Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-02-15
EVENING STAR.
WASHINGTON:
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 10. 1873.


We have repeatedly spoken In tie col
umns of the Star of the inadequate c"ml'e"-
sa,ion paid by the United States Govern
meut to n certain class If employees. We
smoke of persons employed as clerks, aud
messengers, and ,iers i'll the City Post
office. and Of RS somewhnt simi!arl!
employed at the Washington Navy Yard.
because our attention had been kindly drawn
to these particular classes
In our Comments on the labors these c!as-
ses of government laborers performed, and
in our humble plea for n just increase #
their compensation, We did not hy any
means intend to be understood, (nor DO W.
wish to be SO understood now.) that there
are no other government or private employ
ees for whom We have facts to publish and
deep and sincere interest in the position.
wants, and claims OF the In boring man, who
ever and wherever ne may be, for the very
good reason that we are laborrg mtn our
selves. Our hands have been Injured to
daily and nightly toll from our youth up;
and there is no portion of this or any oth,r
community fur whom We more cheertu;ly
and promptly pu, forth our best energies
there is no portion for whom We would more
readily make every sacrifice that may br
Justly required of us-than for the honor
allie men who by honest labor obtain ali
honest living.
Actuated by these convictions, impel!ed
by these impulses, We have been exir, mrly
gratified at the labor movement that has
recently taken place III Baltimore and othe,
cities. We should have been CAD to have
published all the proceedings that have
occurred on the important subj ct las, ill.,
deed, We should on other public mat;.rs.) i,
the peculiar trials incident to the commence
ment of our paper did not 9th, rwise limit
our space aud engross our time.
But we cannot forbear from c,liing par
ticular attention to the just claims of the
employees at the Navy Yard. We sreak of
them now, as whole, and not OF any par
ticular class. 1t is undoubtedly true that
there are many Industrious and worthy cii
zens within those ample walls, who are not
paid for their labor ms much us they deserve.
We are not called upon 20 specify the indi
vi1ual cases, however, ev.n if it were i'll our
power in every instance to do so. There is
M danger, we app, cbeb1, that the govern
M mt will ever poy too much to the upright
and toiling mechanic. He is not the man TO
swindie the government by getting urj just
extra allowances out of the public b. lie
is not the man to be dlrpil 6 his III DAD hands
in the national money bags, under the rob
ber's plea that might makes right. lie is
at his post at the ringing of the bell, and he
leaves it only when the stl oke Of the iron
tongue bids him to depart lie has his
hours apportioned to him by law; and if he
loses one of those hours, save by the demands
of that necessity which knows 10 law, his
compensation is deducted from. at the rate
of his daily wages. He can take nothing
from the govcrDmel l.y special allowance;
he has no extended leave of absence, with
his pay still going on he is furnished with
no printed documents, by order Of Congress,
that he may inform himself of the reports
of the practical workings Of that department
of the government with which he is con
nected.
All this land more that We might name
;f uruCence tlictatqd) ia true of the rovpru