Washington sentinel., 1854-04-13
Government Clerks.
For the Washington Sentinel.

For the Washington Sentinel
Messrs. EDITORS: 1t is the duty of every
writer, in addressing the public, to understand
the subject on which he treats, andto be enabled
if possible, to interest those who may favor his
case, for two good reasons, at least: First as
author fills up is valuable, and ought not to be
trifed away. Second as to the public; because
they pay high compliment to the writer by
expending their time in perusing the work of
his pen, and nobody has any right to be the
instrument, directly or indirectly, for the con-
sumption of the public's time, without granting
therefor qatid pro quo. But no more of pre-
face, and to the subject.
1t is no hattery to say that the two articles
(editoriaD in recent numbers Of the Sentinel,
upon the subject of Government Clerks" &C.,
vouchsafed in favor of the passage of what is
generally known as the "Clerks' BILL" have
been hailed with expressions of open and warm
thanks by that class of our citizens who are
either so fortunate or unfortunate as TO be in
the employ of the government as clerks, mes
sengers, watchmen, laborers, &c.
Your articles have been Justly characterized
as the best which have appeared upon the sub
ject in any of the papers, either as editorial or
communication. Indeed, there has been much
of the latter sort Of composition given to the
world, which was neither of service to the cause
proposed to be benefited, nor complimentary
to the intelligence or talent of its authorship.
You may be assured, then, of this fact, that,
as there are about one thousand persons, (per
haps greater number,) in this city alone who
would be benefited by the passage Of the clerks
bill now before the House of Representatives,
IL
ing that passage have been read, not only by
that one thousand expectant hopers, but by
their whole families, wives, and children-ay,
and their friends too, and particularly those
kind ones who have little bills pending. / do
notmean those of mosquitoes or gallnippers. You
have the thanks, then, of all the clerks and
their friends for your advocacy and rational ad-
vocacy of their interests, and do not think
assume dangerous power in rendering you,
in behalf of the class named, its warmest and
heartfelt thanks for your course.
1t is plain proposition, that there are no
avocations in life worthy the following that
will not yield an income equivalent to the sup
port ofthose practising them, according to their
several stations. This is true from the profess
sional classes down through all the others to
the very lowest. This is not all all transac-
tions OF life must SO compensate, or they will
be abandoned.
In the department services Of government,
all species of employment are important, be.
cause each is important to the whole. But
some of the duties appertaining to the govern
ment employ are more arduous and more re-
sponsible than others. Hence, the Secretary
Of department receives salary Of $4,000 per
annum the head of bureau receives $4,000;
and the chief clerks in them, $4,000 and $4,000
These several salaries appear to have been
graduated to the approximate scale of respon.
sibilties incurred, and it is right But there is
certain responsibility running throughout
every place under the government, from the
highest to the lowest; and, whatever the extent
thereof may be, it appears TO be the duty of
government to compensate for, and to an ex-
tent not only sufficient to support life, but to
enable the incumbent to save something from
the havoc of tailors, merchants, and Messrs
Knife Il Fork. This, government is in duty
bound to do.
Now, the bill which went into operation on
the first day of July last was doubtless one
which the originator expected to see answer a
patriotic purpose. 1t has failed. 1t was thought
that the 5000 salaries would be mostly distri-
buted among young men without families,
whose expenses would be literally met by that
sum. A classification was provided for by the
bill; and, when that transpired, twas found that
very many young and single men were better
qualified for responsible positions than many
others having families. OF course, the exam.
lining boards, fully recognising their duties to
the government reported those who we're quail
fed, as well as those not so well qualified, as
they found them, irrespective of their social or
domestic position. 1t was thus that many de-
serving men with families became rated as
5000 clerks-a salary which yields but poor
Livelihood indeed, as return for their acquire
ments and labor. That errors occurred in the
classification mentioned is very true; for we
see, in not few instances, clerks engaged upon
the same identical business, where one will be
receiving $500, another 81 200, and others
$500. But even this may be an unavoidable
circumstance in many cases.
| come now to another point Most, if not
all, Of the departments are divided into bureaus;
then subdivided into what are termed di- |
risions. At the head Of the former are ap-
pointed chiefs, variously denominated commits
sioners, auditors, &c. Uuder these are ap |
pointed chief clerks of such bureaus; at the |
head of the latter, or divisions, are placed |
clerks generally known as "chiefs of divisions"
These are class who stand, as il were be.
tween the head of the bureau and chief clerk |