The Evening critic., 1882-07-25
The Printers Protest.
10 ne EditOrof 7ne Eccnmq Critic:

TO The Editor OF The ErcntnQ Critic:
The printers In tho employ of the Govern.
ment have been, for some time past, endeav-
oring to induce Congress to restore their wages
TO what they were before the late financial
panic
or the propriety OF their efforts and the Jus.
ness OF their claims, no reasonable man Will
doubt.
1t should be sufficient for Congress to know
that the present cost OF living IN Washington
is such as to render IL noxt to impossible for
man with an average family TO enjoy tho ordi
nary comforts OF life on salary OF $500 per
day.
A little reflection, combined with some
slight knowledge OF tho principles OF political
economy, will be sufficient to convince the
dullest statesman that the price OF labor
should be regulated to suit the cost OF living;
also that the peace and prosperity OF q coun-
try depends largely upon the condition OF Its
laboring classes; that tho laborer should ro-
ceive sufficient wages to render his family
comfortable and to educate his children, and
that to incroase the emoluments OF tho work.
ing classes must necessarily reduce the cost of
maintaining penitentiaries and benevolent In
stltutions. Nearly all the crimes committed
are, committed by the uneducated. vast
liable Institutions are the children of the
poor. Whyl Because the parents OF these
children did not receive sufficient recon.
pense for their labor TO enable them to pro-
vide the necessary medical attendance, com
Portable clothing, proper diet, or suillcient
schooling, and because Ignorance begets
crime.
But tho printers have other and still stronger
reasons for asking an increase OF wages:
First-It was not tho intention OF Congress,
when II reduced the printers pay, that they
should work for the low rate ofwages they are
now receiving.
In 1877 when the reduction was made,
money was deqrer than at present. That Is, O
dollar was worth more than It now is, because
II would procure more of tho necessaries OF
life. Three dollars was worth more than four
Is now; that Is, II would bring Its possessor
more objects OF desire. SO that in reality the
printers are now getting only about three
iourths as much pay as they were then receiy-
gress intended they should have. In other
| words, Congress reduced the rate OF their pay
cents day ana natural aTs
| one dollar more. Justice demands that this
| should bo remcdied.
second-Congress should not, without sum-
| Client cause, discriminate against certain
| class OF Government employees. For instance,
| the clerks In the several Departments not only
receive much higher rate Of compensation
| than the printers, but they enjoy many other
| advantages: They are not required to labor
| as many hours aday; they are given month 8
With and m wsor ssnss .ns
| their wages are Justly allowed to continue.
| On the other hand, II printer loses single
hour, no matter upon what pretense, that
| so far from being permitted to take a month g
| leave OF absence with pay las with tho clerks),
| the printers are often required TO take an an
| nuai leave OF absence for from one to three
months without pay.
| Why this discrimination? You will answer |:
Because the clerks are required to perform a
| higher class OF labor; that Is, II takes moro
| time and expense to fit man for the duties OF
| q olerk than for those OF printer. But such
Is not tho fact; for u every clerk were REQUIRED
| have consumed no moro time In procuring II
than printer does in learning his trade. a
boy who wishes TO become printer must first
be possessed of q common school education
| before he Is fitted to enter on his apprentice.
ship. Then he must serve from three to seven
years before he is thoroughly skilled in the
| art. II ho wish to possess himself OF q col
| leglate, he must 1rst acquire O common school
education; then collegiate course Of from
three 70 seven years Win nt him for the
generally paid enough to support him during
his apprenticeship, while tho college student
must not only support himself, but pay for his
instruction. But there are almost as many
printers as there are clerks In the Depart
ments who have acquired a collegiate educa
tlon. II any man doubt OF this, let him inves-
tigate, Again, there are few, II any, clerk
ships, that we could not find printers compe
tent TO NIL. II there Is, then, any discrimina
tion, II should DO in favor OF those who hay,
spent the most time and money In acquiring
| special skill.
Third Congress should not set an example
OF parsimony In tho matter OF compensation
for skilled labor. For lust in proportion u
the wages OF laborers viii be the education o
their childreni and lust in proportion to tn
pense Of the Government In maintaining tn,
laws and supporting.the public burdens.
Fourth-That tho printers pay Is now
grossly insufficient to supply them with tn,
ordinary comforts Of life must be apparent b
all who are not willfully blind or hopeessl
ignorant. Tho present Public Printer sees an
deplores this fact, is anxious that It should b
remedied, and has expressed his willingness
| TO enlighten Congress on the subject at an
time, and II all the facts wero known and al
preeiated by Congress, do not think ther
could be found single member sufficient
deprayod 10 vote against an increase OF tn
printer wages.
7 Fiith-When the price of labor Is not rogu
, lated BY legislative enactments, It Will natu
= ally conform TO the price OF other things. Blu
when It is so regulated, the legislature shoul
I alter II 10 suit the times. Congress seemed
recognize this fact In 1877. II 1t were tru
: then, IL 10 equally true now. When money
dear, that is, when a large amount OF otht
products can be had for a small amount
/ money, wages may be reduced. When mout
. 10 cheap, or, when small amount OF otht
products can be had for a large amount
/. money, wages should be increased. That sue
is now the case, / think any person who ~
nishes marketmoney Will readily admit.
3 SUFFERER.
. "AIderney Dairy Wagons"
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