The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-02-23
P. Q. EMPL0YES . OF STATE HOLD
 JOINT BANQUET
Plans For National Testi- monial to Reilly Are Got
 ten Under Way.

New Haven, Feb. 2S.-The banquet of the Clerks and Letter; Carriers As so.,iation of Connecticut was held here last evening and some five hundred members and. guests, with their wives and their women friends, sat down to the dinner, which was served by Cer1- ami of the Cafe Mellone. The speech of the evening was made by Congress man Thomas L. Reilly, who announced that if he was offered one of the many positions in the post office department which his friends had credited him with receiving he would not accept 1t for he did not care to do anything which would interfere with the pres ent capable working of the post office department and the interests of the clerks and carriers.
 Incidentally, it was brought out in the talk during the dinner that the na1 tional association of clerks and car- riers are planning a testimonial of a national character to Congressman Reilly. It will be given in New York, probably at the Hippodrorne- The first meeting will be held in New York today to discuss. plans.
 Philip Troup was the toastmaster of the evening; the speakers were: Edward J. CantweH, national secre- tary of the Letter Carriers Associa- ton; Postmaster William B. Kelly, of Brook1yns Col. Norris G. Osborn and Congressman Thomas L., Reilly.
 Secretary Cantwen said that if he died and had 9. chance to come back to earth the particular thing that he would want to come back to do would be to vote for. Reilly.
 T Postmaster Kelly, of Brooklyn, said that he was very glad to be where Reilly waA and that every postal ern- ploye in the United States wanted to see Reilly go back again.
 Col Osborn said that civil service meant efficiency and the lack of it meant the absence of efficiency. He said that there was no system that corrupted men like the. spoils system. He said, jokingly, that he thought he might have a chance some day to run for the presidency, but he had decided that Tom Reilly had the inside track.
 Congressman Reilly devoted most of his speech to the work of the clerks and letter carriers and dep1ored the fact that the cQpnnittee in Congress had decided as . matter of economy to leave out of the post office appro- priation bill the money for the annual promotion of the clerks and carriers He also said that he believed that if George Washington were alive he would not say $1,2oo was enough for a letter carrier He said that as Uncle Sam was the largest employer of la Dor in the United States he ought to be the first, and added that the postal employees would be the first to appre- ciate fairness. as they would be the first to resent unfairness.
 Gordon B. Haggerty of Bridgeport presided at the state branch of the United National Association of Post Office Clerks. The following officers were elected by them: President, Francis P. Horan, of Hartford; first vice. president, Francis T. Wade, of New Haven; second president, John A. Mclaughlin, of New Haven; secretary, Walter. Fl. DeForest of Der by; treasurer, Thodas Hogan, ofAStam- ford; chairman of finance committee, John J. Quinlan, of Bridgeport; chair man of grievance committee, William J. Cosker, of Hartford; delegate to na- tfona1 convention at Los Angeles Cor don B. Haggerty, retiring president. The carriers elected these officers: President, W. J. Burns of Wellington : ce-president. John L. Counihan of Norwich; secretary, Adrian R. Dunn of N6idd1etown, and treasurer, Peter Fox of Waterbury. Executive board w. W. Merrill of Bristol, chairman: Fred M. Miner and Clarence Crofut o1 HorvtaIk. J. Fl. McGuinness of stana- ford was elected delegate to the na- tional convention.