The Washington times., 1914-05-20
Need of Retirement Pension
Again Is Shown by Case of
Augustus RidqeIy.
RUGGED AND WITH CLEAR
BRAIN IN SPITE OF AGE
MaSons and G. A. R. Men Are
Planning to Take Up Ques-
non of Veterans 0usting.

ANOTHER OF the men Who Wore
the blue in tie sixties and acquired
gray hairs in the service of Uncle
Sam, virtually forced to resign
from the City Postoffcc is Augas-
tuS Ridgely.
G. A. r. men piH take up the
case of this dean of the PoStoffce,
who still is active and alert, despite
his sepenty-eight years and his
ffty-one years in the Government
serpice.
Like the case of John ]. B.
Lerch; related yesterday, he affords
an excellent example of the need
Of a retirement pension for depart
mental and cipH service employees.
By ]. r. HILDEBRAND.
Dean Of the Washington City Post
office in point of service, Augustus
Ridgely, rugged, staIwart, clear
hrained man, despite his seventy
eight years, is one Of the ten clerks
who so far have rendered their
designations at the request OF
Postmaster Otto Praeger.
Besides his flfty-one years serv-
ice I'm the city postofdce, Mr..
Ridgely answered the call of Presi-
deLt Lincoln in 1861 for 1000 Volun-
teers to serve three months. He
served during that time, and then
was honorably discharged.
Mr.. Ridgely was member of the
PutEam Rifles. Fifth Battalion. Dis
tric. Of Columbia Volunteers, with
Colonel Everett in command. This
company was one OF the first to
cross Long bridge when Virginia
vas invaded by the Federal troops.
- big, broad-shouldered, gentle,
snG kindly man, Mr.. Ridgely has
devoted his spare time for the past
Two years in caring for an invalid
wife
For nearly two years, now" he
saiG. Mrs. Ridgely has not been
sbie TO move about because OF
rheumatism, from which she is
chronic sufferer.
Our servant leaves after dinner.
70 / remain at home evenings. But
Until the last few years j was
regular attendant at my Masonic
looge meetings..
Prejudice Is Charged.
Mrs. Ridgely did not hesitate to
attribute her husbands virtual dis
misssl to The prejudice Of the pres
snt Administration against the grand
army man.
President Cleveland was quoted
a. saying that il ne had his way
every old soldier would be removed
from the departments" she assert
ed, and The same spirit now per-
yades the White House and the Cab
met members
Grand Army men do not hesitate
10 make the charge of discrimination
against the Old soldiers, all through
the departments, as well as in The
City Postonice.
Discharge of the war veterans also
s held to be Illegal, and Commander
J. h GIeeson, Of the Deps rtment OF
the Potomac. G. 4. r.. today be-
gan an inquiry into this phase of
the case. with the object of ascer-
tanning whether the records OF the
old soldiers denoted any ineficiency
fn their work !
A test case will be made, if neces-
tafE, COMMANDER Si6eSon said, OF
the law Of 1872, which expressly for
bids the removal of any war veteran
employed in the department who has
an efficiency record of good or
better.
When this point was called to the
attention Of Frank Frasier, chief
clerk for the office of the First
Assistant Postmaster General, it WAS
stated that IL was the business Of |
postInasters 10 avoid such legal pro-
hibitions N their recomme ndadtiors
Postmaster PraeSer today refused |
20 make a statement on this point
He declared that the men who, pro-
tested against their removal would
have to take Up the matter with the |
Civil Service Commission.
Efficiency Claimed Good.
g. A r, snen point to the case Of
M. RidgeIy and of William ".
Mills. whose efficiency rating IL said
never to have been below 80 per cent
until a statement was asked for.
following his dismissal, and then he