Daily American telegraph., 1852-01-30
L.bor,us Clerks.

We publish below memorial which was pre-
pared for the signatures of the classes of clerks
indicated, to be presented to the two houses of
Congress. 1t was found, however, that many of
those who felt most intensely the rigors and in
Justice complained of would hesitate to hazard
their present meagre dependence Of support, fear
ing the consequences that might grow out of a
misapprehension of such an appeal for justice !;
and hence the original intention was abandoned
We take pleasure, therefore, in giving it pub
licty, as the arguments set forth in it, SO far as
they 90, are in accordance with the views which
we have heretofore expressed, and which at an
early day we intend bringing to the notice of
Congress-
The undersigned, clerks in the several execu-
tive departments at Washington, who receive
salaries of only 81 900 and ST. 200, most humbly
and respectfully, yet earnestly, pray your honor
able bodies to consider the propriety and Justice
of amending the several laws regulating the sala-
ries of clerks in the executive departments of the
government.
We beg leave to submit few facts. 1t is ex-
pected of every clerk when appointed, that he is
qualified to perform whatever duties may be
assigned him. This presupposes high standard
of qualification, and degree of efficiency sufi-
cient to insure the speedy and proper transac-
ton of public business On the other hand, the
government should deal literally with its agents.
by remunerating them sufficiently to preserve
that efficiency and to hold out the necessary
incentives to excellence, as well as to remove
them from all temptation to engage in pursuits
promising to be more lucrative, by which the
public service might be injured. But, independ-
emily of these considerations, they should be so
rewarded for their services as to insure them
competent support, with something for the
future.
We beg further to add, that our experience is
in demonstration of the fact that present sal
aries are inadequate to the objects above sug-
gested and that whilst few Of us, whose bur-
dens are lighter, can barely defray the expenses
incident to living in this city by dispensing with
everything except the actual necessaries Of life,
many of us, by the strictest economy, are unable
to meet the expenses we are compelled to incur.
But we will not dwell on this point, as the in
dividual experience of your honors is itself suf-
fcent commentary.
With due Difference to former legislators, we
would most respectfully beg leave to doubt the
propriety of establishing by law various grades
of salary among the same class of government Of
fcers, engaged in the same or similar Duties re-
quired to do the same amount of work, mourning
the same responsibility, and incident to the same
expenses.
Without questioning the justice of such law,
or without questioning the uprightness of heads
of departments or without questioning the quail
fcations of such clerks as have been fortunate
enough to secure the higher salaries, we cannot
do ourselves the injustice to believe that only
such as receive it require that better grade of
compensation. We do not complain of the abuse
of the law, however susceptible of abuse; for
we doubt not the heads of departments would
rejoice to be able to do equal and exact justice to
all it is of the law itself that wecomplain, ope-
rating, as we contend it does, unequally and in
juriously -injuriously upon us and upon the pub
lie service.
1t cannot be nationally supposed that the heads
of departments can be personally acquainted with
the qualifications of all their clerks; this is i'm
possible, from the very nature of the crcum-
stances known to exist in every public Office under
government and hence it cannot be supposed
that the most meritorious clerks invariably re-
ceive the best salaries, no matter how upright
and impartial may be the appointing power.
In view of the above facts, and confidently re-
lying upon your justice, we, your petitioners,
humbly pray that all the clerks in the executive
departments at Washington shall be allowed by
law the same salaries allowed the clerks in the
Senate and House of Representatives. And your
petitioners will ever pray, &c.