Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1907-06-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Corresspondent.l

WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular COrresspondent-)
Washington d. c., June 10, 1907.
This city swarms with politicians
of high and low degree for about
every Office holder-and there are
thousands OF them-feels capable OF
settling the affairs OF the nation.
The great anxiety Of these lesser
political lights who have been long
in the public service is to secure a
pension TO retire upon instead OF be-
ing unceremoniously bounced for in
competency through age or other
cause. Most OF the oldest Of these
public servants are Republicans
who came into the departments dur
ing, or soon after, the close OF the
war and but few ever passed civil
service examination, nor could
many Of them il put to the test.
Nearly all those who would be re-
tired for age or incompeteDcy have
saved but little and many OF them
have others dependent upon them
who will undoubtedly suffer priva-
tions If the wage Garner loses his or
her place.
Ii is a serious dilemma that con-
fronts the American people as to the
future of their Civil Servants, and
as the next Congress will probably
be called upon TO deal with this is
sue the taxpayers Of the country
should instruct their representa-
lives either for, or against a civil
pension law. To begin paying civil
pensions to old or decrepit civil SER
wants, even in the most most moder-
ate way OF half their present salaries,
will be quite a tax upon the people.
But the more unfortunate fact is
that experience has taught us that
the constant pressure that will be
brought to bear on Congress will
undoubtedly lead to the increase of
such pensions and vastly enlarge
the number OF the pensioners. The
people of the United States have
generally approved the civil service
law and civil pensions are but the
inevitable outcome, il the life tenure
of Office is TO be continued. Con-
passion for the aged and inflrm
naturally leads one TO favor
their pensioning. but from Demo-
cratic standpoint the creation OF a
civil pension list is placing a bur-
den on the present and future gen.
erations that should not be borne.
-"
The paramount question in Wash
ingtOn is. who will the two great
parties nominate as their candidate
for president? At present public
opinion is all at sea on this cues
ton. The Republicans are much
divided but Taft and Mr.. Roosevelt
have the pull amongst the Office
holding class, while Foraker is in
favor with the old soldiers and the
darkies. The politicians of the Con
gressional stripe are for Cannon.
or Knox, or Fairbanks, or other
favorite sons and generally anti
Roosevelt although but few of them
will openly avow it.
The few Democratic Office holders
are keeping their mouths shut. in
fact they have TO. or lose their Jobs:
but visiting Democratic leaders are
divided, some believing that Mr.
Bryan could be elected in the event
OF q tariff fight in the Republican
ranks and others, who expect the
Republicans to get together in anv
event for the sake of controlling the
public plumber. favor q Southern
candidate on whom all factions of
the party could unite.
In talking with Southern men
there is found general feeling Of
admiration for Mr.. Bryan, but also
a fear that if nominated he would be
doomed to defeat, through his in
ability to secure the normal Demo
cratic vote in the doubtful states,
that must be carried to win. Near
ly every Southern man has favorite
son of his own state who he believes
would have better show of success,
on account of having no heritage of