The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-24
PAY OF CLERKS IN THE DEPARTMENTS.

PAY OF CLERKS in THE DEPARTMENTS.
TO The Honorable Thomas ". Giln1er:
The writer of this, who has entertained for
you particular and high respect, has seen and read
hastily the project Of the law for regulating the
Der and salaries of the Clerks IN the public ocesand
however illberal he may deem the proposition to
duce the 200 salaries down to $1,000, there is, it
must be admitted something that looks fair, if not
magnanmous, in making suggestions to its proprie
ty from parties not to be Effected by it
Being myself of that category, permit 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 $500
Who can tell me, " in the name of all the Gods at
once,'' what's in the name of Congress Clerk
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 much, as clerk in one oil
the public ofices-nor is the aborer more worthy OF
his hire is not meant in the least, to detract 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 is thus pro-
posed to make feel the pocer Of the Government
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-professng patriots tool dare not
affirm so exemplary-so orderly-so free from per-
sonal antpathies and party bias as are your honors at
this present session But men, you will not doubt,
might be found, in your own district willing to
assume the high function of Legislator for $4 day
instead of 49, Put up the work OF legislation like
other jobs to the lowest bidder and there is no doubt
but Government might be carried on, after fashion,
for half its present cost but you doubt that, as
often happens with other jobs put out In the same
way we should lose at the spggot what IS saved at
the bung Besides is it fair take this advantage of
a mans necessities, and the wants of dependant
family, to screw him down, to the last cent that he
can exist upon, as the Inquisor, by torture, would
force the wife, in her anguish to beray her husband'
Does become Congress to act the part OF the cruel
MASTER who tries experiments to see on holo lille his
slave can be sustained without impairing his physical
capacity? Should they not rather reflect the public
shirt of their constituents as faithful mirror reflects
the face of the behoder? and is to be believed that
generous and free People, participating all OF equal
rights desire that you should begin the work of re-
form by exactions, like this, from class of men
whose best faculties devoted to their service III
cutting down to be the order of the day. why not
begin with yourselves? 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
eclat to posterty But where is chronicled, what
ever be his usefulness, the name of clerk in a de-
partment? In the Blue Book only--on long roll OF
day aborers-doomed, like himself to drudge through
life on salary which affords him chance of laying
up dollar-and from this salary you now propose to
cut off one-sixth leaving him to support, in many
cases. wife and house full of children, on less than
your laws allow to Chaplain or young Lieutenant
on shore upon leave of absence
tits no abuse of terms to call the notion puigT,
which generally prevails, that for cerksp 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" II
he had not, as assistants gentlemen who can think
as well as copy-scholars who " take the idea"
and frame a report that shall stand the test of crit
cism aye Al, 200 men, too who could frame law,
well as some who spend their winters in Washington
and then HE away, in spring weather. to till their
rich farms, or practise lucrative professonsi I'm
derstand me not as ntimating that members of Con