Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-24
INCREASE OF SALARIES OF CLERKS
IN THE DEPARTMENTS.

yluudi Idlt. lnuceu, lavish q pShuiuAco, Pioui-
gal OUTLAWS by government are marked by
one feature Of injustice that is not found in the
other case The means and monies expended
by government are the aggregated contributions
made by the Woodworking people of the coun-
try; whereas the spendthrift's money is his
own. The money thus contributed by the peo-
pie for the support of government is o trust
fund, and the rulers and Legislators of the coun-
try are the trustees. tits their duty to see that
it is not wasted, that it is not misappEed.
They have high duties to discharge. 1t de-
wolves on them to see that the business of gov
eminent is properly and faithfully performed
and that the officers appointed to attend to the
details Of the public business are of the right
stamp, and possess the requisite qualifications.
II behooves them also to see that these officers
shall be paid neither too little nor too much.
To pay them too much is to deal unjustly with
the people. To pay them too little is to su-
peradd to that injustice, injustice to the officers
The business Of the government must be at
tended to- It must be attended to by compe-
tent men. Unless adequate salaries be paid,
the services of competent men cannot be pro-
cured From these general remarks we come
to the consideration of those clerks in the de-
partments who, in our opinion, are not sufii-
GENTLY provided for They are those who get
5000 salary. Nine hundred dollars, in KAN
schatka, would be equal to a dukedom. Nine
hundred dollars year, in many of the remote
rural places in the United States, would be
handsome income. In many villages and in
some cities it would be sufficient for all useful
purposes. But nine hundred dollars a year, in
the city Of Washington, is q bare pittance.
/ Every one knows that the expenses of living
have increased enormously all over the country.
There has been much more than ratable
increase Of these expenses in this city. For
this there are several causes. One is that
rents have risen considerably, owing to the in
creased value Of property, and the demand
for houses. Another is, the increased demand
for all marketable articles, arising from the
growth of the permanent as well as the tran
sient population Of this city. Board is high
rent is high-everyth is high.
It is in vain to attempt to answer this argu-
ment by saying, that low as those salaries are,
there are thousands all over the country who
would gladly take these salaries We know that
there are, and the numerous unsuccessful ap-
plicants for these offices place this matter be-
yond all doubt. If reduced to 5000, the same
desire for.them would exist, and quite as many
applications for them would be made. We all
know that there are capable and talented young
men in every part of this great country who,
not fitted for mechanical pursuits, and not pos
sessing means enough to enable them to wait
for professional success, and who charmed with
the idea of living in the metropolis of the
United States, where they vainly suppose that
six or nine hundred dollars would go as far as
they would in the distant wilds, would gladly
accept these offices. But when the salary is
lowered, the standard is lowered, and while
many men of talents and qualifications are
scared of, hundreds Of ignorant and incapable
men are attracted.
But let it be six hundred or let it be nine
hundred, it is all the same. Both are made
quate In few short weeks, those who came
exulting are filed with disappointment Those
who came thinking themselves most happy and
prosperous, find themselves in debt.
They work hard; they should be adequately
paid. They should receive enough to place
them above want and debt But if the pres
ent be not sufficient for single men, how mel
ancholy is the condition Of that man who has
family dependant on him for support House
rent, marketing. groceries, fuel, clothes for
himself, his wife, and his children, and all these
expenses to be betrayed out Of his salary.
Butt is said that manymen engaged as clerks
in the different departments of merchandise
and trade do not receive more-do not receive
as much. True. But most of these are young
men, who have rooms furnished them free of rent,
and who board with their employers. Indeed,
many of them live under their own fathers
roof, and have their incomes clear. Some of
them engage merely temporarily looking to
other pursuits. Not so with the clerks of the
government Beyond the posts they hold they
do not look Some of them are married men,
and how they live and maintain their families,
and educate their children, is q mystery.
Brought up to their business, they must stick
to that business, for they are not qualified
for any other, and in their long lives they have
acquired habits of close economy without
which they would perish. 1t may be that they
are fitting themselves for a partnership with
their employers. It may be that they have cap
ital and look TO establishing themselves in bust
ness.
But because private men cannot afford to
pay enough to their employees, it is not fair to
argue that the public service should i'll requite
those who labor for it.
Make the salaries of these clerks decent,
living salaries, and the standard of qualification
is instantly raised. The ignorant and the in
capacitated viii be frightened of, and selec-
IL !