The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-12

employ Tor about thirty years and is re-
celVlhg the hl2hest salary paid TO clerks.
On account OF his age aud increasing mfr
mites he is no longer abe to do his work.
he has been away a great deal on sick
IeaVe, ana now he acknowledges what he
ever did before, that he can't do the work
he came In TO ask to be transferred to
some desk where the work was light. |
told MIN that | thought such a change
would be advisable, but said that of course
MS salary would have TO be reduced. | said
Il at the other clerks who have been IN the
once Tor some time and were efficient re-
ce!ved the salaries of the lower grades because
tnere were 10 vacancies in the higher grades.
Id would not be fair. however, | added to
make them do the work of the higher
grade while receiving the pay of lower
grade The old man was unwilling to
accept the change In his salary. He wanted
the old pay. He said of course had the
authority TO make the change, but he would
never consent to it"
"Perheps he is in straitened circum-
stances" suggested the listener, ''and can't
afford to have the reduction made
Nonsense" was the reply, ''he has been
receiving good salary for years, and has
been careful and has accumulated enough,
l understand, to live ON for the rest of his
life. But he don't want to give up what he
has got, and this is not the only instance.
L find In this bureau that the high salaried
places are filed, as a rule, with old men
who have been here a good many years.
The places with lower salaries are filed
with active young men, and it often hap
pens that they have to do not only their
own work but that of the old clerks who
receive good deal more pay. Now it
seems to me that this state of affairs is not
good business. The object of this bureau
IS to perform certain very important
part of the government business.
| Ii it was conducted on principles
instead of on sentiment largely there would
| De very radical change made. These old
men, when they are no longer able TO do
the work, ought to step aside and give
| the younger men chance. At least they
ought to be willing to change places, and
| accept such a salary as they can earn.
| They have been receiving good pay for
| years, and no doubt they have earned all
| they have received. The government is a
| prompt paymaster. 1t never shuts down
in dull times or makes a reduction in wages.
| Year in and year out it is always the same.
| In other employmentS men have to take
| the chances, and this is an element which
| never enters into the calculation of gov
| ernment employee. As long as he behaves
he is sure of his pay twice every month.
| II am going to try" added the official
''to make reform in this bureau and see
| IL eOtue VI 1ue Inequalities can not De
| righted. | want to run this bureau on
business principles. | know that no good
| business man would approve of the present
| Methods
The official added that he was new tc
| department life, but it seemed to him that
his views had the merit of being practical
AS to whether he would be able to carry
them out remained to be seen. He alsC
said that when he spoke of old men he
meant inefficient clerks of all ages and both
| sexes.