Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-07-13
Letter from Washington.

q
WAsHINGToN, July 3, 1869.
Jfr. Editor Il want to say something
through your paper about officers under
government at Washington. Many are
anxious for places here, and feel injured if
they cannot get them Are they wise? Let
me speak of the work, compensation and
prospect.
First the work. Hh, who supposes that
an official of this government can getalong
without fair industry is much mistaken.
Let him ask his member of congress about
his own labor. And that which is true of
NJ. c., is also true of every employer of
this government. He cannot conscien-
tiously avoid industry. Certainly he can
not during office hours. Then, as to pay ;
first class clerk, at which all new men en-
ter, gets $1,000 per annum. And many con-
tinue in that class for years. This, some
of your readers will say is large sum, and
at first they would be ready to rush for
such a salary, as very many do. But let
us look on the debtors side. 1t is said that
it costs single men more to live here than
it does married men, and in many instan-
ces, have no doubt it is true. We will
take man and his wite-a single pair.
For room and board-one room, and by no
means first rate board, it will cost from sos
to S75 per month, washing So, sundry col
lectiOns, car fare and other things, which
he never counts, So more, making SIS or
$S5, leaving the two S15 month for clothes,
or at most S25 And here the wardrobe
| is not purchased for song If there be
more than two in the family, you must add
| from $25 to $50 each to the above figures,
in case of perfect and continued health
But if sickness should come, as it very gen
orally does, the first visit of doctor is So,
and medicine 50, and nurses Is you can get
them. 1t is by sickness that many become
involved in debt. Any one can see that
the salary will only answer for two in con
tinual health, and strict economy. Many
think Washington an excellent place to
live in, because they can attend concerts,
lectures, the opera and theatre. Let them
try it and see where stands the balance
Well, the second class clerk receives $l40C
and 5000 additional for third or fourth
class-Sl600 and $500. Surely many will
say that it is a great sum, and wonder why
there should be so much said about 20 pei
cent. additional compensation. But if q
man has family OF children it absolutely
requires more than $1,000 or $l400 to live
decently-half as well as you farmers dc
in Orleans County. Besides it is found thai
wants increase more rapidly than promo
seldom anything over a $4,000 employC
once said to me, The Washington people
look on man here and measure him, SET
how much he receives, and then take it al
skin him. And his statement was lit
orally true in large majority of instances
Men have been dismissed this season who
have been here for years, and supposed they
had been forgot, who absolutely had no
money enough left after paying their bills
''to get out of town with"
Then as to prospects. have spoken OF
the pecuniary prospect, which is nothing
As to others they are equally nil. On,
becomes untitled for any other business by
what he does here Men for the most par
find but little time for reading more thai
the daily news, and they sink down in
little time in a state of hopeless inactivity
further than just to perform their routine
duty, and draw their salary at the end OF
the month, if they have not used it in ad
vance. They are looked upon here for tn
most part as nothing but clerks" anC
there is almost no prospect of rising out Of
their present beaten track. And when tn
administration changes and they are throw
out of work, they feel themselves so entire
ly untitled for any other business tina
strong men Gerry like children as man
have done this season to my knowledge.
In what other calling cannot a man
better? 4 young man can save more t
NOlh Oli a ldlilIJ dlIu IlC ali IIIC tIhlS uStl
flying himself to have and manage farr
. of his own. A mechanic has far brighte
hopes, and the professional man Of what
ever calling, if he is good for anything
o his profession, has infinitely better pro.
poets for the future, and is all the time lay
+ ing the foundation for future prosperity
and qualifying himself for that which vi
give him wealth, or at least competenc,
n and responsibility. While here, KNOWN
that he will soon be dismissed, he is abst
o lutely uniting himself for the day whe
o the calamity {? } comes upon him. On ii
y whole, can recommend a clerkship hel
: only to shipwrecked merchants, 'playe
out" doctors and lawyers, and old and d
E lapidated clergymen, with very little faitl
o and know what | affirm
4 j. II. BECKWITH.