Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-10-09
THE PAY OF THE CLERKS,

We give space to the following communica-
ton with great pleasure, for re believe it
states tho clerks dilemma with fairness and
justice. No class of men in the community
arc worse paid than the clerks and how they
have lived, or arc to get through this winter
we cannot SEQ. We hope that Congress will
pass some measure of relief:
To the Editors Of the Enquirer:
Gentlemen: Permit to call your attention,
and through you that of Congress, to the pc
cuniary condition of the government clerks.
1t has long been the habit Of many newspa-
pers to indulge in haunting and depreciatory
remarks in reference to this class of public
officers, to represent them as sleek, comforta-
bic. well clothed and well fed young men
exempt by Office from military duty. In
most cases nothing can be more bitterly uu-
just and untrue. In the bureaus of the gov
eminent, with which the writer is familiar,
about three.fourtbs of the clerks are men ex-
empt from military duty by age, infirmity or
disease, or else soldiers discharged for diSa-
bility by reason of disease or wounds.
The most of them receive fifteen hundred
dollars per mum. In one Of the bureaus to
which | refer, out of 80 clerks, 90 are men
with families, andof the remaining u, some
have mothers and sisters dependent on them.
In another bureau, - out of % have families.
Take an average Casa clerk with n wife
and three children, Il know much more ex-
IRENE cases thanI statc,) and what are his
prospects for the approaching winter? Let
us state it vigorously
Allow him 2 OF. of bacon per day per
head. This gives ! Of a pound for
the family, worth. at $500 per
pound, Sl.G2l, and for a year, 1898 l2
I barrels of -four, "a years SUPPLY
at $40, lG0 90
2 Rooms at 500 a month, (which
cannot be obtained,) $50 90
els coal at 81, 800 90
Aggregate for the year, Sl,G23 10
Making a deficit of 1923 IL. This mans
salary is taxed. Nothing is allowed for CLOTH
ing, nor for a servant. He is supposed to do
all the domestic drudgery-his wife to cook,
wash and clean. Nothing is allowed for med
ical attendance and medicines. They are
supposed to live vigorously on a pint Of -four
and oneeighth of a pound of meat per day,
with barely fuel enough to cook it, without q
vegetable of any sort. and no beverage but
what the hydrant affords. Unwonted hard
SHIPS cause INC WIG OF q cnllu 10 lall Slck.-
Medicines are very high; so are doctors bills.
The husbands watch, the wife's ~jewelry, (f
not already consumed 20 to the auction room
or the jewelers.. This is occurring daily. l
speak knowingly when 1 affirm that there are
those whose relics Of better days have already
been exhausted.
Now, add to this state of the case the GER
tainty of higher prices, higher rents, increased
depreciation of the currency, and you have a
faint picture of what many of these men have
borne, are bearing and anticipate.
Such as have any physical capacity for ser,
vice, would, as a mere matter of ~pecuniary
advantage, rush with Joy to the field, if only
food, shelter and raiment were guaranteed to
their families.
Congress, at the next session, should make
such provision as will enable these men to
live. A ;iourneyman in any trade gets from
Sc to So per day the clerk gets 81 16.
This statement is made by one who does not
belong to the class in question. 1t is made in
q public journal because the newspapers have
raised a popular prejudice against these pco.
pie. which reacts upon Congress. Such allu-
sions to them as those referred to above are
not %mfrequent, and, in view of the facts, are
simolv IN jnsn1t md iniure the uDfortuneta