Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-18

pension bureau, who We're enjoying out
ing and shad bake at River View yesterday
afternoon and evening. The sentiments of
the commissioner were loudly applauded.
Commissioner Warner spoke for several
minutes on the subject of the old men in
the departments which had been touched
upon by previous speakers at the outing.
He first pointed out the glory of the work
which the soldiers, including those present
yesterday, did for the country, and said:
There is no danger of the old boys so
long as 1 remain in the bureau" he declar-
ed. Il make few promises, as you know;
but those do make 1 carry out. When 1t
became known that there was to be
duction in the force July 1 there was
some apprehension. But July l no worthy
clerk will lose his job. ] have seen to 1t
that the men who have done faithful and
conscientious service will remain. You men
are recognized for your true, worth. and
you are distributing a larger fund than Is
disbursed by any other department"
He concluded with the statement quoted
at the beginning.
Under Favorable Auspices.
Everything was favorable to the outing.
J. Pluvius was especially propitious; the
fastest boat on the river. the ST. Johns.
carried them to the scene of their festivi-
ties; Mr.. Shad wore an inviting smile, when
enticing the palate at the banquet table:
every one entered heartily into the spirit
of the occasion, and the commissioner 8
promises were In unison with the surround
ings.
About two hundred of the old soldiers In
the pension bureau left on the boat from
the It'll street wharf at O'Clock. Upon
their arrival at River View they gathered
about the festive board. After the repast,
the party adjourned to the wide verandas
of the dining hall and there listened to
speeches from ex-COmnissioners w. w.
Dudley, John c. Black and Green B. Raum,
well as n the remarks n Cnrrrnf m ar
Warner. About o'clock, the honeward
journey was begun and was accomplished
without special incident.
This is the second meeting of this kind
the pension bureau ex-Union soldiers have
held. the first being banquet held sew
eral months ago. Out of these two meet
fngs 1t Is expected, viii grow permanent
association. The organization OF the So
clety will be taken in hand by the commit
tee of arrangements in service yesterday
and will be carried through 1t Is expected,
in a short time thereafter The committee
is composed of John T. Clements president;
Maj. Edward Howard, secretary; Fred c.
Peck, treasurer: ]. Tyler Powell. B. F.
Chase. p. S. Noble L. ]. Shappen, o. P.
HaIlam. Capt John Riley and John s.
Wheeler.
The Addresses.
Ex-Commissioner Dudley was first intro
duced He referred first to the civil serv-
ice retirement bill. pending before Con-
gress. which he said provided for the men
who served the Union well and who have
efficiently distributed the largest fund of
the government
THE government" he declared, cannot
do anything too generous too just for
these men; and such services will be recog-
nized some day"
lin closing he paid fine tribute to the
conscientious work done by the ex-soldiers
in the department.
Gen. Black reminded his hearers that the
winter of their discomfort" when the agi-
tation over the old clerk stirred up ap-
prehension had been turned into the SUM
mer OF happiness" The Investigators or
dered by the man In authority as regards
the older mems work, he said. had helped
them. rather than hurt them. and did much
20 keep them were they were. He told of
the pleasure which he had OF attending
this meeting, where stories were exchanged
and crutches shouldered to show how a bat
tie was won. But he pointed out that war
had changed since the civil war, that the
chances for individual work was past and
that war had now become a butchery
and, thank God. it will go out of fash
ion." he concluded.
Capt. l. NJ. Kelly. deputy commissioner