New-York tribune., 1874-03-28
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
NO RETRENCHMENT IN THE CAPITOL.

NO RETRENCHMENT IN THE CAPITOL.
A SUGGESTION THAT CONGREssMES EcoNoMizE IN
THE SALARIES oP COMMITTEE CLERks-THE DE-
PARIMEsT CLERKS AS VIEWED BY WASHING
ToNMN. 5a TI
To the gdiior Of The Tribune
SIR: IL must be immensely gratifying to
the American people to notice with what patriotic
ervor certain OF their representatives IN Congress have
undertaken the task OF "rerenchment and reform" in
the several Executive Departments OF the Government
by reducing the number OF clerks and increasing the
number OF hours they required to labor per day.
The moyemen nj has been designated 1.-The more hours
and fewer clerks reform and has been naugurated by
certain members who have pocketed 'hc salary graD,
for the purpose possibly Of turning the public eye from
Themselves For than 40 years have noticed that
the clerks in the Executive Departments have. from
time to time been subject ~ the attacks aud the reyi
ngs and cauInnes Of class OF members who were ul-
able TO rise any higher sphere of pubic service han
this Pecksnery. 1t s well known here at tho seat oi
Congress- that the clerks the departments receive
salaries at least onethrd less than those ompioyed Dy
Congress while the latter labor only nine or ten months
in two years the first long session commencing the
frat Monday OF December aud closing from the middle
Of MAY to the first Of July-fve and half 10 seven
months; the short session lasting from the nrst Aoddy
OF December to the 4th of March-ib0lt " lays after
each adioupninent the Congressional clerks are free,
while the Depart men clerks are kept tied down 10 tne
de- ks aborng like dray horses the whole time; only OF
late years they been allowed months vacation
for and recreation.
Now, why this difference in compensation aud amount
OF labor perforrncdf WHY do members OF Congress,
overlooking h!s unjust partaity IN the treatment o
the Two classes clerks let their severely alone
in the fun enjoyment OF their larger pay and infinitely
less labor the departments and deftake 10
compel clerks there do more work by reducing
their numberl What do M. Cs know about the number
needed perform the labor in any department or IN
any bureaui Not thing Are not the heads of depart
and OF bureaus worthy 20 be trusted IN tls
MATTE as OF COngressg f not, they are not
their places, and affirm that there Is not mem
her who competent to take charge 0i bureau
in any department But why do teY not undertake 10
inaugurito "retrenchment and reform" among the
clerks OF COngressl Simply because these are the ap
poniecs " members themselves. They are favOtites
brought here be rewarded for services not only per
formed electng. but expected TO be performed also
in Rejecting members who thus reward them Can
it be supposed that member viii undertake. 10 reduce
salary OF 10 whose labors and Influence, IN part
he owes hi, election ana whose efforts he relies IN
This mutually OF interest and obligation secures the
clerk Independent or his patron member a. the lat
ter can possibly be OF him. And while the depart
mont clerk. are harassed aud annoyed by the medd.e
sOmencss OF a few members vino wish TO make little
capital themselves, the Congressional clerks snap
Their lin gers at rctrenCnmeut and reform Tue petty
snc manifested toward tine poor, defenS depart
Inent clerks il comparable only 10 tue IN make
sister FOR the loss OF the salary
grab. n il both cowardly and malicious.
Washington, ID. O., March 49, 1874 HAMILTON.