National Republican., 1880-07-29
Department Laborers-Aro they Worthy OF
Their Hire?

To he Editor of The National Republican:
SIR Your esteemed cotemporary, the
Post, was very Jealous, during the last few
days of the recent session, In directing public
attention to an alleged fact touching con.
structivo republican opposition to the passage
in the house of the workngmcn's cight-hour
law. Long and valued experience has devol.
oped, on the part of our legislative minority,
u large degree Of far sightedness in tho con-
sideration of measures advanced by tho oppo-
siton. They have learned TO look beyond or
beneath these seemingly innocent parliament-
ary drafts aud to detect in good season the
sinister purposes concealed. Hence II possi-
bic republican flibuster in the case above
cited.
But how fares the democratic record in this
regard2 However badly us shall be shown,
it must be said that the rebel majority in cou-
gress have but verified scriptulul prophecy.
Read and reflect Tho last legislative appro.
priation bill provides for government laboriug
service as follows Senate, / labOrer at $40,
10 at $72O; house, 1 laborcr at $50, at $500,
l3 at S72), at $500, 9 at 5000, 1 at SloO state
department, II lubOrcrs; treasury, 1i0; war,
80; navy, 10; interior, 90; postoficc, l2; ia.
dietary, 3 (; all at $500. Recapitulation Total
of capitol laboring force, 80, of which 50 re-
ccivc $720 and over; total Of depart
laborng force, 3l7 all of which receive 5000
Tho Gpitol lahorer performs only certain
manual work; his departmental brothcr--a
species Of servie factOtum-must, in certain
| bureaus, act likewise us messenger during
Office hours. It were we'll right here to note
comparatively how nicely The former pros.
pers--iesing, rs it were, in tho very
shadow of the throne y Prior to July l. 1878,
the department article WAS rated ut 500. On
that datc-of happy memory--a democratic
congress, the workingmans champion, docked
$50 from this valuation, and, in certain
| bureaus, gave to the laborcr, Instead, an oil.
| cial companOu-tho charwOinan. This swec,
creature made n triumphant debut. She
came, she saw, she conquered. She managed
in my time, and, presume, still manages
| to exc out us much fun and as very little worl,
| us her $50 wages permitted. Proportioned Ia
tho pay, her daily duties were brefand light,
but with truly feminine article size mado
them brieGer, lighter; while the results
thercof-Hs viewed, diligently cussed aud re-
| arraigned each morning by the laborer-wcrC
simply delightful to behold. The coy wielder
orbroOms may possibly have mcnded her official
| ways of late. | only speak of time when
| tho binding light Of her countenance first
beamed on department laborers, whom she was
| presumed to help.
Thus much, MIR. Editor, for democratic sym.
| pathy with the working clement Congress
| has bccu mcmorialzed aud button.holrd t.
rectify this injus,ice-to give TO the depart
mental laborer his $40 compensation again
together with a bit of bucl, pay us relish bu
| as this would uGccssilato either an exercise U
scant generosity or the retirement Of the ics
tive charwoman, our democratic Legislators re-
fuse to acccdc, Meanwhile the clerical ele
mcnt in our executive Offices continues tt
mount up each year from grade to grade, and
the laboring-messenger element to do as it Il
expected TO do, drudge aud uudgn along il
tho same i'll compensated routine. Verify "t,
| him who hath shall be given, aud iioa him
--unlucky wight !-"wlo hath not shall be
| taken away even that which no hath" IL.