Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-02-23
MANY NEED PENSION
Hundreds OF Old and Infirm Gov
eminent Employees.
PLAN IS WARMLY OPPOSED
Hard Fight Certain Before Any Re-
tirement Law ls Passed by Con-
eress-Fliibuster of James Burke
In 1873 Recalled.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

the Washington departments still are
deeply interested in movement to
secure legislation from congress which
will enable them when they have
grown old in the service to retire on
pensions. There is good deal OF
opposition In congress to any scheme
for civil pensions, but England has
old age pensions and civil pensions OF
kind which recently seems TO have
appealed to many OF the American
lawmakers. and it is predicted freely
the government employees will In the
age retirement matter be put on
footing with the army and navy.
There are some hundreds OF men,
and women, too, in Washington who
would be eligible for civil pensions II
the law were to be enacted. In the
daily procession to the departments at
the hour for beginning work there are
many men and women moving along
laboriously on crutches. Hundreds OF
others need canes to aid the hating
steps and hundreds OF others who
need them get along without them,
fearing that the use of them would be
an open confession of weakness.
Two Sides to the Question.
There is a plan to retire every man
and woman who has reached the age
OF seventy years. If this bill should
become law some of these men and
women who have reached the Psalm
lists allotted span OF life will not have
to take the trail that leads from Cap
itol Hill to the poor house.
There are two sides to this civil
pension question. There are men who
say that there is no reason why the
government employees should not have
saved enough to provide against old
| age just as other men and women are
| compelled to take care against the
| future. The other side OF 1t Is that
the cost of living is very high in Wash.
ington and that government pay is
none too generous. One thing is to
be taken for granted, there will be
a hard fight before any civil pension
law is passed by congress.
Roosevelt and the Murchie Baby.
The United States marshal for the
district of Massachusetts is Guy
Murchie. Harvard man, who was 6
sergeant in Roosevelt's regiment o.
Rough Riders. Marshal Murchie ii
well known in Washington and the
city heard not long ago with sorrow
Of the death of Mrs. Murchie. tn,
marshafs wife. There are four chill
dren in the Murchie family, all unde
six years OF age.
When Theodore Roosevelt was pres
ident he paid visit to Harvard uni
versity, where his son was to join
club to which his father had belonge'
before him and was to Join 1t witt
certain ceremonies in which the grad
uate members were to take part. Tn
president also was to make a speec
to the Harvard students and the tim
allotted for his Boston and Cambridg
visit was SO brief that everything n
was to do was timed and tabulate
and there were to be no interruption
to the program.
The president reached Boston an
just after the mayor and the governo
Is had greeted him and the presidents
Q thought was turning to the next ana
Y on the program. Mr.. Roosevelt r,
S ceived a message Instantly he ell
tered a carriage and was whirled ava
to a Mount Vernon street residence
1t was the home of Guy Murchie an
in the parlor of the home were Nj
i and Mrs Murchie. number of frienc
and relatives and Bishop Lawrence
the Episcopal church. There was ais
|. baby. and the possible future Roug
l. Rider was to be baptized.
it II was the news OF the baptism th
# took President Roosevelt to Il
d Murchie home and there, good Dutt
Reformed churchman that he Is.
" stood godfather and did promise al
= VOW three things" in the name of Il
= babe at the font. good Episcopalis
babe and the grandchild OF one of Il
greatest clergymen that the Episcop
church has held in its communion,
10 E. Winchester Donald. who died son
C. time ago and who was chosen unal
81 mously as successor to Phil
n Brooks by the people OF Trim
Id church, Boston. Mrs Murchie vas
vo daughter of Dr.. Donald
IN FIlibuster Of Long Ago.
The other day in the nou
is. OF representatives there was
mt filibuster on the passage of the ste
tariff bill. The Republicans held tn
there was too much haste in enacti
the legislation and they tried by I
", cry known parliamentary means. a
", by some which perhaps were not pi
Ar. liamentary. to secure prolonging
nd A..ooor.o.oooco