National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-28
AMATEUR WATERS.
a Correspondent who Is Oppressed win
Fear That the Grade OF Department
RespoctnblIity Aloy BE Lowered.

Respectnbllny May BE Lowered.
70 NE Edaor
The public, as we'll as the great majority Of
the clerks, owe you their best thanks for
your article in yesterdays REPUBLICAN con.
ccrning the question Of department employees
hiring out as waitors at the public and private
receptions and dinners which are such fca-
lures in Washington society. Leaving the
professional walters to take caro- OF the
departmental "amatcurs," propose, by your
leave, to strike at higher game-higher- sal
aricd game--thau the cOlored messcngers TO
which your article has reference--h frct, ut
clerks holding high aud responsible places in
the departments. q
In the first place, permit me to say, and
feel but echo public suntment-l know l
echo the sentiment Of the department. Gnu
plOyCs--thGt the several government depart
monts should and do carry with them an
amount of responsibility sufficient to save
any man, no matter how we'll brought up, or
what the social standing of his family may be,
from any sense of degradation in tine accept
auce of u clorbship theroin; nay, clersbius
in any of them is accepted with certain de-
gree of pride by the representatives of the
best families in the land when tho turn Of
fortunes wheel forces them to seek honest
and honorable employment
The tradition OF the departments MY own
experience goes back to the days Of Webster
aud Marcy aud this spirit has prevailed UP
to u very recent period, demanded n goodly
share of gentlcmanly conduct and deport-
mcmt, and, of course, that intelligence which
is ever the conComitant Of decent breeding
Of their employees. As proof that this feeling
prevails, even to-day, IL is only necessary TO
say that many OF the most prominent society
people in Washington, ladies aud gentlemen,
are clerks in the departments.
All this fine sentiment and decent pride in
position is, however, being shamolossly and
insdiously sappcd, and unless the heads of
departments aud the clerks themselves insist
on keeping up the manhood and womanhoOd
standard Of the service we will soon sec well
paid clerks peddling matches at night TO turn
another penny.
Let me give you n case in point: In com.
pany with fellow clerk | attended a recep.
tion given n few evenings ago by one of
Washingtou's leading society ladies. At tho
supper table hired waiter on the guests was
a person who, my friend assured me, was u
81, 200 clerk in what is considered the select
and high-toned department Of Washington.
Remembering the old time clerk and knowing
tho many ladies and gentlemen who are my
own associates in my department. | could
scarcely credit my friend, but discovered on
further inquiry that it was no joke, but that
this 81 200 clerk, holding one OF the most i'm.
portant positions in government department.
publicly waits upon somebody's table every
night, thereby adding to his salary at least
800 per month. This has been going on for
years with, at least, one moro waiter-clerk IN
the same department., and while a large
amount of Indignation has been felt by his
fellow clerks, no open protests have been
made against the degradation and insult, the
offender being under tho special protection of
the powers" Perhaps he discounts when he
waits on their tables
Pushing my inquiries further l found that
almost every waiter present at the foregoing
reception was a messenger in tho same high
toned department save this 81, 200 waiter
clerk" l will postpone the consideration Of
other interesting points of tho ques.
ton, showing how the decency of
departments is sullied, and how legitimate
trades and professions are injured by
the ''double-gocrs," who being we'll paid for
their seven hours labor, can afford to take
outside jobs at lower figures than persons
This outrage on public rights demands imme-
diate reform. 1t would seem to be futile to
expect such reform from within departments
which have permitted the disgrace to grow
to its present proportions. THE REPUBLICAN,
therefore, can render no greater service both to
the respectable employees in the departments
and to the public than by insisting that gov
ernment clerks shall contine themselves to
their legitimate duties, and give others
chance to earn livelihoods also; and this rule
should apply to all-from the messenger up to
the retired army and navy officers.
AN OLD-TIME CLERK.
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a, 1884.