National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-01
GOVERNMENT CLERKS.
THE OPPOSITE VIEW OF THE CASE
WHAT MIGHT BE DONE

WHAT MIGHT be DUNE.
In TIE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN Of Monday last
vase most gloomy picture of the lite and death
Of an employee Of the Government in Washing
ton. Such pictures are eften drawn in attempts
70 prove the hard work and small pay OF clerks
and messengers in the Departments. All these
diatribes appear to me to be not only unjust, but
in bad taste. The Government clerk Is the best
In any employment in the country. Suppose he
receives but 800 per month That S10O Is sure to
subject to no anxiety lest some unforeseen cal1m-
ity, some bank failure or business collapse, will
cut of his monthly allowance.
He Is employed but SIX hours each day. Sup
pose he take eight for sleep, and II he requires
four tor eating and physical exercise he has still
six hours of the tWeDty-four for study or for
ishly inclined, he has time to famiilGriEe himself
with allthe current COWS, as we'll Is current lite
TStoTeot the day, and to devote TO science or art
best authors in ardent and modern literature
than in the Library of Congress and other libra
ries accessible to 5he public. Nowhere can the
man Of taste and letters find more and better men
fromNhom to COPY and pattern than such as COZ
gTegate here from all sections Of thecountry and
from all QuRrters0f the world.
II the Government employee be young man,
anddesirous OF educating himself TO profession,
Columbia has its course Of Gestures and study so
arranged and timed as to accommodate this class
Ofpupils. Columbian University ard Georgetown
College, to say nothing Of Howard University,
the National Law School, &c. afford opportunL
ties unsurpassed in thoroughneBs and extent by
any in the country, and the expenses Of acquiring
an education either classical or professional are
within the salary Of any clerk in Government
employ.
abroad for Instructions. Competent masters are
here, and of beauties Of nature from which to
copy, the sceRery about Washington is sufficiently
picturesque fer any artist to exercise his most re-
lined taste and skill in painting.
If his talent inclines him 30 Journalism, he has
ample time and favorable opportunity afforded TO
If he be more anxious to accumulate money
and be inclined TO utilize his time, he may always
ind some employment to which he can turn
penny outside Of clerical dates, and thereby add
TO his salary. Let us see how he can live upon
his 800 per month. Suppose he has q wife and
two or three small children. Neat, commodiOus,
healthful and altogether respectable tenements-
houses-can be rented for from SIS to SIS per
month. 1t can be demonstrated that SIS per
month will furnish wholesome and ample articles
of food for such a family. know 1t is rarely the
case that so small a sum does suffice for proFid-
but am dealing with what can be, and not with
what is done. Add to these expenses SO for fuel,
&c, and SEQ is the maximum. Surely the balance
Of 80 per month ought to furnish clothing, Incl
dentals and something TO lay by for ''rsiny
day." But, says the dissEtlhed clerk, we must
have 4 servant, or at least a laundress. and, on
occasional days, help; must have occasional
amusements-a luxury which costs. Did your
mother Keep servants when you were q boy upon
the home IarmY piant sne nnd time 70 wash
dirty children and four or i've more hired men
upon the farm? Is It more hardship for the
wife of the Government clerk to work for her hus-
band and children than for the farmers or the me-
ehanic's wife?
This constant complain Of the poor, over
worked, il-pRid Government employee is tire
some and siekening. Let him keep at his work
and do It we'll. Let him spend his money only for
necessities and reasonable Injuries. Let him
cultivate his own mind and the minds of his wife
and children. Let him attend to his own business
leave the dTam-shop and the tobacconist to him
self and to those who can md no better resorts.
Let his Dublic amuSpments he reasonable and
rare, and his home pleasures constant and chaste,
and there is no difficulty in the way Of the Gov
eminent clerk Giving within his income" and
DESIRE His industry and economy will surely
provide q balance which he can lay by for
emergencies in after life. The truth is, no class
of employees are so we'll paid and so mildly
worked as are those in the service Of the United
States. H.