The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-11-30
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The Pay OF Our Psslts Servants.
"Perley" writes % follows to the Boston
Journal in reply to Parion's article In the
last Atlantic In relation TO the pay OF Gov
eminent servants
"while there 10 much to admire 10 MI
Parton's article on the public serves, re-
Gently published In the Atlantic LMontng, =.
10 very evident that he has generaiiy viewed
matters from one stand point, ana ,ns, ne
has onseouently len much unsaid. This 10
especially me case . his article on 'Uncle
sam. treatment Of his Servants which
anpe,rs Ia the Atlantic for December, In
which he takes the ground that our Govern
mont pays Its upper servants wages so mean
that Il Is wonderful II gets any faithful, EN-.
Client service at ALL To prove this, Mr..
Parton gives some revelations OF Washing
ton life, but he omits to state that these were
exceptions TO the general rule.
"Mr. Parton's standard of the way In which
A Cabinet officer should live is that Of Mr..
Seward, which he tells US was plainly
enough and costs about $4,000 per
annum.' Now this is very we'll II q mem.
Der of the Presidents Cabinet apes the style
In which the cabinet ministers OF European
monarchs live, and also keeps free bar a,
which sycophautic admirers refresh thcm'
selves. Bat II Mr.. Parton will come on here
this winter, he will find the present Secre.
tary OF the Treasury comfortably CHARTERED
with his family in respectable boarding
house, with neatly furnished private par.
Tor, and living at an expense which cannot
take but a fraction OF his salary. Whether
Mr.. Boutwell, does not act more In accord
nnce with our republican institutions IL
thus quietly living within his official incom,
than Mr.. Seward did in living far beyond BIZ
income for the qualification OF diplomatic
noodles aud domestic snobs, Is q question OF
which am sure that Mr.. Parton would mo-
differ with me.
"Mr. Parton's host in Washington, who is =
gentleman OF fortune, doubtless eIpends many
thousand dollars every session above his pay
as a member OF the House OF Representa-
tiyes. But there are scores OF other Con
rressmen who do not cxpend their pay Tor the
board OF themselves and OF their families
here during the sessions OF Congress, and
among them the very wealthiest. II Con-
gresham wishes to reside here In what Is
properly termed, Filth avenue STYLE he
must draw upon his private resources, but
he can live respectfully upon his pay. Sc
with the justices Of the courts and bureau
officers; lfthey persist in living beyond theft
means, they alone are to blame.
"But 1t Is said that people occupying high
official positions here must entertain II
this IL so, why can they not entertain with
more simplicity 1t Is not obligatory upon
them to order elaborate dinners, or to covei
their tables and sideboards with costly wines
or to crowd their rooms with 'shod society,
anxious to dance, drink and dirt free OF cost
Never were there more agreeable evening
parties given here than those at the hospita.
bic house OF the lamented DR.. Bailey, OF the
National Era, where the Republican party
was Graded by intelligent men and women,
and where tea and seed cake was the enter
tainment. If our leading officials would
give these informal receptions, open to their
friends and constituents, 10 the place OF
dancing parties costing thousands OF dollars
each, IL would be far more agreeable, except
to the attaches, the tops, and the Chevallers
d. Industrie. 1t Is the entertain nent OF
these fashionable dead beats which has
prompted the information to Mr.. Parton
that 1t costs about sl5 600 q year to keep
house decently in Washington
''The Lobby delights in the present sys.
TEN Of Washington life, and 1t Is no secret
that some Of the very officials who whine &C
dolefully about their scanty salaries, deriy,
questionable sources. 1t Is a common thlnp
here TO hear that this mans rent, or thai
mans carriage, or the diamonds, shawls
and toilettes Of gorgeously gottcn-up women
are paid for this, that or the other private
enterprise. And since the pay has been
gradually raised adventures have been
tempted here who would otherwise have
been at their homes. 1t is not the men who
live as honest men should live, within their
pay, who are groanlng about Its inadequacy,
but those who are evidently amassing wealth,
while they complain that they have to exc
out their salaries from their private incomes.
"From what have seen hereabouts within
the past quarter OF a century and more, l
am confident that Uncle Sam pays his ser
wants literally, and that no office ever re-
manned untitled by good man because OF
the small compensation attached to 1t. On
the contrary, do not honestly believe that
one half Of those whose names are In the
Blue BOOK earn the sums OF money which
they receive for their services, and l am
equally confident that an increase Of pay Is
not the desired panacea for the Ills of office
holders, as some Of the very best Of them
live within their receipts without COMPLAINT >,