Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-23

and has been employed in his present po-
sition for sixty years. Mr.. HARRISON
father was an officer in the army ahG
served through the war of 1872. He died
in Washington In 1S4S. leaving large
family, and it fell to the lot of Ihomas
Harrison. then but twenty years or age.
to assume the responsibilities OF their sup,
port. Through the influence OF friend
ne was appointed to a subordinate clerk
ship in the Naval Observatory in lS4s;
where he has been continuously employed
ever since, and where he is at work at MS
desk today. OF those who We're associ-
ated in the Navy Department when he
was appointed not one remains lie has
seen two generations pass away. and
marvellous changes have been wrought III
the capital and in the country around him.
At the time Mr. Harrison was appointed
the Blue Book showed sixty-hve oflcers
and civilians employed in the Navy De-
partment. and the observatory was an IN
FAINT of three years
Last February Admiral Chester. who
was superintendent of the laval ObserNa-
tory, appealed to Congress through the
Secretary of the Navy, for the passage
of an act placing Mr.. Harrison on the
retired list after more than sixty years OF
service. Just as If he had been COM
missioned officer of the navy. Mr.. Har-
rison addressed a petition to Congress at
the same time, which was favorably in
dorsed by Secretary Metcalf. was pre-
sented by Senator Lodge and is now
pending before the committee on naval
affairs. Admiral Chester calls attention
to Mr.. Harrison's record and says that
his is such an exceptional case that
deem it a duty to report to the depart
ment that l indorse the petition most
heartily AS superintendent Of the observ-
atory for nearly four years. / feel con-
fident in saying that throughout all his
long career Mr.. Harrison's work has
been characterized by unusual zeal, in
telligence and faithfulness. His long ex-
perience at the observatory has given
him a knowledge of every detail of its
progress and has made him a most val
liable assistant to all the superintendent
from its foundation to the present time.
If Mr.. Harrison had been an officer in
the navy. or even sailor. instead OF be-
ing engaged in scientific work he would
have been placed or the retired list twenty
years ago. and he certainly deserves Spe-
cial consideration from Congress.
Other Veterans in the Service.
The oldest woman in the employ of the
government, and the only woman who
has been in the public service more than
fifty years. is Katherine Ann Murdoch.
who was born In New York seventy-nine
years ago and was appointed lighthouse
keeper at Rondout light station. New
York, in 1857. She has served there con-
tinuously ever since at salary of $3.50.
The other veterans who had served
fifty years or more on the 1st of July.
1907, are as follows:
Francis Elliott Grice is seventy eight
years old and has been employed as a
lraughtsman in the navy yard a. Wash
ington for fifty-eight years. He was born
in Virginia, appointed from Pennsylvania
and receives $5.O4 per day.
Cyrus G. Drummer, eighty years old, has
seen the same service as Mr.. Grice. He
is a doorman in the assay Office in New
York at ST. 100 a year. He is a native of
PENNSYLVANIA and was appointed from
that state.
Michael Carey, a native of Ireland and
appointed from New York. is a clerk in
the naval office of New York city at a
salary of $40. He has seen fitty-seven
years of service and is seventy-seyen
years of age.
John Fogarty is eighty-two years old
and has been an assistant messenger in
the surgeon generals office for fifty
served in the Indian and civil wars was
appointed from New York and is like
wise a native of Ireland.
Benjamin T Thorn is a native of Mary
land appointed from the District Of Co
lumbia. is in the government printing
office in Washington with tifty-six years
service to his credit. He is seventy-ei3ht
years old.
William Ward is a clerk in charge of
records at the United States Military
Academy at West Point. He is seventy
seven years old. has seen fifty-six years
of service and receives salary of Sl,3oo.