The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-04-12
Total expense per month.

Total expense per 100 90 ".
Such the paltry limits within which clerk with a
small family, 10 obliged TO eon6ne himself by the most
rigid economy in order exc subsistence In Wash
ugton By resortug the back streets of the city he is
exceedingly lucky if he finds house of any kind at the
above rate As to servants many obliged to have two
instead of one. If one keeps than two fres-and
than often necessary-he cannot supply the
fuel for ST. BY burning tllow candlesnow long since
obsoleeor the murderous camphene or ethereal oil he
may contriye TO light up his premises on 50 per month
but be aspres to spemace stcarne candles
becomes extravagant to presume to venture upon the
use gas the expense is doubled.
As for foodand this deserves separate paragraph
where is the clerk with small family, in this city
that can pay bis market and grocery bills with 81 per
day Let those congressman who complain that they
live SO per day the question. At 81 per
day the clerks table present but little variety. sin
gle dish Of meat and two kinds of vegetables all
that has 50 allow him. Chickens aud turkeys utterly
beyond bis reach. Those Injuries that he is not al
lowed TO think of lie eschew almost every luxury
that ordinarily found decent bill of fare bis
penses will exceed his means.
In the above estimate there left only 81 "a for cloth
ing the whole family per month That that sum is utterly
insufficient average per month every clerk with
family well knows This is only $ss os per annum for
the whole family
1t Is quite unnecessary also for remind my read
that the above bin Of expenses docs not contain great
number of little expenses which family escape and
which absolutely necessary for comfort but the above
estimaten every item too smalhas already exhausted
the monthly salary OF $780, Whence then, the money to
pay these little expenses7
II there is sickness 10 the family-end this is certain
and unavodablewhere is the money to pay the physi-
clan and the apotheCaryl These items obliged
to omit in the above estimate the 500 being consumed
by the other items If death the family, where
Is the money to pay the undertaken The clerk hsv-
ing been able anything Of his salary is
yoidaby thrown into debt by the sad bereavement We
instance in which 200 clerk, having lost
his wife by DEATH had undertakers bill Of 81 present
ed besides bills for mourning apparel and other
expenses amounting in all 10 upwards OF 5000 The poor
clerk has been dunned ever since
The clerks of the government ike all other gentlemen
require books newspapers and magazines for themselves
and families but how these be obtained Of their
little saary7 Many Of them, too Christians and mem
bers Of churches and of course require pew in church
for their families But pews in churches books newspa-
pes and magazines entirely beyond their reach II they
have no other than that Of their salary. Such
Inquiries th- poor ST. 200 clerk contemplate
Every one too is expected to contribute something for
churches and various charitable purposes and the clerks
are the first called upon.
Two memorials from the 81 200 clerks Of tho Depart
Of the Interior have recently been presented to Cou-
gress for increase of salary We trust they will be
suffered to ne dormant IN the hands OF the committees TO
which they have been referred No member of Congress
investigate the subject Of those memorials without be-
lag convinced OF the necessity of increase OF the salaries
of the memoriass We trust that honorable members OF
Congress will give the matter thorough investigation
with view amendment Of the present clerks bill so
10 raise the salaries Of those receiving 81 200 per
annum TO 81 500 No gentleman with family can live in
this city less than that and anything All salaries
ought be- extent at least remunersve and
barely sufficient 10 pay the current expenses Of the
pioyee
The abors government clerks need not remind hon
orable members Of Congress important arducus and
require Of education and ability for their proper per-
crmancc The complicated machinery Of the departments
cannot be properly managed without clerical force con-
sstng Of gentlemen Of high qualifications and it
be reasonably expected that such should perform the
arduons duties assigned them for a salary that will barely
support them
Many honorable members Of Congress- the passage Of
the last clerks bill, were In favor Of higher salary than
$1,000 for the hrsclass clerks Il having been then clearly
shown, now, That 81 400 was insufficient We trust
that they win this time be able to carry out the vicws
which they then maintained by amending the bill then
passed FIX the salaries Of the 6rstcass clerks at
81 1900 per annum,