Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-21

asked for three cheers for him. which were
given with a will.
WHATS the matter with Comrade War
mere? Maj Clements shouted.
He's all right one hundred and thirty
Threats responded with as much vigor as
the same men must have used often in the
shouts of battle.
Col. Warner was the final speaker. and
when he finished. and before he could re-
sumo his seat. Gen. Black, who had spoken
just before him, arose quickly. and, throw
ing his arm around the shoulder of his
comrade, said, pointing to scar on. the
commissioners right cheek:
This beauty spot which you see, was
kissed by red hot bullet when the cheek
was softer than 1t is now.
And more innocent" Col. Warner con-
Guided. modestly as the banqueters dis
played marked enthusiasm.
Gen. Blacks speech was no less fervent
In behalf of the government clerk of adj
vanced age than Commissioner Warmers. .
II wish folks would get over the notion.
he said, that when a man reaches the age
of three score years and ten he is no longer
fit to live. 1t is wrong. No nation Is fit
to live that lays that burden upon its old
men. and this nation is not going to lay
that burden on you"
Performed High Duty.
Cheers greeted this remark. Gen, Black
continuing, said:
IL wish every American could look in
on YOU tonight and see what manner of
men you are. You did Your high duty in
the hour of danger. l do not believe IL is
in the hearts OF the children of today to
hunt you down and send you into exile.
Every year you add to your age is
added year of service for the nation and
l believe Congress and the American peo
pie are willing that you should remain Sc
rene in your places.
II wish they could know how efficient
10 nv nf hat
they should hunt you down. You have had
your share OF breads, and l hope and be-
lieye that these new breads will be chased
from your lives and that the aged employees
of the government will receive from the
American people the honor that Is due
them"
Three rousing cheers were given for Gen
Black
General Dudley. who was introduced as
the dean of the pension commissioners"
said good word for the veterans of the
civil war and announced that his efforts
had always been in their behalf. He was
entirely against the proposed action Of
Congress on the age limit question. Speak
Ing of his service as pension commissioner,
General Dudley said, in part
ut gives me great pleasure to gaze once
more into the faces of those with whom
l have worked so long. The soldier the
soldiers widows and the soldiers orphans
always received consideration in my regime
unless some glazing defect was discovered
in the application. The act of June q
1880. was one of the most beneficial of the
acts ever passed by Congress ! have al
ways felt that there Is no danger of ever
granting TOO large pensions to former SOL
diers with long service records"
Views of General Raum.
Gen. Raum, who besides being a former
commissioner OF pensions was formerly
commissioner of internal revenue Treasury
Department, made a strong plea, not only
Tor the elimination of the age question Yor
government clerks. but for larger salaries
for them. He declared that when Congress
fixed the grades of pay for the clerks. a
as putting them too high, bur since then
the cost of living has advanced loo per
cent.
Congress knows you can't save money on
81 200 year" he said. Your salaries
ought TO be Increased proportonately with
the cost OF living. When l was commits
sioner of internal revenue / made report
upon this question: recommending that the
salaries OF the government clerk be in
creased and that the surplus from year TO
year go toward fund for paying salaries
years ago-newspapers all over the country
favored such plan, but Congress had the
civil service reform bug In its cap and did
nothing along those lines.
II know many democrats who will vote
against this age-lmit measure and know
one prominent democratic congressman who
intends to make strong speech against IL
at the proper time. While l am In the city
| am going to make II a business to take
few congressman to the treasury and show
them how efficient the aged clerks are In