Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-20
WAsHINerda VIEWS AED GOSSIP

'e on Tue Dill to suppress the circulation Of
s"aii notes in this District, that public opin.
ion Is In favor Of any such currency in thi.
quarter. With the exception of those en-
gagged ia the business of circulating such notes
We are utterly unable to find a single individ
ual In the District disposed to favor them. All
arguments alleging that they are an accom-.
mediation, are mere fol-de- rol-originatin
with those who manufacture them, to quiet
the public mind under their operations through
them, for their individual benefit They are
made the vehicles for the most of that pes.
tlferous currency, purporting to be payable in
the notes of other localities, by which the bust
ness interests of the District of Columbia have
been so severely injured within the last two O,
three years. We know that we but expres,
the very unanimous wish Of the people of the
District OF Columbia in urging Congress to be
sure to legislate on this subject, so that those
who issue notes in the District of Columbia of
any denomination under five dollars, or who
issue notes of any denomination whatever.
payable in anything but gold or silver may
be made fneable by summary process before
q justice of the peace in the amount each sucb
note calls for-one-half the said fine to 20 to
the informer the justice and officer to get costs.
and the balance to 60 into the treasury of the
corporations. While we are no ad-
vocates for depriving the District of Columbia
Of good banks of circulation, and entertain no
idea that in 1894 any such legislation will be
enacted by Congress, we do hope and trust
that those on whom rests the responsibility for
all the chicanery, under the name of banking,
which has gone on here of late years Con-
gress-Will be thoughtful enough in disposing
Of the "small note bill'' to do their work ef
The Government pays cut millions
here, annually, il specie for salaries and the
wages of other labor-millions on millions. So
there is no other point in the country whereat
notes Of less denomination than FIVE dollars are
really so little needed
The District Penitentiary Here with we
publish communication from some one IN
known to us upon the subject of the salaries
paid to the employees in the Penitentiary of
the District Of Columbia. We take this occa-
sion to say that the guards of this establish
ment are certainly underpaid. Their duties
involve great responsibility, and require for
their proper discharge men who are in all re-
spects trustworthy. We have also to say, that
those now in that position have proved them.
selves competent and trustworthy. They re-
,eiVe 500 each, per annum. In the last
twelve months they have each of them been
required TO do fge hundred days work, cal
sulating the length of the days duty at the
usua! number of working hours required of
employed in our city. Thus they
must do FIVE hundred instead of three hun
ired days work in the year. We trust that
Congress will take their case into considera-
lion. They deserve what we ask for them,
clearly. We publish the communication to
which we refer above, without further com.
ments:
Messrs. Editors: Though I have not the
slightest pecuniary interest in the matter, [
desire, through the medium of your paper,
to call the attention Of Congress
to subject which, it seems to me, should
claim their special and early attention, viz :
the arduous duties and inadequate compensa
ton Of the officers CT the United States peni-
Tertiary. While the salaries of nearly all the
Government employees within the District
have very properly been considerably in
creased, in view of the increased expense of
living, these persons, whose labors in point of
severity and danger are not surpassed, have as
yet received no attention
The warden who T haliavo is mt N or,o;ftod
to absent himself from the prison twenty four
hours at any one time, receives but ST. 500 per
annum. Few, L apprehend, would be willing
to make the sacrifices that he makes, and ex-
pose their lives as he does, for such compen
sation. The duties of the clerk are difficult,
and require experience and ability salary
81 900. The deputy warden and principal in
the shoe shop receive salary of only $3.50
each. There are six guards, with salary Of
$3.50 each, who are required to be On duty
from the rising to the setting cf the sun; and
it is frequently the case that they have to con
tinue in the same way during The night. Three
inspectors have q nominal salary Of 500 !:
while an experienced and skillful physician
gives his services for $500. The chaplain, who
has to walk upwards of four miles or furnish
his own conveyance, and performs labor near
ly equal to preaching twice every Sabbath,
besides what he has occasionally to perform
through the week, is allowed only $3.50, which
is certainly salary only in name. The sal
aries in general are not one-holf, and some CT
them not more than One-quarter, enough to
support respectfully the officers and their fam
lilies.
Will not Congress, therefore, look at this
matter, and extend to these more humble but
not less meritOrious employee of the Govern
nent the same justice they have to others?
JUNIUs.
The Auxiliary Guard.-The favorable &C
ton of the House yesterday on the bill to in
crease the compensation Of the Auxiliary
Guard Of Washington city to 5000, is exceed
ingly gratifying to our fellow-citizens gene
rally, WHO know we'll that those officers are
required to labor very hard-to be up all
night, every night In the year, and discharge
their duties with fidelity, giving satisfaction