The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-24
PAY OF CLERKS IN THE DEPARTMENTS.

PAY OF CLERKS In IHE DEPARTMENT. Is.
To The Honorable Thomas ". Giim,er:
The writer of this, who has ever entertained for
you particular and high respect, has seen and read
hastily the project of the law for regulating the num-
Der and salaries of the Clerks IN the public o6ces-and
however Liberal he may deem the proposition to
duce the 81 200 salaries down to 81 900, there is, it
must be admitted something that looks fair, if not
magnanmous, making suggestions as to its propre-
ty from parties not to be effected by il
Being myself Of that category, permit me to re-
mark that what strikes me with surprise is the dis
tnction which this bill establishes between the pay Of
Clerks to Congress and those in the public Offices
the former getting 1900
VINO can tell me, IN the name Of all the Gods at
once" what's in the name Of Congress Clerk more
than in that Of Clerk in Department
Sound them it doth become the mouth as well,
Weigh them, it is as heavy
And no well informed and candid man will say that,
day in and day out, through the year, Congress
Clerk labors more if as much clerk in one OF
the public oilces-nor is the laborcr more worthy of
his hire. Ii is not meant in the least, to deract from
the former to say that their pay is too much, but
do mean to say that the distinction in their favor is
neither reasonable nor just True, the stale argu-
ment may be urged that if those whom it is thus pro-
posed TO make feel the po,cer of the Government are
not satisfied Others may be found to take their places
And may not this be predcated Of every public agent,
not excepting Members Of Congress Enough doubtless
might be found-protessing patriots tool dare not
affirm SO exempary-so orderly-so free from per-
sonal antpathes and party bias your honors at
this present session. But men, you will not doubt,
Il,
assume the high function Of Legislator for "a day
instead Of So. Put up the work of legislation like
other Jobs the lowest bidder and there is doubt
but Government might be carried on, after fashion,
for half its present cost but you doubt that, as
oft n happens with other jobs put out in the same
way we should lose at the spiggo what IS saved at
the bung Besides, is it fair TO take this advantage of
mans necessities and the wants of dependant
family to screw him down. TO the last cent that he
can exist upon, the lnquisltor, by torture would
force the wife, in her anguish to beray her husband
Does it become Congress TO act the part of the cruel
master, who tries experiments to hop title his
slave can be sustained, without mpairng his ply seal
capacity Should they not rather reflect the public
shirt of their constituents faithful mirror reflects
the face of the beholder and is 1t to be believed that
generous and free People, participating all Of equal
rights desire that you should begin the work of re-
form by exactons, like this, from class of men
whose best faculties are devoted to their service If
cutting down is to be the order of the day. why
begin with yourselvcsi Yours is the post Of honor !
If qualified to fill it, you rise to the rank of public
benetactors and history transmits your name with
ecat to posterity. But where is chroniced, what
ever be his usefulness, the name Of clerk in de-
partmeni; H. the Blue Book on y--on long roll of
day aforementioned like himself to drudge through
life on salary which affords him no chance of laying
up dollarand from this salary you now propose to
cut off one-sXth leaving him to support in many
cases, wife and house full of children, on less than
your laws allow to a Chaplain a young Lieutenant
on shore upon leave of absence
tits no abuse of terms TO call the notion rulgr,
which generally prevails that for cierkShip in De-
partment neither intelligence nor scholarship are
necessary, According TO this impression, any man
who carries the hod, if he can but write fair hand
may make good clerk but ask the head Of any
Department, or bureau, What would be his :" fix if
he had not, assistants, gentlemen who can think
as well as copy-schoars who " take the idea"
and frame report that shall stand the test OF cr-
cism aye, 81, 200 men, too, who could frame law,
and see its scope and bearing on the public veal as
well as some who spend their winters in Washington
and then HE away in spring weather. to till their
rich farms, practise lucrative Professions I'M
derstand me not as ntinating that members Of Con