The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-06-02
THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE CLERKS.


first and principal reason is that the object in
tended by them would be more probably accom-
plished by transmitting these communications
TO the Committee of Ways and Means, which
has requested information on the proposed pro
ject ofcassi6caton. In the second place, all these
lie tiers are on the same subject, and the general
scope OF their observations is nearly the same.
To insert all of them would be unnecessary-to
select one might prove invidious. These rea-
sons. we trust will satisfy our correspo Idents
for the suppression of their communications
To the suggestion made by many of them, that
we should give our views on the subject which
interests them, we experience some difficulty in
responding OF the details Of business in the
Departments we know practically nothing, and
consequently are not qualified to discuss minute
ly the merits Of the proposed classification
Besides, we have not yet seen the report Of the
| Committee; but from what we have heard of
its contents, we are inclined to believe that il
has been COMPOUNDED with another made by the
COMMITTEES on Retrenchment.
On the general question proposing reduction
in the salarie of the clerks in the Departments,
we can, as well as others, express an opinion
We feel no favor for the narrow plan ofretrench
ment, which cuts down the small salaries Of the
| clerks to still smaller dimensions-nor have our
minds been satisfied by the arguments that have
been urged in support OF the proposed reduction.
| We believe, as we have already said on former
occasion, that better graduation of salaries
can be established than now exists; but we
cannot discover the advantage to be gained by
a reduction Of the compensation below the value
Of the services to be rendered, and the relative
expense of living in the city of Washington.
Men Of talents are required to discharge many
of the duties to be performed in the Depart
ments--and we wish to see talent in Executive
clerks as fairly remunerated as talents employed
by any other branch of the Government. The
price OF living in this city is higher than in most
other cities with which we are acquainted
This circumstance should not be overlooked in
fixing the salaries of the clerks.
We have more than once heard the assertion
made that clerks in mercantile establishments
situated in remote parts Of the country are not
| SO literally remunerated as the clerks in the De-
partments-and that the work Of the Govern
ment would be done more cheaply if clerks were
brought here from the Far West. The argu-
ment is evidently too weak TO require an an
swer. 1t proves too much
We mean no disrespect to the Representa-
tives of the People when we say that members
Of Congress could be obtained at less pay than
eight dollars day and mileage Of eight dol
lars for every twenty miles. If the business Of
legislation were put out to the lowest bidder, we
might have Congressman 1.-TWO dollars day
/ perhaps at a lower price. But the question
would naturally suggest itself, would these men
be fit for the station to which they aspire We
put the case in the form Of an drgumentun ad
hominent to furnish the most direct illustration
Of the futility Of the argument we have heard
post confidently urged against the high salaries
Of the clerks in the Departments. Would the
clerks, whose ignorance of the ways Of great
cities might persuade them to come to Wash
ington, be qualified to perform the duties which
you entrust TO them? If they came what length
Of experience would be required to teach them
that they had contracted to work for too low
salary
frequently done by members advocating re-
trenchmenD with clerks in the Departments, two
| important considerations are overlooked The
first is that the situation of clerk in store is
regarded only as an apprenticeship which will
introduce him into business of progressive in
crease of profits. The clerk in this case is bui
the apprentice OF the merchant, and is himself
an embryo merchant He works at a low sala-
~, merely from the impression thas he is in a
transition situation We need not say that
cl rk in one of the Departments is fixed in a ca
tegory vastly different His cle,kship is the bu-
siness of his life, and he has nothing beyond ii
! to hope for. He has resigned every other chance
in life merely on account of the steadness Of
the employ and the gertrude of the salary
| Of Congress ,pould be more actire in passing
The appropriation biUs) and can form no ex
pectatons of re-duplicated profits from the pros
perity Of business.
In the second place, much igher order Of ia
lent is required to fulfil the duties Of many clerk
ships in the Departments than can be requisite
TO keep the book accounts Of store, especially
of many of the country stores, from which some
SeHticiuti PiOpOSc w IduslCl liC lulO
the public Departments as substitutes for the
present e.rtraragam incumbents, who require
thousand dollars year tc>support themselves
and families in the city of Washington.
We have thrown out these ideas on the sub
ject of reducing the salaries of the clerks in the
Departments, and on the argum nts used in ia
vor Of the reduction, in justice to class OF men
Il 3.
direct the first measures of reform. We might
extend this article to much greater length, but
we trust that what we have written will be suf-