National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-23

Tho question OF how TO live on gov
ernment salary in Washington is one
that has troubled civil servants eve
since the business of the country required
clerical service to carry IL on. One Of the
earliest records Of the condition Of tho
clerk is found in q letter addressed to
tho editor Of the National hteliigmcer of
this city and printed in that jour nal
fifty years ago. II Is a complaint aud
protest against the then popular notion
that the government clerks lot was u
happy one, undisturbod by any Of the
vulgar annoyances that tended in those
days, ne now, to make the poor man
unhappy. Ho says: 81 am one Of the
many unfortunate individuals whom
adverse circumstances have driven to
seek office under the general governments.
My application WINS successful, and for
short time was happy in the belief that
comfortable and certain support had been
obtained for my family. My salary
is $500 per annum, an incamo which in.
the state from whence ! camo would be
deemed am pie for the respectable main
tththCb Vi mum kpI ihhhii1 hhhh hiihNs
derived my opinion of tho Importance
of the advantages to bo derived from the
Off ce which l was appointed to fill from
those which an office of similar income
would confer in the state where re-
sided. There comfortable boarding can
be procured for So per month, and all tho
necossaries of life are In proportion. But
mark the difference between there and
hero. In this city respectable board can.
not DO obtained for less than "a per week;
the ordinary price is So.
have q wifo and infant child, and am
compelled to hire nurse. On my mr.
rival here | calculated the expense Of
keeping house and boarding, and ascer-
tanned that tho latter, with small
family, was tho cheapest. Tho least for
which have been able to obtain board is
$40 week for my family. The fire,
which IL is necessary to keep up con-
stantly In cold weather, subjects me to q
monthly expense of SC. Ny salary
averages $6666 per month, from which
deduct for board $i333; wood, So; nurse
hire, 50; washing, 49, candles, 30 cents;
nourishment for child, SO; medical at
tendance (ayeraged), s.; medicine, $1.50;
total, $6i.33, and there will be left a balance
of $2.33 each month, or $27.06 per annum
to be appropriated to the clothing of my
self and family, and to meet contingen-
cies. In tho foregoing enumeration of
items / have omitted every expenditure
that is not absolutely ono of necessity.
| There are many little comforts of life,
which IN individual of more extended
means would consider indispensable, that
/ am compelled to forego. In the depart
ment where i am employed there are q
NhAr nf IL al et.,. ..
other. OF the eighty-two clerks belong
ing to the department, forty eight receive
less than 81 900 per annum, while eighteen
receive above that amount"
The situation of the clerks of to-day is
no loss irksome in spite of the large in
crease in the rate of pay which has taken
place in the half century.
There are 5000 more of u.s." said n
modern department clerk rs he stood
upon the threshold Of an i street dining
room, and prodded around his mouth with
wooden toothpick. THAT is the result
of very careful census of cheap diners
that have taken, with the chances In
favor of an extra thousand or so not
heard from, transients, and attaches of
| congress-"
"You are n fourth.class clerk, be-
lieve," said THE REPUBLICAN reporter
addressed, ARE tho other cheap diners
equally poor and deserving?" ss"9a coy
MANY Of thom have to struggle along
on considerably loss than that, while
have seen members Of congress and chiefs
of bureaus, prosperous merchants, and
capitalists sitting at the tables eating 25
cent dinners.'
How do you manage for your other
meals?"
81 got 15.cent break fast and 10-cent
lunch, which, with the dinnor, costs me
just $1s2.50 per year. Lots Of US clerks
live just this way, and arc healthy and
happy. Save money on il? Well, i don't
know how much others may manage to
lay by, but my share is mighty small.
can live cheaper here for the necessaries
of life, except for rent, than where l came
from but somehow l don't save any
thing, though Iget more salary"
This ia a fair sample of number of
similar confessions, though many clerks
are owners of the houses they live in and
few others besides. Not few Of the
unfortunates who live up to or above
their incomes arc also afflicted by the re-
suits of anticipating their pay. Ten per
cent. a month is common rate of inter
est, and that is generally all they pay
from month to month, notes of this kind
run ming, with necessary renewals, for
years. The lady clerks are, as rule the
most provident, many purchasing fine,
large houses, and furnishing them for
boarding purposes.
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