The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-27
80 YEARS DID,
HAS SERVED u. S.
FOR 20 YEARS
Registered o. s. Patsn< Office.

sixth President of the United States,
was serving his term and the first
passenger railroad train was
being tried out in America, Thomas
Harrison was born in Washington,
d. c.
The ninety years since that date
have seen twenty-five Presidents in the
White House. Only three Of them still
survive-the last three, including the
incumbent:
Thomas Harrison has outlired them
all. At the age OF twenty years he
was assigned to work at the Naval
Observatory, then only three years
established.
Today he Is still at his duties with
the observatory-hold the record
among Uncle Sans employees for con-
tinuous service.
Almost . FOPtJ-nIner.
As a young man. twenty-one years
OF age, he came near joining the
forty miners in the California gold
rush. but after thinking # over. he
says. he decided to remain with Uncle
Sam. lie has never regretted his de-
cision, and has been perfectly con-
tent through the three score and ten
years that have followed.
Through a Times representative he
learned today that Senator Wesley
Jones OF Washington had introduced
a measure in the Senate TO retire him
with a pension. Mr.. Jones was spon-
sor for a similar measure in 1914. The
Mr.. HarrisOn's advanced age Appar-
emily has not affected his health, Tor
he says his health is good and he Is
able to go about his work at the OBJ
servatory regularly.
Things were different in 1s4s when
I started 10 work from what they are
now" he told The Times "A salary OF
$1,000 a year was considered very
good, and even the heads Of depart
ments then seldom received more
than $500.
The President drew a salary OF
only $4,000 in those days.
Living expenses were much lower
than they are now and a man that
made hundred dollars a month was
sure OF a comfortable living. even to
the point OF living in luxury"
started at ~ A Day.
Mr.. Harrison started work at the
Observatory at SO the day and re-
ceived increases from time to time un.
I'll n few years ago. when he volun-
tariIy applied for demotion, saying
that he considered his age as hamper.
ing the efficiency OF his work.
MY application for demotion was
granted with considerable reluctance
by the officials at that time" he
said. land received from them a
very flatterlnE letter telling of my
faithful and efficient service OF
course, demotion brought with Il a
decrease in pay as ! was reduced
from the rank of n senior clerk to
that OF a clerk OF the second class"
When asked II he had any depend
ents Mr.. Harrison thought for a mo-
ment and said. well, have perhaps
one or two who might be 20 called,
but / have no close relatives. was
one OF a large family, but somehow
have outlived them all. am still
a bachelor, having never married.
Il believe that the statistics now
being compiled by the Bureau OF Eff
fielency will show that there Is no
clerk In the Government service to-
day who is as old as I am or who
has had as many years Of consecutive
service"
Similar Bill In 1914.
When he was told OF Senator Jones'
bill, Mr. Harrison said, HE did the
same thing in 1914. At that time he
introduced a bill to retire me with
a pension OF 500 a month for the
rest OF my life. ! understood at the
time that the bill had passed the
Senate, but may have been mis-
taken. as I have never heard more
OF it,"
The bill introduced yesterday pro-
vides only for monthly pension |
OF $50.