Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-29


r',uLTy petitions from paymastcrs and their
r,,I,,, have been prcseptcd To Conrrss- This
-, g. 80, - -
5-'''Dn io' gu in''e"ee Vi pa! 10 inc latter
come Of the petitions asked that Congress con-
fer upon clerks military rank, intimating that
, r,a, ,,,,, ,,oc,-,.,- Ii, -. - 49,,
'''-'' ~ ''S' d" '''
Amy cannot dsl Oh honor without wearing
a ahouldcr strap" The petitions were referred.
rn the House ia tho NiIitsrv Cop,mi,te, and
- -l., 'NN
'-o |onliil''eo "Sslsuou Inc consideration oi
the subject 10 Mr.. Mcpherson, who disposes Of
il in the following spicy renorl
rno
~, ,.,...i,,... H,.,.,i
IL SO'nlnl'teo On MiitafS Alar7, TO "hom
Nu' Ititr[eu suuafy petlllohs from paymas-
'IIo anu MASTERS clerks, praying Tor an
luy' taeo u 'uV Pu! u Tue latter, neg !eaVe TO
,.FO'"
That they have given the subject thoughtful
examination. The petitioners ask an increase
oil pay from the average of about 1900, now
'cCtlNGd by pHymaeters' clerks, to that of q
thlrd class clerkshlP, or 81, 600 per annum.
IheS also suggest that, In their opinion, the
Interest ofthc Government would be benefited
by granting them suitable rank according
10 Lhelr station
your committee do not underratc the import
sncc oil this class OF officers, or undervaluc the
business qualities required for the proper dis
'hh 81 u 'hSh uutlcb' anu nave TehCneu a
negative conclusion upon their petition solely
upon public grounds. In the present condition
Of the finances they can consent to no increase
81 sa!afy not inanllesty Just, or rendered necos-
saFy Oy peculiar circumstances. Some pay
masters CLERKS may DO subjected to peculiar
cHPosuEo' or 10 large expenditures, .Or their
uIvi may DC detailed upon difhcult or haZnrd-
Gus uuIyi Uut such lnequa ~ mus necessarily
eNsl, and cannot be rcmodled by general legis-
lallOh' IN an average II Is not believed that
'ic pracIcal discharge OF these duties Involves,
as stated IN some OF the petitions, any such in
luFY to health, or considerable outlay, Gs calls
for The remedy proposed. Your committee arc
not aware that any difficulty has been eXpe-
fenced In obtaining or in retaining competent
aud faithful persons for these positions at pres
ent compensation, which Is 500 pay, rs cents
yer day when on duty, and travelling expenses.
II II DC true that clerks In other departments
oi Government are paid salaries dlsproportlon-
"icIy hlgh' tho TACT Is rather an argument for
me reduction OF the former than an increase Of
iAv latter In the opinion OF the committee the
'uruchs OF INC people are and Will be so heavy
A. 10 MAKE ~ the imperative duty OF the leg6-
lhtING Drahch 10 reduce the expenditures to the
smallest practicable limits
As 10 tne proposed creation OF rank, 1t Is
SUSTAINED oy the suggestion that II would
men DC necessary loT paymssters' clerks at all
L,uGs 10 ACT on hohof, and be strictly account
aoie u tue Government Tor all those acts"
louT committee do not believe that the clerks,
as class, require such stimulus TO the faith
iul performance OF duty and, besides, they are
now responsible directly and Immediately, not
only TO the Government, but to their chiefs,
whose supervision is constant and complete.