Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-07-01

Final Appeal to Congress for the Clerks.
10 the Senator'S and Representatives. Of the
forfteh Corgvess-It may appear an act of
supsrerogation, and therefore q useless task, TO
address the honorable Senators and Represen-
tauyes at present in Congress assembled. upon
the hackneyed subject Of 8 measure of pecu-
mary relief to the employees Of the Govern-
nent in the various Departments in Washing-
ton; and Yet, so many interests hinge upon the
final determination of this subject that the
writer of this article feels impressed, as 1t
were, into the service of making final appeal
for the aid and assistance 90 urgently called
for. The honorable gentlemen W hom we ad-
pear the % m soiieiiasious oeshe Clerks
They should recall the principle now passed
into an adage that self preser alton is the first
law of nature" and then, if they will credit
what must have come TO the ears Of many OF
them, hey will appreciate thatin some ins an ces
the real question stalks is ITO be or not to be-
to feel, in short, a self.respect-a sentiment of
manly manhood that makes the desk pleasant
sight 70 meet the eys In thelmorning, the step
elastic through the day, and the evening reso-
nant of a natural and honest Laughter, of happy
speech, Of pleasant WORTHWHILE the night
brings on sleep undisturbed by the mig mares
of unpaid bills, and fll-defned hopes for future
helps and relief. 10 be his or not to be ii,
" that's the question"
Now, Congress felt the necessity of an addi-
tiopal compensation in its own instance, for.
sooth, for it added to its own pay, and we think
they were right in doing so, for Washington is
no Elysldn neIQ 10 live In, ana We have no
showers Of mama here by which we can 60
out and pick up the sustenance ofilife without
owing anybody for il. And then the employees
in and about the Capitol are the happy denzsns
OF an extra pay, and we certainly con gratu late
them upon the fact, and find no fault with Con-
gre<s for being so generous to them.
lie ofhcsrs OF the army too (who are not
overworked, we have understood, in times of
peace) receive q timely increase Of their pay,
all OF which, we doubt not. is Just and proper.
We are honored occasionally by a call from a
member of Congress to render him some infor-
nation from our official doc ets, and We are
happy to tell him all that lays within our
power; for in addition to our desire to accom-.
modate, we should be reported for our remIss-
ness, II we DID not know how to furnish him
with what he wanted, and then we might be-
come subject Of discussion with the Honor
able Secretary, and he might order a s'yellow
envelope" to our desk, with something in 1t
official death warrant, who will send us
home 10 our friends and the homesteads
afflicted on our ACCOUNT And yet that
serene philosopher of the .sdrab suit
are not pleased; to leave if We can't live, TO GO
into the broad west and sssquat'on Government
land, and go to breaking up the virgin soil of
the prairie and work from the resources Of our
mother earth the yellow corn and the brist-
ling cones Of wheat, the rye. and the oat field,
"a rural exercise we would suggest we have
would have our places filled by those useful
members of society at home, the intent aud
meaning of whose lives, their friends and the
world at large, including their last school,
masters, have been long troubled about, and
who would Immediately come to Washing ton
and take the places of those whose long aud in.
tImate connection with the business of their
desks and respective bureaus, have made them
such essential helps during every hour of the
day-at any salary and upon any terms, and
would never think of asking for more compen-
sation.tIll they had thoroughly tasted the sweets
OF our charming boarding houses-and had
come 10 learn that scent for cent" with cash
d0Ur, in all cases OF clerks, for every purchase
made, were the happy rules of the commercial
life of the District of Columbia.
Honorable Senators and Representatives, let
me tell you that after raising the expectations
OF the clerks of the Departments, that they
were going TO receive help at your hands, and
the subsequent disappointment and Illustration
of these hopes. there went upa c1i from many
tears, from the little child, Just able to appre-
ciate the sad blow, TO the head of the domestic
circle, whose heart broke down as he blew out
the candle at night and shut out the light from
tears he would not have even the little world
of his own family group see and appreciate.
We said AT first we We're impressed, as il
Were. into the service OF writing this article,
and setting down naught in malice, or even a
spirit of distrust in your final recognition of
the great needs of the Government clerks, we
beg you to accept and ponder over the hints we
have thrown out and do not go away and leave
US without some legislative act that shall stand
us up a little on our feet, and help ameliorate
in some degree the untold and unknown trials
and deprivatOns of clerkship life in the De-
partments at Washington. =.