New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-09
GOVERN.HENT CLERKS.
CLERK ON THE sITUATION-THE WORK THEY
DO AND THE PAY THEY GET-WHf WOVEN
DO NOT GET AS LARGE SALARIES As MEN,

A CLERK ON THE sITUATIoN-THE WORK THEY
DO AND THE PAY THEY GET-WHY WOMEN
DO NOT GET AS LARGE SALARIES As MEN.
To the EditOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: In answer to recent letter in The
TRIBUNE. and exposition generally to those VINO
are interested i'm the cerkship business in Washington,
let me present the following succinct statement: pre-
mise what have TO say with the remark that have led
a practical business life that learned my me, h"c'
all my expense, that have pretty correct
idea the value of dollar from the fact that nave
earned with my hands levery one, l might say that
ever had so that my opinions in regard TO pay ought to
be as goodtO say the east-as that Of the average OF
business men, Who are these clerks They come from
almost every and Territory I'm the Union There Is
about the proportion, perhaps, Of mproyident I'M
moral dssoute men among them that you will find in
other classes There among them aggards, iders,
sneaks and Incompetents but more than there are
among other classes indeed think not so many, for
there is wedding TOUT done among them from
time to time, process which cannot
be applied to others They in the main competent
and industrious men, exhibiting in many cases, an order
OF talent not always possessed by officials OF higher rank
Few Congressman discharge the duties OF these
Government paupers." TheseI clerks make the chief
practical demonstration of talent made in the Depart
ments. They acquainted with the laws bearing upon
the transactions in the Departments, and are familiar
with all the regulations and rulings as to their operation
They know where the information required from the
> l
Of or against the Government from single dollar up to
millions Inaword they do almost all there is done in the
matter OF practical labor, mental or physical from the
messenger up No is sponsor for them or their acts
for each held responsible for his own transactions
II any one does discharge his duty properly his own
discharge may be thel penalty Something like Mr..
brakes bill would be blessing TO the clerks. Iwould
not relieve them just in the manner that that bill pro-
posed but would have them insure their own lives. In
case of DEATH think each should be assessed 81 for
the benefit OF the family dependent friends Of the
deceased This would give from 5000 10 $4,000 TO the
bercaved and it could he deemed hardship to the
living.
About pay II is too small and especially TO the first
and second classes II is true, that young unmarried
man Of economical habits with health may save rs first
class clerk from $40 $50 lper! month. man with
family however, must deny himself many Of the real
comforts of life, deny himself and family many things
OF rst-claSs cerkships salary House rent alone in
this city, in respectable heahful locality, will require
about one-third Of his salary An uninhabtable house
cam admit be obtained In ncighbOrhOOd or doubtful
character, in low most malarious locality, for $40
month. and in sOmenSaneesgas low as sl3 mohth IN
an abstract view in the country, admit that
salary Of 1900 or SliO0 year seems To ne pretty
round sum- but $500 for a good deal less labor IN
country town is a good deal more But what matters II
about the salary if 1t is all used up in ordinary iiYngf
The true criterion by which pay Is To ne deeImheu
the amount necessary To meet the expenses OF rational
living, with reasonable remainder ~ accnmHate IN
and misforunes, and the sure inirmy ana htpessness
ri This Is the RUE tnat governs h puolicSn
in regard to pay or pIoh In the GOetuS, Wncio
rents and living less than onehalI what they are III
the city the renter can cultivate his garden keep
his cow and poultry, atten his pork II he wishes, IN
short help himself 10 the thousand ana one e needed
things without cost which have TO be paid for in the
city 500 per annum is much better pay than SOO is
here. -.-.. 4. a., L.. 80 .to,o sh,r,
pay clerks Is word needed to disclose their e0ndi
ton have in my mind now the case OF sec9nd,eaSs
clerk whose family consisted OF five persons lie Is an
% I fr ,nenths last summer and Autumn and the
upa isl p il
this is only one case among many observer SAYS
that ne has known Of only clerk who has been buried
Inv the contributions OF his fellows and he disso
lutte Young have been clerk here for some years,
and do moi know of such case but do know OF
dry eases where the heads or members families have
been buried by the charity OF their comrades but tere
is an alternative the clerks; they resign and
into business elsewhere too il should manifest
some little dissatisfaction with the hardshps OF this
earth he night be told 10 60 To the moon he might now
ever want the means to 20. The alternative Of the
clerks however is not 50 bad this, confess for II
the Pacific Railroad was building that il they did not
like their place and pay, they could get spade and 90
do not regard any kind labor degrading. have
promise myself faithfully 20 back that occupation
get out Of debt and get means enough TO
live while cultiyating the first crop
"Observer" thinks the civil service will be reformed
when the law will give to the women clerks the same pay
the receive. The law will permit II now. wO-
man can he promoted 10 any position in the Depart
ments, and may receive the same pay that man re-
discharge who were expert and quick almost as
an expert man. These are exceptional instances The
the average male clerks worth And the former are
put at work where but little ability business tact and
accuracy required. They do not settle accounts. or
write letters other than those OF stereOtyped forms Iey
not put into places requiring the exercise OF Judg
ment or a great degree Of skill. These facts you Will
see explain the why women clerks are net pali
at once the same salary the men. All Government
cerkships should be made permanent Clerks To as
charge their duties. with rapity accuracy ana IN one
dience TO rules and law Iequre experience; they must
learn their business much the pressina OF Door
keeper or any other person employed ina dlct position
by IE TRIRiNE Associations and 10 would be Just ~ wise
i'm the Association discharge their efficient men rom
time 10 time for n0yioes ia for the Government 10
discharge its efficient clerks The Association does not
do IL: the Government does do 10, and Is loser 10
serious degree rs often as IL does 10. ,
some OF the heads Of the Departments say that the lower
CLASSES clerks paid enough, and declare that me
heads OF the Bureaus with salaries varying from NVo
To $500 a year. underpaid Whatever may De the
private opinion clerks with regard To the present
pay propriety of increase OF the pay OF these
heads Bureaus they have never sought 10 prejudice
the claim set up &C. attempted 10 prevent these
gentlemen obtaining It. Those who are pleading the
cause of these Bureau before congress- 40 out OF
their way 10 say that the clerks who are not paid
enough 10 live properly paid tu while these cefs
are ludcrpnid We shall whfrher Congress, after
having refused 10 the pay of the needy clerks
ON rho ground that the burdens OF the Government
already 100 great aud still refusing TO relieve them, will
mass the hill pared for the heads of Bureaus who
Ia no straightenf condition Al that ask Us that the
rraistous OF Charity bo houOcd before those Cen
crosby SCiO.
bashuaofon. ID. c.. Feb g. 1871