The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-07
TO C ], Y |. {: |:
THEIR VOTE | J
This Regarded to be Sole Put1rt -.
pose Of Circular; to Govern
lnci,t Employees.
PENSION CIVIL employees.
Bill for This Purpose the Avow5
led Object Of Aforesaid
Circulars.
PENSION CIVIL employees Is:

7ron1 our, Regulnr COrrcspondent)

(l7rom Our Regtlnr Correspondents
WAStllNGTON,5 y. C., jan. G.-Ono of
tho shrewdest OF tho many games worked
and attempted blythe administration for
the control of tho old soldier vote hns
just como to light in tho interior de-
purmcnt. A circular was sent out yes
terday and given full circulation in the
department, especially In the pension
office, requesting that the cmploye who
received 1t would atEonGe mako out on
tho card sent with the circular q state
mont covering the questions regarding
tho length; OF service no had rendered
as n soldier In tho war between the
States, and other matters pertaining 70
his record in the army.
Further along in tho circular 1t was
stated that the information was sought
for use III connection with q bill which is
being prepared providing for tho retire
-inent aud pensioning Of employees in tho
civil service ofith government who have
reached certain age. The bill is to he
pushed by tho United States Civil Ser
vlce Retirement Association, which is
composed OF employees of all the depart
ments OF the government, and no one
else.
A veteran of the Union army from
Maryland, who has an excellent record
as a soldier, and who Is now III tho civil
service Of the government, said to me to-
day that all tho soldiers of tho depart
lnent know that the circular was solely
Tor the purpose Of influencing tho old
soldier vote.
"Wo have been patted OH tho back until
we arc roundshouldered now" he said
''and all this Is but another pat. Every
civil cmplOyo OF the government VIII no
as much benefited by tho bill as Will the
old soldier who happens to bo on mo
salary rolls of tho department. The prop.
osition is to be made in the bill referred
to in the circular to retire all employees
Of the government when they reach
certain age, without reference TO whether
they are old soldiers, and to allow them
a pension. In The case Of the old soldiers
thus retired they would get the pension
allowed them by the proposed law, and
in addition, in the majority Of cases,
would also receive a pension from tho
government for service in the army
CALLED a KICKER.
"All this is absolutely wrong. was
wounded in 1864 but as Lam In the CHI
ploy Of the government, have never asked
for pension, and ! stated that tact III
answering the questions5on the caro- sent
out with the circular -to-day.I fOlu tnat
no old soldier who is in the employ of-tha
government should be- allowed Il pension.
/. aud ] have always gone further and con
tended shat q veteran who was not dis
abed from service in tho army should
not draw Il pension, unless lie was an
object Of charity. 4
"I am called kicker and crank, and
not a good Republican,, because am oD-
posed to the entire system Of making APP
pontments to tho civil service ! am n
civil service appointee, and cannot be
discharged for any partisan reason. But
in spite Of that fact I maintain and have
always maintained tl.--. the system is
wholly unfair. Certainly 1t is unfair to
give a man place in the government
service after lie has fought 4 dozen other
men for it, and then after lie has drawn
the salary attached to 1t all his life.
practically. retire him on q pension.
hope the pension which will be paid them
will be paid by assessment of employees,
ana not by the United States govern
ment."
1t Is not known whether the proposed
bill contcmplatcs providing Tor pension
Ing retired employees frop tho national
treasury.
But there seems no doubt that the
movement referred to In the circular
above Is for the sole purpose Of fnt!n-
cncing the soldier vote. Tho veteran
quoted said he thought it would continue
to DO usltuted until about fifteen minutes
before the polls closed on tho eighth day
or neyt N0vnmh or