The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-03-01
MANY NEED PENSION
Hundreds OF Old and lnfirm Gov
eminent Employees.
PLAN is WARMLY OPPOSED
Hard Fight Certain Before Any Re-
tirement Law is Passed by Con-
sress-Filbuste of James Burke
in 1873 Recalled.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


WaShlngton.-Ine 10000 clerks in
the Washington departments still are
deeply inter ested IN a movement TO
secute legislation from congress which
will enable them when they nave
grown old IN tue service to retire on
pensions. there is a good deal OF
opposition In congI ess to any scheme
for civil pensions, but England has
old age pensions and civil pensions OF
kind which recently seems TO have
lawmakers, and it is predicted treeiy
IN Washington that before many years
the government employees will in the
age retirement matter be put on a
footing with the army and navy.
There are some hundreds OF men,
and women. too, in Washington who
would be eligible tor civil pensions II
the law were to be enacted. In the
daily procession to the departments at
the hour tor beginning work there are
many men and women moving along
laboriously on crutches. hundreds OF
others need canes to aid the halting
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 plan to retire every man
aud woman who has reached the age
OF seventy years. II this bill should
become law some OF these men and
women who have reached the Psalm
lists allotted span of life will not have
10 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 tor granted. there viii be
hard fight before any civil pension
law is passed by congress.
Roosevelt and the Murchle Baby.
The United States marshal tor the
district OF Massachusetts is Guy
Murchie, Harvard man, who was a
sergeant in Rooseyelt's regiment OF
Rough Riders. Marshal Murchie is
well known in Washington and the
city heard not long ago with sorrow
Of the death of Mrs Murchie. the
Inarshal's wife. There are four chill
dren in the Murchie family, all under
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 belonged
before him and was to join 1t witt
certain ceremonies In which the grad
uate members were to take part. The
president also was to make a speech
to the Harvard students and the time
allotted for his Boston and Cambridge
visit was so brief that everything he
was to do was timed and tabulateo
and there were to be no Interruptions
to the program.
The president reached Boston and
just after the mayor and the governor
had greeted him and the presidential
thought was turning to the next affair
on the program. Mr.. Roosevelt re.
ceived a message. Instantly he en-
tered carriage and was whirled away
to a Mount Vernon street residence
1t was the home OF Guy Murchie and
In the parlor of the home were Mr.
and Mrs. Murchie, a number of friends
and relatives and Bishop Lawrence OF
the Episcopal church. There was also
a baby, and the possible future Rough
Rider was to be baptized.
1t was the news of the baptism that
took President Roosevelt to the
Murchie home and there. good Dutch
Reformed churchman that he is. he
stood godfather and did promise and
vow three things" in the name OF the
babe at the font, good Episcopalian
babe and the grandchild OF one of the
greatest clergymen that the Episcopal
church has held In it's communion, DIR.
f. Winchester Donald who died some
time ago and who was chosen unani-
mously as a successor to Philips
Brooks by the people OF Trinity
church. Boston. Mrs. Murchie was a
daughter Of DR.. Donald.
Fi|ibuster of Long Ago.
The ether day in the house
Of representatives there was a
iilibuster on the passage of the steel
tariff bill. The Republicans held that
there was too much haste in enacting
the legislation and they tried by ev-
cry known parliamentary means, and
by some which perhaps were not par
liamentary. to secure a prolonging Of
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