their Views.

Senator Stone Of Missouri today defend
ed the present administration against
charges that it has dealt unfairly with
old soldiers Of the United States particu-
larly members of the G. A. r. He spoke
on the reply made by Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson and Postmaster Praeger of
Washington to the Jones resolution ask
ing information about old soldiers who
have been discharged. denoted, or whose
designations have been demanded since
March last in the Post Office Depart
ment or in the Washington city post of
fee.
Senator Stone used the figures given
by these officials to show that only
one former soldier had been denoted
in the Post Office Department since
the Wilson administration came in,
and none had been disturbed since
March 4 last.
In the Washington post Office only
ten old soldiers have been disturbed
since the Wilson administration took
charge. he said. Nine since March
last.
Criticism of Fulton R. Gordon.
Senator Stone criticised Fulton R.
doiuOlI, VIII, ne Sdlu. HdO ldhSu d
prominent part in the recent attacks on
the administration. leading the people
to believe that eighteen old soldiers
have been dismissed or denoted in the
Post Office Department and the WASH
ington city post office since last March.
THE only former soldier disturbed in
the Post Office Department was color
ed man. a Spanish war veteran. who was
denoted from $720 to $500. and this was
because he used liquor too freely.
In the Washington city post office six
Union soldiers resigned two were drop
ped and one reduced from 81 600 to $500
since March 4 last.
One other old soldier, Henry l.
Johnson. had his salary reduced in
1918. He served in the city post office.
and his demotion was based on charges
made by Fulton r. Gordon. the same
fellow who today cries out 50 vocif
erously against reducing old soldiers.
POSTMASTER Praeger has told us that
the changes in the Washington post Of
fee were brought about by necessary
reorganization Of the Office.
Advocates Generous Consideration.
Senator Stone declared that he cordially
agreed that the people of the United
soldiers of this country, no matter what
war they served in.
ut is the duty of the people to treat
these men with generous and tender
hands, said Senator Stone. mo other
nation has approached the United States
in its care for the old soldiers"
Senator Stone insisted that during the
had been demotions and dismissals of
old soldiers. He said that in 1911 there
were fifteen demotions in the Post Office
Department This was under a republican
administration, he said. with a republican
Postmaster General in charge. Two OF
these old soldiers. he said, had since been
restored by Postmaster General Burleson
to their former positions and salaries.
Il heard no roar from Fulton r. Cor
don or anybody else.' said Senator Stone
when these demotions of old soldiers
were made during a republican admin
istration. But 1t seems that this Is now
a horse of another color.
when the republicans gained control
of the Senate some fourteen years ago
they promptly discharged employees OF
the Senate who were democrats, no mat
ter whether they were old soldiers or not.
Il remember that one of these men,
James w. Burnes. democrat, told me
that he was removed SO that a pro-
tege of former Senator Dick of Ohio.
q republican. might be given his place.
of the Senate last year there were
thirty old Union soldiers on the roll.
Since then two have resigned and two
have died. OF the remaining twenty
six only one was democrat and the
other twenty-five were republicans.
yet all of these men have been con-
tinued on the Senate roll. This indf-
Gates really that the democrats have
shown much greater consideration to
the old soldiers. no matter what their
politics, than was accorded by the re-
publicans."
Senator Smoot Replies.
Senator Smoot Of Utah replied to
Senator Stone. He said that he had no
wish to attack any one or to make
this a political question.
But wrongs have been done,'' said
Senator Smoot. II never could treat
men who had worked for me In such a
way as some ot these old soldiers have
been treated. Nor if they had ever
saved my very existence would l ever
think of discharginS them.
Senator Smoot said he had read the re-
port of the Postmaster General and that
he wished to discuss some of the cases of
forced designations and removals in the
Washington post Office. He quoted a
law enacted by Congress, a proviso upon
the legislative. executive and judicial law
enacted in 1912 This proviso stated that
in the event Of deductions OF demotions
in the executive departments and In in
dependent establishments in the District
Of Columbia, no regularly discharged
soldier or sailor of the United States
Navy should be discharged or denoted.
Senator Stone insisted that this proyiso
did not apply to the Washington city post
Office. But Senator Smoot declared that
1t did, and that it provided a penalty of
fine and Imprisonment upon any persons
who so discharged or denoted old soldiers
He discussed the records of the old
soldiers whose designations had been de-
manded or who had been dropped from
the city post office.
He showed how men who had eff
cheney rating high as S7.4 and "a
had been forced to resign. He said
that one of the men who had been
forced out was deaf and that the ex-
cuse was given that all orders had to
be given this man in writing.
1t was the roar of the cannon that
made this man deaf" said Senator
Smoot.