Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-25
The PAY Of Government Clerks.
WASHINGTON, December "A, 1853.

10 the Editors Of the Sentinel:
GENTLEMEN As you have, in your paper
this morning, very kindly called attention to 4
subject in which very many of your fellow-citi.
zens feel deep interest, l trust you will per
NIT me, in my humble way, to contribute n
mite to the same object.
BY way of premise, beg leave to say that
there cannot be found SO large number OF
gentlemen, collected together from all parts OF
the country, possessing more general intellt
gence and moral worth, and who dispatch more
important business in a given time, and in q
manner creditable to themselves and advanta-
geous TO the government and the people, than
is to be found embodied in the clerical force of
the government here in Washington This fact
admitted, will venture to affirm that, as n
whole, there is no body of men, OF like intell-
gence and business capacity, who are worse or
more poorly compensated for their time and
labor. True, there are few of the whole
number who receive living salaries; but only a
fer. Even those who receive $4,000 or 81 500
a year, If they happen to have, what every man
should feel proud of possessing, a groaeiag
family around them, find those sums barely
sufficient to keep them comfortable, and edn-
cate their children in plain way.
What, then, must be the condition Of those
who are receiving the small sums OF 5000,
$1,000, or even 81 800 per annum, who are also
surrounded by a group Of chubby boys and
smiling girls, all demanding attention in the
way of clothing, food, and education? How
must the poor father and mother feel, as they
gaze upon the sweet little innocents around
them, when they remember that they have not the
means to open up to their tender minds the ave-
nues through which they may receive the lights
of learning and Of science? Not only so, but
many Of them find it utterly impracticable to
provide wholesome diet and comfortable attire
for their families. Cases like this are not at
all uncommon: gentleman, who discharges
his duty with as much fidelity and ability as
any one associated with him, finds it entirely
out of his power to put more than one or two
pounds of beefsteak on his table at time, with
no other meat to satisfy the appetites of mine
persons And he.a clerk in the employ of the
government of the United States! Itisuseless
to urge the argument so often resorted to, as an
offset to the appeal for relief in such cases, that
such men ought to go at something else that
would pay better. They have no means of
doing so-not dollar to subsist upon while
seeking other employment; and besides, the
very business they have followed for years has
deprived them OF the opportunity, the means,
and the ability to pursue any other occupation.
only ope-notwithstanding their condition is
not unlike the man who has encountered ra-
yenous beast, and holds him by the tail--to let
90 is death, and to hold on is but little better.
/ need not remind your readers or members
of Congress, who have the remedy in their own
hands, of what they see and feel to be the fact,
that living in Washington is not the same as
| living in many other portions OF our great
country. / have lived III one of the south
western States, and boarded at hotel where !
enjoyed as much real comfort as any man
should desire, for the small sum of So so per
| week-such comfort as costs at Browns or the
National, or any first class hotel in this city,
not less than fifteen dollars per week.
plan for immediate relief to those who are
now suffering, and to prevent the recurrence Of
such state of things as now exists, it is earn
estly hoped viii be devised by the joint labors
of the Committees of Finance and Retrench-
ment of the Senate, who now have this subject
before them.
But, before / close, must ask permission to
urge the claims Of still another class of gov
eminent employees, to the friendly attention Of
Congress. ! mean the messengers, watchmen,
packers and laborers employed in the several
departments and bureaus of the government
While every other class Of mechanics and la
borers in our city have received an increase Of
pay, in view of the enormous expense of living
here at all, these persons have been neglected.
| Their case is hard one, and appeals with
force to the sympathies Of every member Of tho
two Houses of Congress.
Delta.