Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-04-09
THE OFFICE HOLDERS.

-. snooden:-I am glad to see from the re-
.a,ts of the Intelhgencer, published in your
D.nsr of this morning, that the important SUBJ
~ ~ of reduction of salaries is at length
onanlv broached; and l regret that the sug-
.s.,;on of a gentleman made some weeks ago
sros not followed out, and memorial to Con-
cross cot up urging this subject on their atten-
son. It's notyet too late; and trust the peo-
40 finding their petitions for relief have been
Ssreuarded, will come forward unanimously
and demand of Congress general reduction
of salaries. II is manifest that the diminution
If the circulating medium of the country has
lessened the value of property of all descrip-
t;ons. the cost of subsistence, and above all, the
value of labor 1t has, in fact increased the
valne of fixed salaries at least so per cent
Whv then, should not the office-holders parti-
epate in the consequences of the pressure OF
the times which they have contributed to pro-
duce. No one can doubt their patriotism. They
have declared in the newspapers-they have
unclaimed at the corners of the streets and up
on the house tops, that the Bank must be put
down: that the "Experimentn must be persist
ed in in order to preserve the Constitution and
the liberties of the people. Surely, then, they
will not object to slight sacriicerin common
with their suffering fellow-citizens, to produce
this great good to the dear people whom they
profess to love so much, particularly as the re-
venue of the people must inevitably be ma
terally reduced and their ability to pay their
servants proportionally diminished.
1t has been suggested in various quarters that
the Senate should refuse to pass the appropria-
ton bills until the Constitution and the laws
were rescued from the grasp of the corrupt ca
bal who now control the Government" but it
has been objected that this would look too much
like an attempt to coerce restoration OF the
Deposites and a re-charter of the Bank. No
such objection would lie against refusal by
the Senate to pass any appropriation bill until
a proper reduction of salaries was established
by law; and |, for one, should be pleased to see
them take this stand. | cannot agree with the
lntelligencer that the clerks" should be eX-
empted In this case, at least | would 60 the
entire swne," and cut down the whole of
them from the President to the tidewaiters and
boatmen, whose yearly salary, (of the last |
mean) received by their oa0ners the collectors,
in some instances exceeds the value, in fee sim
pie, of the man himself
In conclusion, find the idea which wish to
enforce so much better expressed by Mr. Ewing,
in a recent speech which have just read, that
enclose an extract therefrom:
"Who was the sufferer? The merchant, if
he had made an engagement which he could
not meet owing to the value of produce being
brought down one halt, must suffer; the mechan-
les owing to the want of money to pay them for
their skill and application must suffer; the labo
rers must suffer, from the same cause; all clas
ses who were engaged in industrious occupa-
tons must suffer. But how was it with the gen.
tlemen office holders Were their salaries di-
mnished by the pressure? did they suffer with the
community? Look at the blue book. Their sala
ries were undiminlshed, they were in the receipt
ofthe same amount; and payment to them was
certain. They depended upon none ofthe con-
hngencies of trade; bankruptcies did not affect
them. However the merchant, the mechanic,
the dealer, the farmer, might be hampered
through the pressure of the times, their salaries
were regularly paid, and suffered no diminu-
hon. On the contrary, the sutterings OF the
other classes of the community increased their
prosperity. WHY, if property did not command
more than one half its usual price, did it not in
effect raise their salaries to double their value?
hcertainly did, They stood on very unequal
ground When these officers were exhorting
other people to stand the pressure they got
others to bear the brunt ofthe battle whilst they
took the spoil. The men who pushed forward
me experiment were those who prohtted by it.
Iheywere not, therefore, on equal ground"
CrAnxousy hoping that this subject may meet
'he attention which its Importance demands,
remain yours, A WORKING MAN.
dterandria April g. 1884.