The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-09-10
A GOVERNMENT SALARY.
The Straits Some of the Clerks Are Reduced
To on Many Occasions.


TO on Many Occasions.
Washington Republican.
The question of bow to live on govern
ment salary in Washington is one that has
troubled civil servants ever since the bust
ness of the country required clerical service
to carry it on. One of the earliest records of
the condition of the clerk is found in a let
ter addressed to the editor of the National
Intelligencer. of this city, and printed
in that journal L,.; fifty years d ago;
against the then popular notion that the
Government clerks lot was happy one, I'M
disturbed by any OF the vulgar annoyances
that tended in those days, as now, to make
the poor man unhappy. He says: 81 am
one Of the many unfortunate individuals
whom adverse circumstances have driven to
seek Office under the General Government.
My application was successful, and for
short time was happy in the belief that a
comfortable and certain support had been
obtained for my family. My salary is
$500 per snnum, an income which,
would be deemed ample for the
respectable maintenance of a much larger
family than mine. derived my opinion of
the importance of the advantages to be de-
rived from the office which was appointed
to fill from those which an Office of similar
income would confer in the State where
resided. There comfortable boarding can be
procured for IS per month, and all Themes
saries of life are In proportion. But mark
the difference between there and here. In
this city respectable board can not be OBJ.
taided for less than 81 per week; the ordi-
nary price is 50.
compelled to hire nurse. On nv arrival
here 1 calculated the cost of keeping house
and boarding and ascertained that the latter,
with small family, was the cheapest. The
least for whiah i have been able to obtain
board is $40 week for my family. The fire,
which ii is necessary to keep up constantly
in cold weather, subjects me to a monthly
expense OF So. My salary averages $1,000 per
month, from which deduct for board S43 80;
| wood. SO; nurse hire, SO; washing SO; can
dies so cents; nourishment for child, So;
medical attendance (averaged), 81; medi-
cine, $3.50; total, s6433, and there
will be left balance of 81 80 each
month, or $27.7G per annum to be ap-
! propriated TO the clothing of myself
and family, and to meet contingencies In
| the foregoing enumeration of items l have
omitted every expenditure that is not abso-
iutely one of necessity. There are many
little comforts of life. which an individual
of more extended means would consider in
dispensable, that l am compelled to forego.
| In the department where / am employed
there are a greater number of clerks than in
any other. OF the eighty-two clerks belong
ing to the department., forty-eight receive
receive about that amount"
The situation of the clerks to-day is no
| less irksome in spite of the large Increase in
the rate OF pay which has taken place in the
| half century.
There are 5000 more of u.s." said
modern department clerk. as he stood upon
the threshold of an f street diningroom and
prodded around his mouth with a wooden
toothpick. That is the result of a very care.
full census of cheap dinners that i have
taken, with the chances in favor OF an extra
thousand or so not heard from, transients,
and attaches of Congress"
You are fourth class clerk, i believe"
said the Republican reporter addressed.
Are the other cheap diners equally poor
and deservIDg?"
MANY of them have to struggle along on
less than that, while have seen members of
Congress and chiefs of bureaus prosperous
merchants and capitalists sitting at the Ia
bles eating twenty-fve-cent dinners"
How do you manage for your other
meals2'
81 get 15-cent breakfast and 10-cent
lunch. which, with the dinner, costs me just
$1S250 per year. Lots OF clerks live Just
this way, and are healthy and happy. Save
money on it? Well, / 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 / came from, but somehow
don't gave anything, though / get more
| salary"
This is fair sample of number of SIM
liar confessions, though many clerks are