The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-13
HEADS OF BUREAUS.

HEADS OF BUREAUS.
MEssRs EpfroRs Understanding that the Committee of
Ways and Means have under consideration proposition
to increase the salaries of heads Of bureaus agreeaby to
the recommendation of the Secretary of the Treasury IN
his last two annual reports and that correspondence has
been had by the COMMITTEES with the various Secretaries on
this subject beg the favor of your columns for the pur
pose Of offering few considerations In addition TO those
which may have already been offered why such increase
should be made.
Within few years the salaries of every class Of officers
above aud bto heads of bureaus have been increased
about fifty per cent Heads of departments receive
600 per annu than fifty per cent has been added
10 the salaries of judges of the Supreme Court collectors
Of Customs in the principal cities who twenty ago re-
ceived acnt $4,000 NOW receive over ssooo the same
he said with respect to 49, 'An' - - an
salary of the Secretary OF inc ,s... 94'V00' :
Clerk of the House $500 All this has been considered
necessary and proper in consequence of the increased labor
and responsibility Of the officer the change in the mode
and prices of living and the known fact that salaries which
fifty years ago would enable officer living at the seat of
government in principal cities to live comfortably,
educate his children and something besides
barely sufficient and sometimes inadequate to defray
ordinary family expenses Hence before irked the
salaries of all officers at the seat of government above and
below heads of bureaus have been largely increased whilst
the salaries Of these officers alonesome of them for
than fifty yearshave remained stationary The compen-
saon Of members of Congress- also increased during
the last year to annual salary of $4,000 being in
during the year of the long session of fifty per cent
and more than four hundred per cent during the short
session. or at the rate of $4,000 per for the time
employed, unless extra session be called.
Now, respectfully ask is It not anomaly to Off
GERS having charge of bureaussome of them having
than one hundred clerks under their supsrvisionwhose
business and range OF dutes under the great expansion of
incre of huanea
brace than most of the departments did when their
salaries established receiving salaries less than
those usually paid in cities and towns throughout the
country to presidents and officers of banks railroad
pauies and other corpoations2 Here auditors and
onprollers who receive and adjust annually and
claims involving the entire receipts and expenditures of the
governm.nt-invoving aggregate amount Of one hun
bred and forty millions of dollarsand whe the secre
ary Of the Treasury well remarks in his report aconst
tue the safeguard of the national treasury and have
Withstand the whole army of claimants with their interested
clamo Assistant Secretaries Commissioners of Customs
Land Office Indian Affairs Patents and Pensions Solicitor
and Register of the Treasury the United States Treasurer
&C. charged with heimportant business of their respective
Offices and yet these officers receive salaries materially
less than many officers under their jurisdiction and far be-
low those of many other oc8rs the public service whose
duties labors, and responsibilities bear no comparison
with theirs in the magnitude of the public interest in
volved.
| AGAIN. 1eauS mltary ana naval bureaus receive q
compensation considerably greater than is allowed heads
of civil bureaus together with the additional advantages
of certain allowances and life tenure of Office and with
in few days branch of Congress has passed bill
granting further increase TO those connected with the
army. a---sn
1t not strange that Congress- in making such fair and
liberal provision for every other class of public officers
should entirely overlook the heads of the civil bureaus
who have heretofore doubtless from delicacy orborne to
press their claims and therefore received of the
fits of an increase which has been allowed Others I'M
dersaud however that in addition to the recommends
ton of the Secretary of the Treasury the heads Of
at the last session. presented the question the consdera
ton of Congress- aud cannot but express the hope that
the necessary action will be had As connected with
this may remark that the Committee ON Patents in the
House has reported bill to amend the patent laws and
have inserted therein special provision giving to the
head of the Patent Office bureau the salary as is paid
to the Superintendent of the Coast Survey of weights
aud measures a. D. Bache Superintendent Of the Coast
Survey at salary CT S45oo and of weights and meas.
ures at salary Of S5O0mskpg $4,000 J to the CHIEF
of the Patent Office the the Assistant Super
intenden of the Coast survey $s5Oo and to three pu
cpa examiners the same salary EACH ($3,50O) May
not therefore, in conclusion express the hope that the Com
of Ways and Means may find in this example set BY
another committee of their honorable body on similar
question: additional argument in favor of action
on their part on the general question before them? X