Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-01-14
From the National Cant tOI.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 1874.
Editor RepubHcan

Some considerable excitement has been
created in government circles by the intro
duction by Senator Wright, of Iowa, Of a
resolution looking to q reduction of 10
per cent. in the.salaiies Of all government
employees. When it is known that ever
since the close of the war the question has
been agitated amoug the most numerous
class of government employees in Washing
ton, department clerks, of an increase in
salaries, it can we'll be seen that the propos
ed reduction meets with very little favor
from their side, but the general opinion
Sc ems to be that Congress is just mean
nough 10 do it, and leave the salaries of
their own untouched. 1t is an undoubted
and undeniable fact that no class OF gov.
ernment employees are more poorly paid in
proportion to the services rendered, than
these Department Clerks, whose salaries
range from $1,000 to $4,000 year the ma
jority OF them froua $1,000 to $1,000. This
is explained by the fact that whilc the
other prominent officials, and men appoint
ed for political reasons and of supposed
political power. who have influence enough
In Congress to get their own salaries ill.,
creased, the clerks are witLout ,inhuence,
tor whose interests no one cares. To peo-
pie living in Wisconsin the salaries paid to
c erhs may appear large, but it is TACT
which your correspondent can prove by
figures OF the actual and necessary eXpendi-
lures 81 family. that 5000 in Wisconsin or
Minnesota will buy more than $1,000 will
buy in Washington. Add to this that the
clerks must necessarily III most cases be
men OF some culture aud education, that it
is necessary tor tbeu 10 possess some spec
ial knowledge ia regard to their duties they
are called upon to perform, that the great
maierity OF then are men OF families, and
not enc OF those hardly is able 20 lay by
any Thing for the day when a new turn OF
the political machine will W heel him out OF
a situation, it will be seeu that the salaries
paid are not any too large. The statement
is frequently made that the salaries paid are
larger tnau those paid by priva.e individu-
as or corporations for similar services, it is
doubted that the facts would verify this
statement, but even admitting it to be true,
it SHOULD be borne in mind, that the clerk
who serves private party has some silent
assurance of beieg retained as leng as he
performs his duties satisfactorily while the
the government clerk is liable, by mere
wilma of a senator or a member, or a turn of
the political wheel, to be turned OFT of his
place perhaps after yeals of faithful service,
whep no energy and activity is Left with
whick to begin the world again.
The question of a successor to General
Sweet late Deputy Commissioner of Inter
nal Revenue has been agitating the politi-
clans FOR some days, and AS in these days of
civil service reform there are but few posi-
lions for the politicians to wrangle about, the
fight is quite lively. Il is more than likely
that the place viii be given to some loliti
clan, who knows nothing whatever about
the business, and whose very responsible Of
fee it will be TO sign his name 10 letters
and papers. of the purport or correctness of
which he knows absolutely nothing. Of
course, if any thing goes wrong, the res
possibility will be Immediately shifted to
the shoulders of some poor clerk, who will
be dismissed for the blunders of his super
iors
The House on Tuesday last listened to
both able and jntere sting speech Of Mr.. FL
lott, the co!ored member from South Caro-
lima, on the civil rights bill. Mr.. E. has
spoken formerly on other subjects and real
ly possesses great talents as public speaker,
and is a man quite able enough to COM
pose his own speeches, although the oppo-
siiion generally claim that the speeches are
written by General Butler. 1t is doubtful
if the bill will become a law this session, as
the opposition can prevent the result by
flbustering, and, aside from the negroes
themselves, doubt if any one will feel very
sorry on the subject, unless it is for politi-
Cal reasons, and for fear that it might turn
the colored vote in the South. AS far as
this city is concerned, the negroes certainly
have all the rights they need have and enjoy
more than their full share
A lively fight is at present going on be-
tween the two railroads leading out from
Washington, for the travel westward, and
the public is the gamer in this, that the
rate to Chicago has been reduced to $l4,
as low as it will probably ever be,
and over as good road as can be found in
the country, the Pennsylvania Central. ?
W.
Bank Of w aterGoyvn.
Semi Annual Report of the Bank of Wa