Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-22
OBI ICED TO RETIRE
The designations Of Eight
Watchmen Demanded.
!,
STATE, WAR AND NAvYF0RcE
All Old Men Who Had Been in Service
Many Years.
THREE OF THEM WAR VETERANS
superintendent Carrying Out Instruc-
lions Of Departmental Commission
Guided by Efficiency.

| In obedience to instructions from the de-
| partmental commission Capt. John H.
| Poole. Corps Of Engineers, U. 8. A., super
intendent Of the State. War and Navy De-
| partments building has called for the res
| ignation of eight members of the force of
watchmen of that building, to take effect
| on the both inst, the close OF the present
| fiscal year. The men affected by this unex-
| pected action are George w. Shaw, A. w.
Rose William Somers, Donald Mcleod.
John 7. Neale. Charles w. Drury. Gusty
| Flowers and v. c. Meyenhoffer. They are
all old men and have been in the service of
| the government for many years. Neale is
eighty-o ne years of age and Is veteran of
| the Mexican and civil wars. He lost his leg
| In the latter war and draws a pension on
| that account. He has been on the watch
force twenty-six years. Somers, who Is
| eighty-one years of age. and Rose, who is
| sfxty-fve, are both veterans of the civil
| war. Somers has been on the watch force
] wenty-one years and Rose nine years.
The others have had military service.
Shaw is seventy-fve years and has been on
Ane force thirteen years. Meyenhoffer Is sew
| enty-two years old and H.. served seventeen
years Drury is seventy-one years old and
| has served twenty-five years. Flowers is
sixty-four years of age and has been on the
| rorce thirteen years, and Mcleod is sixty
|
| In the case of the eight watchmen 1t is Of
| hcially stated that they We're dropped from
| the service in the interests of economy be-
| cause they were superannuated.
obeying Instructions.
superintendent Poole said he acted in this
| matter with considerable reluctance and re-
greet. and was simply carrying out the in
structions of the departmental commits
| sion. When he succeeded Admiral Baird
as superintendent of the building, a few
| months ago, he was informed that the COM
| missioners considered that too much money
| was being spent on the building and that
| In particular the watch force seemed larger
| than was necessary The superintendent
was specifically instructed to investigate the
| general question of expense and to report
| particularly II the watch force could not
| be reduced without impairing the service
After a careful study and investigation
or the subject covering a period of several
| months Superintendent Poole submitted a
! report to the departmental commission He
| suggested several changes in the matter
| which would reduce the expense of caring
| for the building. Regarding the watch force,
! he stated that 1t consisted of a captain,
two lieutenants and ffty-eight privates, the
| majority OF whom are men past the me-
| dunn age and many of them veterans OF
| the war Of the rebellion. Several of these
| men, he said, were in the superannuate
| class, and In conclusion he expressed the
| opinion that the number of privates could
| be reduced to fifty men without prejudice to
| the service. These men receive $40 per
| annum
Report Approved.
The departmental commission consists ex
| officio of Secretary Root, Secretary Taft
| and Secretary Bonaparte. The commits
| sIoners considered and approved Captain
| Poole's report and instructed him to re-
| duce the watch force in accordance there
| with. The selection of the eight men to
| be dropped was left to him, and he says he
was guided in the matter entirely by the
| efficiency records of the force and the
recommendation of the captain of the
| watch, who was personally familiar with
| the individual records and personal habits
| of all the men. Due consideration was
given to the military service of the men,
| he says and the list submitted to the COM
| mission contained the names of the men
whose services could best be spared. The
commission approved the list submitted and
| directed that the eight men named be
| dropped from the service. In executing the
| orders of the cimmission, Capt. Poole gave
| the men opportunity to resign with leave
| of absence until July 1.
G. A. 3. May Interpose.
| 1t is probable that the representatives of
| the Grand Army of the Republic In this
| city will take cognizance of the cases of
| Messrs. Somers, Rose and Neale who are
veterans of the civil war, and endeavor to
| secure their retention In the service If 1t is
possible. Friends of these men have al
| ready appealed to Capt. Poole In their be-
| half and he has referred them to Secre-
| taries Root, Taft and Bonaparte as the only
| officials having power in the matter.
|