National Republican., 1883-02-06
LET THEM TRY 1T THEMSELVES.
10 The Editor.

SIR: Permit me to occupy a brief space in
your widely circulating journal in behalf of
the clerks employed in the various govern
ment departments. In your issue of the third
instant you published the text Of the legisla-
tive, executive, and judicial bill, as recon-
mended by the house committee, which fixes
the hours of labor ut from $3.50 a. IN. to 4;30
p. m daily, and also provides that any em-
ploye who shall be absent from his desk more
than thirty days in any one year shall have
his salary deducted for each day thus absent,
unless he shall procure physicians certih-
cate of illness, &c. Also, all semi-monthly
payment of salaries are to be suspended.
Now, Mr. Editor, in the interest of justice
and fair dealing, let us scrutinize the said
bill, and make practical application of It,,
Also, let us go little further ANA contrast
the position, circumstances, and services per-
formed by the clerk with that of members of
congress. / intend no reflection upon any
congressman in saying that large number
holding clerical positions in the departments
are the equals at least, in every respect of
many holding seats in our legislative halls
have no apology to make for that class Of
clerks who are disposed to shirlS their duty in
any manner whatever, but for those who are
faithful and diligent in the discharge of thoir
duties who are gentlemen, and entitled TO the
same respect and treatment as gentlemen in
other avOcations of life it is humlinting in
the extreme to be subject to the rules usually
enforced in our penitentiaries. AS regards
the increased hours Of labor, / would invite
the attention of NJ, Cs ia tho fact that it Is
the recognized law of the land, among all
banking institutions, that six hours Of close
mental labor is all that man can endure and
il is all they require, Is the labor Of the
departments, where the banking of the whole
country is largely done, any the less arduous
and conhuing2 If our wise congressman think
il is of so trivial a nature, would suggest that
rnft tIatN, in
the department of the treasury, and work
faithfully eight hours each day for thirty sue
cessivo days-nO doubt the secretary would,
upon application, give them that privilege
they then would in conformity to the old
adage (the proof Of the pudding is in the eat
ing), be little better able to judge of the OPP
preston the proposed bill will produce,
In regard to deductinG the salary of a clerk
whois absent in excess Of thirty days during
the year, i will say frankly that thirty days
vacation in year, with pay, is very liberal
indeed, and ordinarily ought to satisfy any
reasonable person but there are times IN life
when man is temporarily i'll and unht to
perform service at his desk, yet it is hardly
necessary to call Il physician but the pro-
posed bill cOmpels him to do so at AN expense
of SO, that he may thereby secure his full pay.
Again, suppose q clerk, faithful and dillgent
during tho entire year, applies for and re-
ceiyes q leave of absence for thirty days Soon
after hil return sickness on death inyades his
family and IL becomes necessary for him to be
ahsent from his desk iGw days. lie, not
blmg personally i'll, cannot produce physi-
clan's certificate and must therefore, lose his
salary for all such absence in excess 81 thirty
days, although he may go 10 the depart
ment and toll night after night ms many, very
many do, in order to dispose of the work that
accumulated ON his desk during his absence.
is 1t right and just that under such circum-
stances a good, honest, and faithful clerk shall
be deprived Of few dollars, when the gov
ernment loses nothing by his temporary alb
senGe?
The character, habits, and qualifications of
Q clerk soon become known to the heads of