Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-09
THE GOVERNMENT CLERKS.
Their Lot Not a Happy One.

The many people In Washington who make
their living In government employ are, as q
rule, considerably torn up In mind. They are
hopeful of continuation OF the republican
party In power, yet very anxious about results.
Their interest in politics is at the highest pitch.
When they pick up newspaper they Invariably
read the political news before looking at any
thing else. In some Of the offices public busl-
ness is impeded by the absorbing discussion OF
politics. There is an unsettled feeling which
bangs over all the departments Here and there
win be found a clerk who believes that Han
COCK, If elected, will not make SO many
changes" There are also those who content
three or four months to learn their duties, and
that 1t would take the average democrat the
same time to get his hand In. With out rev
exceptions, however, the clerks believe that aai
republicans, without any delay worth putting
any faith in. There is always an unsettled con-
ditlon OF things In the departments just before
presidential election; but never have the
clerks been so torn up as now. Many OF them
have houses, which they are paying for In tn-
stallments. Very few OF them have any money
ahead. AS rule, they always keep pace with
their salaries. The men with families are many
OF them behindhand to the butcher, the baker
and the candlestick maker. Since the Cincin-
natl convention there has been
SPIRIT OF ECONOMY
abroad in the departments, especially among
ing clerk before pay day have decreased In mum.
Der. The household expenses have been kept
down. I'VE want TO save enough" they say, ''i1
worse comes to worse Ia the person OF Hancock
to get out OF town. The walking is not good il
March," Merchants have watched the sudden.
~ developed economical habits OF the govern.
employ6 with deep concern. The cigar men
around the departments and the lunch factories
man near the Treasury to THE STAR reporter ~
don't make anything like what did four months
ago. Men who used to buy two or three live
cent cigars every day, don't smoke at all now
buy em three for ten" If this thing keeps uI
/ am going out OF the business"
WHAT THE LUNCH MAN SAYS.
A lunch f1end told the reporter that the
clerks used to take twenty-five and thirty
cent lunches and glass of beer or a stovepipe,
But 1t is different now. They generally buy a
sandwich or piece OF pie and drink glass OF
than fifteen cents on lunch now" with Sigh.
Despite this forced economy the clerks win not
ind themselves by any means saving fortune
Somehow or other with exceptions here and
there, as already stated. they seem to live right
up to their salaries, no matter how large Or
small. chief OF one of the divisions In the
II don't believe there is a clerk under
me who has saved anything to speak
Of have studied the thing pretty closely.
The only employ6 who saves money Is the
money TO loan and often do little business In
that way. don't know why it is, but the
clerk, as a rule manages to spend all be makes
Promotions don't do any good Let man be
raised from 81 200 to 81 400 or 81 600 clerk and
instead OF the difference being saved he viii
live just that much better and wonder how Ia
the world he ever got along on 81 200. The
higher they get the better they live; but they
don't save anything. Yes, l suppose, as you
say, the come easy, go easy trait in human
nature has agood deal TO 90 with 1t. If there Is
change of administration don't know what
many poor devils with families are going to do ,
ask as to the condition OF the walking from
here to different points the frame of mind
or the average government employG is not a
happy one