Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-07
CLERKS PAY TRIBUTE
EMPLOYEES OF PENSION BUREAU
HOLDING RECEPTION.
The Building Handsomely Decorated
Brief Addresses by Commissioner
Ware and Gen. Torrance.

Eugene +. Ware, commissioner of pensions
and the several thousand clerks who conn
pose that bureau are this afternoon rece,v-
ing as their guests Of honor the commander
in-chief of the G. A. r. the chief officers
OF the several associate bodies which ars
also now assembled In Washington. and tbe
entire number OF veterans who have conn.,.
TO the national capital. From 2 o,cIock
until the whole building is given over tn
entertaining these distinguished persons
Addresses will be made by General Torrance
ana commissioner Ware the Marine Rand
VIII present a program suited to the penersI
promenade which will precede and follow
the formal exercises and several wellknown
musical organizations will contribute cho-
ruses especially prepared for this reception-
In preparation for the coming of thasa old
soio!ers the clerks in the bureau. through
their own committees have decorated ,ha
building quite as handsomely although IN
conformity with different design. az II
mas oeen decorated for the past half dozen
inaugural balls. A canopy OF red white
ana blue covers the great court IN ,ba Ia
aie OF the structure. Tiers OF American
uiss Outline the several galleries which lima
.he court: AT the middle of the north side
Is erected a huge tent which sur.,ounts
ana emphasizes a platform from which the
Two brief addresses of the afternoon are IN
be delivered platform near by has bean
SCI aside for the use of the Marine Band.
All the ante rooms needed have been nro-
pared FOR the comfort and convenience of
the visitors. The aisIes to the office nf tho
commander-in-chlef have been outlined IN
hass and greens that the veterans NAV PASS
Nj, Mare ana their commander-in-ch
with the least possible delay. Briefly. every
preparation which experience or incInation
could suggest has been followed as far as
the committee could conform 1t with the
general plan adopted at the outset.
Order Of Exercises.
Inc formal program, of which the clerks
nave printed many thousand copies for free
distribution, sets forth not only the order
or exercises, but much information az to
the bureau, its operations, the number Of
claims pending either from old soldiers or
from dependents Of old soldiers. and MANY
details as to the construction Of the build
gram: f
reception by commissioner of pensions
ana deputy commissioners Of commander
lh.cnief, q. A r., and staff, at pm
Assembly call and battle limitations on
drum, A. F. Springton
Ware.
Response. Gen. Ell Torrance.
reception of comrades by commissioner
and deputies.
Note-All visiting comrades desiring to
meet the commissioner and deputy commits
sioners will fall into line near the large
columns on the east side of the court
Marine Band, director, Prof. w. H. Sam
lehman.
Modoc Club, from Topeka Kan, director,
Mr.. T. ]. Anderson.
Pension Office Chorus director DR. r r
Woodman
At the conclusion of the exercises the
Pension Office Chorus will lead in singing
My Country. 'Tis of Thee" assisted by
hn a fnn ny,I H.
1t is requested that the audience join in
the singing.
So much general interest has been mani
tested in this reception that the commit
tee In charge has felt 1t necessary to issue
the following statement:
Tho reception Of the commissioner of
pensions OF the commander-in-chef and
comrades Of the G. A r.. to be held in the
pension office building Tuesday after
noon at 3 o'clock will not be public func-
ton, and to avoid overcrowding the court
and galleries on that occasion the building
will be given over exclusively to the vet
Grams and their friends from out of the city
who desire to attend the commissioners
reception
Tribute to Veterans.
This entire undertaking is a tribute from
the employees Of the pension bureau to the
men whose claims on the general govern
ment are considered by those employees
Many of the latter are themselves veterans
Many others are either widows or descend
ants of veterans. A few saw service in the
confederate army. But all Of them feel
bound by peculiar ties to the army with
which they have become so familiar
through their daily work and to whose
valor the government Is now engaged
through them in paying the fullest tribute
in it's power.
On suggestion from the authorities Of the
bureau Chairman Warner of the citizens
committee organized the special committee
for this reception by appointing the follow
ing employees as it's officers: w. II. Bayly,
chief clerk. chairman; Capt. L. F. Kelly,
Mr.. A. ID. Albert. distinguished veteran
and a member of the clerical force, secre-
tary. These three gentlemen expanded the
committee by inviting the cooperation Of
every chief of division. and the last named
further extended it by organizing subcom-
mtttees on finance in each division.
No attempt was made to canvass for
funds. On the contrary only a general call
was issued and the clerks were informed
they might contribute If they chose The
result indicates that practically the entire
body of employees did choose to give. In lit
tie more than a week 81 coo was subscribed
The total fund was considerably more than
I,OO0. No contributions were received from
any other source. except that the Marine
Band volunteered to furnish the instrument
tai music for the reception and the Modoc
Club. a well-trained chorus of pension
clerks and several choir singers proffered
their services as vocalists Otherwise the
entire undertaking is a tribute from the
clerks in the pension bureau to those old
soldiers in whom they feel a distinctive and
peculiar interest. and for whom they thus
manifest their highest regard.
-1
HANNA IN JOINT DEBATE.