The Washington herald., 1907-12-23
A Word for the Old Soldiers.
The Washington Herald

Editor The Washington Herald:
The indecent haste exhibited by a Ger
tain number Of young departmental
clerks to get rid Of the older ones viii,
unless some protest is made. possibly
lead the public 10 believe that there is no
objection made by that numerous class
which It is their purpose to oUst from
employment.
Over 80 per cent Of the men whom they
propose TO condemn TO enforced idleness
and destitution were soldiers IN the
United States army during the civil war
They are men of the same spirit to-day
that they were in 1861. when they enlisted
in the army at the call of the President
for the preservation Of the Union. How
they bore themselves during that trying
period resulting in the surrender Of the
Confederate army belongs to history.
Forty years have passed since they
were mustered out of service and return
cd 70 civil life. Many of them have
sought service in the departments at
washington, and it is fair TO presume
that they performed that service well.
The discipline they had learned in the
army stood them well in civil service As
a rule. they are as competent to-day for
the performance Of the duties assigned 10
them as they have ever been. No greater
proportion OF these men is incapacitated
by age than will be found among younger
clerks incapacitated by dissipation, i'll
ness. and lack Of natural ability.
In the division of which l have charge
IN the Bureau Of Pensions there are men
who served during four years of war some
services are actually Indispensable to the
proper performance of the work The
shirkers and idlers do not belong TO that
class Several of them have not lost a
day on sick leave in the last five years
TO set these men aside on account Of age
would be loss TO the government and a
cruel hardship to them.
Unless some protest is made by the SOL
der clerks in the departments these
young men. styling themselves the
United States Civil Service Retirement
Association" who have their pictures in
the newspapers and occupy columns N
print will insist that the soldiers really
desire 10 be set out on the pavement to
starve. They talk glibly Of giving them
$500 a year on which 70 support their
families. pay house rent ard marketing.
and educate their children.
Ii is possible that a few Of the soldiers
may be found who have saved enough to
support themselves during their few re-
manning years and there may be some
who are willing 20 foist themselves upon
their sons or sOns-in-laW. but TO the
great mass. % out Of 100. the plan pro-
posed by the aforementioned high-sound-
ing society Of dropping from the service
means actual destitutiOn. / have no OBJ
lection TO a reduction in the pay of those
men. young or Old. who are incapacitated
from earning the salary paid them but
/ insist that in the case of the soldier he
should not be separated from the service
OF the government
What do the gentlemen wish? What
would they have? Are the soldiers not
diving fast enough Thirty thousand died
last year. In a few years they will all
be gone. and it would seem that common
gratitude would prevent the younger
members OF the departmental service
from lending a hand TO deprive these men
OF a livelihod in their old age. Nearly
every one Of them are men Of exemplary
habits. industrious. frugal. Obedient TO
orders. and II not so efficient as they
/, were when younger, they are as class.
as well adapted 10 departmental work as
those who are younger.
II & is true that a small proportion of
them cannot earn the stipend that is paid
them by the government. is not that all
the more reason for retaining them.
rather than throw them out where they
could not obtain employment OF any