The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-21
Roose Welt Not Only Wants
Them Pensioned, but All Gov
eminent Clerks as Well.

New York. January 20.-Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt and President
Elect Wilson were found 20 be III com
plete accord on at least one national
topic when letters from both OF them
we're read at a meeting of the National
civil Service Pension Association, held
Yesterday at Harlem Masonic Temple,
at l25th Street and Lenox Avenue
Both the Democratic and the Bun
Moose leader conceded that the letter
carriers ought to be pensioned Inc
Colonel went d little further than
President Elect Wilson. since he advo-
Gated the pensioning of all civil service
ernploves. while the President-elect
expressed wish TO know more ABOUT d
pensioning proposal as 1t might apply
to others than letter carriers The pen
sion of letter carriers he was Wiling 10
vouch for. without any more inVestga-
ton whatever.
c. w Blackmore. secretary of the
association. said the views OF the
President Elect were gained as the
result of a personal visit he made 20
Trenton some weeks ago, following an
interview between Mr.. Wilson ana
visitor from Rydal, England, where
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson spent summer
vacation six years ago. Mr.. Wilson was
represented IN the interview as having
asked about the old Rydal postman,
who had brought the mail 10 them, ana
as being much pleased TO learn that the
old posrman was still on the job
That was too much for our letter
carriers union" explained Secretary
BIackmore. They went right down
to Trenton and brought back the
President-elect' Endorsement OF a
proposal to pension letter carriers
without any more discussion, ana Il
statement that his mind was open as
oil bar nh q a pension
plan for civil service employees
When Secretary BlackmOre was asked
for a COPY of the letter from President
Elect Wilson he said he did not feel at
liberty To give out Its text. Inc letter
from Colonel Roosevelt was as follows
The President, the National ClVli
Service Pension Association.
New York.
Dear Sir.-YoU are most welcome
to quote my attitude as being in favor
Of the pension system for Civil service
employees OF the government Twenty
two railroads in this country and many
corporations and private employers
have instituted pension systems with
in the past ten years and the govern
ment should no longer lag behind.
Faithfully yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The sentiments Of both the President
were heartily cheered by the govern
ment employees. who decided to send a
large delegation 20 a national conven-
ton OF civil service employees to be held
in Washington on March 81 the dele
gates 70 the national convention to be
elected at a -pecial meeting 10 be held
here on February u.
While the clerks and letter carriers
and other government employees present
were very much united In the idea that
they ought TO have pensions 10 retire on.
they were wide apart on the question
Of how best 10 get the pension, and now
the bill granting II should read.
The first question that stirred the Ire
OF some OF the older clerks and letter
carriers was that concerning the age at
which man passes his prime Young
er clerks advocated q pension 20 all who
had worked for thirty years. regardless
q age.
And that would be an outrage" said
grav-haired James j. Keenan,. who
works or ca letter delivery route from
the branch po-t-offce at ls0th street