St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-06
GOVERNMENT CLERKS.

What Val Happen to Them Generally
Fih 4 Change of Adna mis- ration.
Washington Corr. Of the Phila Times
This is the last month of an unbroken
domination in the government by the Repub-
lican party for the period of twerty -four years.
1t brings thousands of employees in Wash
ington alone face to face with an uncertain
future. Since the revolution of November
it has been contemplated, with conflicting
hopes, doubts and fears. Many have EN-
ployed the interval in putting their houses in
order, preparatory for the intending change.
With the majority it is hardship they hardly
know how to grapple with. To such as
have pluck 1t will prove blessing. OF the
thousan ds who feel they have no chance of
remaining or at best have only frail hold
on their positions very few will say that taking
service in the govern ment was not mistake.
In material sense only select few are
better off than when they entered. For the
years during which they have regularly
drawn and spent their salaries the gains to
be counted are small at the largest, in most
cases none at all. The years are gone, but
what can they show for them! Whether the
salaries have been hundreds or thousands
the general fact is the same. With some
time has brought increased needs and the
struggle is harder at the end than at the
beginn ming. Could the fact be known, it
would be found that the verdict would be
little short of unanimity against going into
the government service for men and wo-
men capable of entering other avenues OF
employment. "Nearly twenty years ago
eagerly
ACCEPTED A CLERKsHIP,
With thousand dollar salary. Ny pres
ent salary is fourteen hundred dollars. I
have not months living ahead. am fitted
for nothing else-at least. feel so. lam
worse off than when / began, for T have
increased responsibilities, saving nothing of
loss of years. With my salary, were certain
of it, l could continue to live as I have done.
But feel that my door is marked-that my
time is up. lis a narrowing thought. My
days are wretched, my nights sleepless.
Every hour in my mind is the peace-destroy-
ing question, What an to dog 1t was a
great mistake to remain here. Ny case is
that of hundreds and hundreds of others.
1t is not so bad as some. I speak from
personal knowledge"
This was said by man on the down grade
Of life. If he only knew it there is employ
ment awaiting him somewhere. But he will
have to work harder, and most likely, for
time at least, for less pay. Work. Why, it
is what the greater part have forgotten or
never know what it is. Government posi-
tions-clerliships in general-rust men out.
They are the best paid and the least worked
men and women of any equal number in the
land. That few save nothing
TELLS THE REST.
But there are some-fewest by far In num-
ber--who have saved something; handsome,
the fewer still. These are the thrifty by ma
ture, the saving and the thoughtful for the
future. To be dismissed will be no real
hardship to them. 1t will be change i'm
mediately for the better. The rest will have
to realize this through hardship and strug-
gle for which generally they are better able
than they think.
But whatever the condition of the present
force in govern ment employ, were they to
speak they would almost in one voice say to
the hundreds and thousands who hope for
similar positions as the result of the recent
political change: Halt! Do anything else
that Is honest" Had the change of admin
istration come sooner the state Of these GOV
eminent employees would
NOT BE so BAD
as it Is. What, without serious reflection
they were regarding all these years as ben
EFT they now know was an evil. They have
sacrificed years, energy, self assertion and
their better faculties for the alluring ease
1t will be we'll for their successors If an earl
Ter change comes to drive them forth, olsen
chanted, to employments which, though the
pay be no better, the enticements TO spend
all will be fur less.
But there are hard worked men and wom-
en- IN the departments. The worst is they
get no better pay than the lazy and incom-
petent. The bard-worked and competent
ought to go up higher and the lazy and in
competent down and out altogether. That
would be glorious reform and glory enough
for any administration. II Is the only thing
that will benefit the service. 1t is the really
honest thing to do. The Republican party
deserve to be expelled for not doing it. The
Democratic party will secure a lasting hold
by doing 1t. II the impending change could
Insure the survival Of the httest the country
would have conferred on It great and lasting
benefits. Many believe that this is the piv-
OF on which the future Of parties in q great
degree hangs.