The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-09-02
CAPITAL
GOSSIP
stuns In the Nighttime BY Wild
eee-Pensions For Govern
ment Clerks.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 2.-con,
gresham James Kennedy, who rep
resents the Youngstown tohio) dis
trict, and who, by the way. has very
little covering to his weli.shaped era
mum, entertained some of his friends
on his last visit to Washington with
vivid account OF freak nature
which he witnessed one night this
summer.
"a swarm of wild bees alighted in
tree in my yard said Kennedy. II,
was shortly before l had planned to
retire. The bees made quite a noisy
demonstration for several hours and
then suddenly departed IN the dark.
ness. have no data at hand relating
to similar freaks of wild bees at
night, and I have refrained from pur.
suing an investigation, for bees, as a
rule, are little sluggish and sodden
about aiding scientific research.
at was calm, still night. Prompt.
ed purely by desire to fathom what
seemed to be an unusual occurrence.
and with no Interior motive in view
far from it'll walked in under the
tree and began to ponder deeply up.
on the probable cause of this latest
freak of the insect creation.
Suddenly, innocently, and cruelty.
too, healthy lone bee slipped on the
dewey leaf. Not to the earth some.
where, as did the arrow in Longfeilew's
poem-this bee met a resistance. 1t
alighted on close-cropped head of
thin hair and instantly buried It's
sword to the hilt among the roots
and branches.
"And what an unexpected thrill.
"a slight delay OF the bee, in strug-
Cling to disengage the barbs OF It's
sword from the punctured cutlcle,
cost the ferocious insect its life. A
hand descended on the Uranium,
shifting out It's existence. Then, by
a glare of match, trod Its insignifl.
cant body out OF sight in the green.
sward, and danced over the spot in
ghoulish glee. 4
"The lesson have learned from the
busy bee," said Congressman Kenne.
dy, in completing his narrative. ais
that 1t improves not only the shining
hours, but also the moments, and
even opportune seconds
A well-defined movement is on foot
to fetch about Congressional iegisla.
ton that will result in the govern.
ment's granting pensions to superan.
nuated clerks in the several depart.
ments and bureaus. This is a ques.
tion that has been discussed for a
long time by the government employ.
es, but not until recently has there
been anything Of tangible nature
done to accomplish the result de.
sired by the would be benefciaries.
The United States Civil Service
Retirement Association, which was
organized couple of months ago,
now has a membership which in.
cludes nearly every government EN-.
ploye in Washington.
The Legislative committee is con.
sidering measures for the prepare.
ton OF a, retirement bill, to be sub.
mitted TO Congress the coming win.
ter. The general tenor of the pro.
posed bill is to provide for the retire.
ment on half pay of clerks who have
been faithful to their duties for 20
years; also employees who become in.
capacitated while in the employ of the
government.
AS rule the ordinary department
clerk is kicker from away back. II
would be hard to find single EN-.
ploye in any of the departments who
does not think he or she is leading a
life of slavery. To be sure these EN-.
ployes are compelled to be at their
desks at the unreasonable hour OF Q
o'clock In the morning and thar In.