The Evening critic., 1882-04-01
The Cause of the Lab0rcrs and Mes.
Spnuers.


IAN issue OF the National RepubiicdR OF this
week ind the following item, VIZ, ''rhe com
mittee OF expenditures In tho Treasury De-
paltment has recommended to the Committee
Of Appropriations that the pay OF watchmen
be raised to $1,000 per year" IL Is not my
object TO say anything against this recommen-
dalton, but TO put before your readers n few
facts relative TO the case OF the assistant mes
sengers and laborers of the Treasury Depart.
ment. During the early part of the month OF
February, by the request OF the assistant mes
scngcrs and laborers, prepared n petition TO
Congress, asking that said body may be pleased
10 redress our grievances and grant US the
back pay deducted from us since July /, 1878,
as well as restore MS TO the grade and pay
which we held prior to the passage OF tho act
OF June 10. 1873.
This petition, bearing the signatures of
more than 100 employees OF the above grades,
was put into the hands OF member OF the
House of Representatives, with the request
that the course deemed best by him may be
pursued In order to secure to the petitioners
The relief so earnestly and respectfully sought,
and at the same time so justly due.
On a subsequent Interview with said Mem
her was Informed that the petition had been
put into the hands OF the Appropriations Com
mittee, and that they had not only expressed
themselves as favorable, but also said that
the heads OF Departments would be consulted,
and II hey were favorable 1t would be granted.
Upon this information Immediately organ
lied a committee OF five and waited upon the
Secretary OF the Treasury. We stated the
case plainly. and Informed him of the inten-
tion OF the Appropriations Committee, and be-
10 any inquiry made OF him by said commit
tee. ] am happy TO state the Secretary re-
ceived us most kindly, patiently listened to
our requests, questioned us as to our positions,
retained a copy OF our petition, and while he
did not commit himself by any direct promise
as TO what his answer might be, yet he In
formed us that In case he did receive such
communication he would consider the case.
Men IN our positions are liable TO lay hold Of
anything apparently favorable and take com
tort. Therefore, In this case we hoped much
from the kind manner In which we were re-
ceved.
Since the time above specified the only in
formation which have obtained is that the
committee had taken no steps as yet, but still
intend doing as before stated. My true mo-
tive in writing at this time Is to appeal to the
sympathy of the press and the public, IL per-
chance We may be benefited by any efforts in
our behalf which they may deem fit to grant,
and in order TO effect this aim and reach the
goal sought, viz, "restoration and reimburse
ment," will state q few facts and give our
| reasons for not only asking, but hoping that
justice may be done.
First-Prior to July 1, 1873, watchmen and
| laborers were paid $720 per year.
In 1850 watchmen were restored to SI2O per
year, whereas laborers were left In the same
position TO which both had been reduced on
July ], 1873, viz, 1880 per year.
Third-Prior TO July ], 1873, assistant mes
sengers We're known as messengers and were
| raid $40 per year.
Fourth-By the act of June 10, 1875 the
| Forty-nfth Congress reduced the messengers
TO the grade OF assistant messengers and only
| allowed them s72O per year, thus deducting
$40 per month; laborers being at the same
| time reduced from S720 to 5000 per year, q
loss Of IS per month-same as to watchmen.
| Fifth--In 1877 there were 53 messengers, .
| assistant messengers and 134 laborers on the
| roll OF the Treasury Department, exclusive OF
incidental laborers in Treasurer's office and
sixth-In 1873 by the act of June 10, ol
| said year, they were reduced TO 15 messen
gers, A assistant messengers, 12s laborers
| exclusive of charwomen, &c.
seventh-In 1877 the compensation pale
| messengers laborers, charwomen, incidental
lahorers, &c amounted TO S16i,913,50.
| Eighih--By the act OF June 10, 1878, tn,
compensation allowed for 1873 amounted &c
| $151, 500.
Ninth-The amount lost 10 these poor mel
in one year was S13,353.5O, and up To thi
date, upon the suppositlon that the sam
amount OF men were 10 have been employed
say for four years, the amount lost must b.
Tenth-The amount necessary to pay thes
IA messengers reduced 10 assistant messer
| gers would be $21, ,120 for the four years, an
20. 20 '' 80 ''''N 80 ''' '''' - '''
Elcventh-The sum required TO pay both |
the small mite of $51 $40; a mere drop to s
rich n Government as ours, and at the sam
time fortune 10 these poor men.
Twelfth-The reduction in the force ha
saved the Government $1,574 In this Depar
ment alone.
Now the important questions are: VIII
must Congress be Just to the watchmen an
unjust to the assistant messengers and labor
TO the performance OF the duties required b
The Departments Why raise them from tn
level Of the laborers and put them over tn
heads of messengers
think that as watchmen have heretofoi
been paid the same as laborers, the increas
OF ray to one should be Increase OF pay TO til
other, except II can be proved thai they pei
form more important duties at greater cost I
themselves Than laborers.
This can be easily proved.
| Iifst-Messengers and laborers perforl
such duties as 10 spend more for clothin
than watchmen require. Who can deny tn
| fTnisUi!
Second Messengers and laborers have q
great and even greater responsibility, ham
ling the money, huving access 10 everythii
important, whereas watchmen in the da
guard doors and at night guard rooms, &c
| securely locked, &c, by the former grade.
|, Third-Watchmen remain stationary, doll
duty faithfully,it is true,and yet nothing TO
compared 10 those OF messengers, who have
J sweep rooms, make fires, wash spittoons, al
; al the same time appear respectfully clad
order 10 perform the duties OF messengers d
day and at the close of Office hours aga
attend 10 cleaning, &C, OF rooms.
do not wish TO DO understood as sayil
anything against watchmen, but only a
, why this discrimination Congress does We
. | In raising their compensation, They merit
! but so do messengers and laborers. We q
not ask for s1,o 900 per year, but $40 and =
per month and back pay. II back pay is 4
to be given, then we do think that we ought
I be In the same plane as watchmen. The saI
Glars OF men are employed to-day as here
fore In all these grades. Union soldiers a
. watchmen, so are laborers, so are messenger
trust that all the papers in this city W
copy this article and give II as much public
as possible. We appeal 10 tho public. We
!. peal 10 Congress. We appeal 10 all who ha
influence TO grant us that aid I~Dnisite
7 secure this end. LABoRER