Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-29
The Auxiliary Guard once More.

the pay of the Auxiliary Guard of our
city, have, as far as We can learn, met
with general approval. To-day we re-
sumo the subject, and ask those who can
control the matter of increasing the pay,
to give us their attention.
AS we have already stated, under the
old rules by which the Guards were gov
erned, most of them, during the time
they were not on duty, were employed at
their different trades or professions, by
which they were able to add sufficient
sum to their regular salary, with which
they could support themselves and fami-
lies comfortably. Under the new rules,
they are cut off from every thing beside
the small pittance they receive at the end
of each month, which is but ten dollars
week, while the duties are made harder,
the rules more strict, and every man de-
barred from doing any thing by which he
can earn dollar under the. penalty of
dismissal. If the pay was increased in
proportion to the strictness of the rules
and additional duties, there would be no
cause of complaint but until this is
done, it will be hard matter to obtain
the services of reliable and efficient men.
Already several of the best members of
the Guard have resigned and we hear of
a number more who will do the same on
the first of the month.
We may be told that there are numbers
who will perform the duties of the Guard
for the salary given at present. This is
no doubt true; but the question arises,
Will those who are willing to work for so
small a sum make good public officers?
We doubt very much whether they will.
Persons who can make as much at any
other business will not take upon them
selves the slavish duties of Guard.
During the last session of Congress
bill was introduced to increase the pay of
the Clerks in the employ of Government
twenty per cent, and passed almost
without an effort. The argument used
by the friends of the bill was: at is i'm
possible for a man to live in Washington,
support small family, and keep out of
debt, who does not get more than $1,000
a year." And yet the Auxiliary Guard,
to whose duties that of clerk is but
chi'd's play, gets only half that sum.
The Guard is on duty all night, exposed
to summers storms and winters cold,
excluded, by the new rules, from shelter
to shield them from the inclemencics of
the weather; their lives exposed to the
tender mercies of the midnight robber,
in protecting the peace of our city and
the lives and property of our citizens;
while the clerks in the Departments are
occupied in comfortable offices only
portion of the day. After the first of
next month the smallest salary paid a
clerk will be 5000; thus it will he seen
that mere copyist, whose duties can be
performed by any school-boy, will get
$4OOa year more than our Guards
Come Mr.. Mayor; come Messieurs Coun-
cilmen; yes, come every one who has any
thing to do with this subject, and help us
to increase the pay of worthy class of
our fellow citizens, whose duties as guar
dams of the Metropolis of the nation en-
title them to living pay for their services.
We have only commenced this subject.
The Star in Georgetown.
We cannot refrain from again express
ing our gratitude at the great increase of
the Star in our sister city. 1t is to us
matter of surprise as we'll as pleasure, for
we are aware that our paper is not by
any means all that we intend to make it,
nor all it will be in short time. When
our new press is fully in operation, and
our sheet improved, when the advertising
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