The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-02-11
Advice to a Department Clerk.

A bill now before Congress which proposes
to extend the working day for persons en-
ployed In the executive departments from
seven hours to eight hours, has been the
means OF calling out from clerk his views
on this proposition, and moro particularly
on his own position as q man employed by
the Administration.
Tho most important objection against the
new bill In the mind OF this clerk, as we learn
from our esteemed contemporary. tho Boston
Herald, is that the increased obligation to
work for eight hours day instead Of seven
will degrade the service. Yet, 1t is evident
that this member Of the ofaceholding army
doesn't think very highly Of his present lot
In life. We quote his language:
"rhs tone Of the departments 10 none too high now
II 10 exceedingly dhicult for Government clerk to
keep h.s selfrespsct A. It 10 now. he hardly b
called man. Business men consider him an mbecile.
congressman treat him slave. Society regards him
~ an ass And women Look upon him ~ . cingnE. de-
pendent creature. whom II they were to marry they
would have 70 support Extend hs day to eight hours
and you pu him down another peg Tho most ignorant
stone breaker hod carrier In the Government employ
10 only required work eight hours. Let Congressman
have some mercy their relatives and friends II
only for the sake Of having decent connections"
This Is probably tho opinion Of one who
has been long In the business In arguing
against the proposed change, he describes the
situation In which he finds himself after hav-
ing been for some time servant Of the Gov
eminent. It Is possible that this particular
clerk has been specially unfortunate In pre-
serving his self-respect, or In impressing upon
bis acquaintances who In no wise depend on
the Government for their living, or upon 30
ciety In general, that he IL . sensible person.
Perhaps the young woman whom he sought
In marriage was too ambitious to think OF
wedding any man with less than two thou
sand year salary; or perhaps she didn't
really care for him. According to this clerk.
his luck seems bad enough to justify tho
inference that II he who appreciates his sit
uation 30 keenly, were to have his life to live
over again, he would turn his attention to
some other means OF livelihood than work
ing for the Government. But although the
statement may be exaggerated, We imagine
that this clerk expresses the sentiments of .
largo number Of bis department associates,
who. In one way and another, are disap.
pointed with their present occupation.
And yet, II the case has been correctly
stated, and II, as rule. q Government clerk
is really such an unlucky sort Of character,
1t is mainly owing to the clerks themselves.
It isn't question Of working seven or eight
hours q day. Other clerks In private CON-
Germs often work much more than eight
hours a day without running tho slightest
danger OF being treated with less oonsidera-
ton than II they worked only six hours.
Very hkely the majority OF these dissatisfied
clerks Is composed of lot Of fellows of
little or NO enterprise, some ono OF whose
relatives had boon elected to Congress. These
young men, being too lazy or too incompe-
tent to work at homo or to strike out for
themselves In other directions, went to
Washington for tho purpose Of obtaining
q rousing salary from the Government
without caring much whether they earned 1t
or not. And now they find things very
different from their expectations. Their
routine duties In the departments do not
consideration from their friends In bust
ness that are shown to mon engaged In
enterprises the success of which depends on
their own abilities. The Congressman who
managed to procure their clerkships, instead
OF inviting them to dinner, evinoe no hcsita-
ton In asking of them trivial or perhaps re-
pugnant services In return for the favor of
billeting them on the Government pay rolls.
huu. wot6tO VI ohs Woiuou Oon beotn ouXlOuS
to marry them.
Well, there Is nothing TO do but to get out
OF the departments. These clerks had better
leave their present business and turn their
hands with all possible energy to max
ing independent men Of themselves. Let
them resign their clorkships. present their
compliments to the Congressman who
procured their situations. and cay that
, they are OF for other pursuits. Thus
they will relieve the Industrious and
competent clerks OF the odium which the
presence OF useless lot OF fellows brings
upon the departments: and when they shall
DO In tho receipt Of wages which they arc
conscious Of earning fully. without obliga-
tions to their relations In or out OF Congress,
they will meet with no lack Of respect from
their fellow citizens, and they will find that