The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-23
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QUIT COMMISSION
Legislature Demands Rein
statement of Officials
Honorably Discharged

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Jan 90 OSplD
The senate on Wednesday adopted Il
joint resolution, approved by Gov Rob
erts. declaring THAT 1t is the opinion
Of the SiSty.frst general assembly Of
the state OF Tennessee that all formoJ
officials aud employees OF the state aud
its various counties and municipalities
who return houorahy discharged, should
be restored to the positions which they
vacated on entering the military or
naval service Of the United states ~
The resolution viii go to the house
Thursday, where II Is expected to pass
unanimously.
Gov. Roberts and various members of
the legislature who have been Interesied
In the question of securing positions for
the returned soldiers, Il is understood,
had a conference at which II WAS de-
cided that the best evidence Of gen
| uine interest," In the returning men
would be the@wllngness OF officials TO
| relIuduish positions held as a result OF
| their predecessors entrance In the
| army,
There Is no oompilsion in the roso-
lntion ~ y merely The acid test \
an official Is holding an office secured
by the resignation OF an official TO en-.
| ter the army, the sentiment OF the reso-
| luton In that the office should be ten.
dered back to the soldier upon his dis
| charge,
GOV. Roberts understands that the
problem OF employment for returned
soldiers Is one Of the vital issueS OF
the year. He is willing to adopt hny
| legitimate means Of securing employ
ment for them He wishes to enCour-
age the same attitude among othHr Of
fiCials and the drastic resolution Is re
garded merely as an expression Of
public sentiment which can not be re-
sisted,
The resolution as passed In the sen
ate was introduced by Uncle Billy
Matthews, who has the honor of renre-
senting Clay, Feutres9, Jackson, over
ton, Pickett and Putnam counties, aud
has three sons In the army lie Is a
Democrat
The resolution ls rs follows.
Whereas. during the great European
war n number Of TenueSsec's patriotic
sons in order to enter the army aud
navy Of the United states gave up and
resigned official Positions which they
held under the government of THIS
state and its various counties and mu-
inequalities, including mayors, alder
men, commissioners, city and county
attorneys, engineers ana numerous
clerks and deputies: and,
"WhereaS, Tennessee IL justly proud
Of these men. especially In view of the
fact that many of them would hay"
been exempt from service under the
seIcctive service act, had they chosen
to claim exemption, and,
Whereas. public opinion IL general
in demanding that soldiers and sailors
be restored to the positions which they
vacated ON going to war,
"Now therefore, be It resolved by
the senate. the house OF representatives,
concurrlna, that II is the opinion Of the
Sixty, first general assembly Of the state
Of tennessee that all former officials
and employees Of the state and its Vart-
Gus counties and municipalities who re-
turn, honorabY discharged, should be
restored to the positions which they va.
Gated on enterIna military or naval
service Of the United States"
1t is not known what attitude the
Memphis city commission will take to-
ward W r. MCIuin. former commits
sioner Of streets, bridges and sewers,
who resigned to enter the service. lite
was succeeded by G. h, Quinn. a Re
publican who, of course, Is not SYM
pathetic with the Democratic state ad-
ministratiOn any way and he may defy
public opinion and the resolution of the
legislature by holding the Job he got
because Commissioner McLain went to
war McI,ain recently received an hon
I,I Np