Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-11-04
roo MANY eoox-keePERs.

Arc Well Paid.
bookkeeping as profession is be-
ginning, like many others, to feel the
influence of popular folly" sud an
old bOok-keeper, In reference to the
present condition and outlook of the
calling. "Men, induced doubtless by q
mistaken idea as to the commercial
opportunities offered by metropolitan
cities, keep focking to the great CEN
tors Of trade and industry, under the
impression that they Gun easily get re-
munerative situations. Young men,
too, keep the commercial colleges we'll
filled, and after u few terms of study
graduate as professional book-keep-
ers' The result is that the ranks are
filed to overlooking, and many I'm able
accountant is obliged to take subor-
dinate place other than that for which
he fitted himself. This is especially
true OF the great commercial centers,
where q slight depression in trade
sufficcs to make itself felt in the de-
mand and remuneration of competent
book-keepers.
Competition in our circles is there
of the men who have proved their
worth and practically made themselves
a necessity to particular houses, stick
ling for price Is out Of the question.
The rank and file are glad to get what
they can, and there are hundreds Of
book-keepers in Chicago working for
ordinary clerks wages. Most men,
however experienced, have to begin
low and work up. An inexperienced
man, fresh from a commercial college,
where he has acquired o thorough
knowledge Of the theoretical part Of
the work, will ordinarily command
from $5 to IS week. After year of
practical work he will get from $50 to
500 month. The average pay of men
of long standing will not, think, run
above 800 month. OF course there
a"e book-keepers in the city who are
getting $4,000, 50, 500, or even more
year; but they are the exceptions. l
am satisfied that O canvass of all tho
stores protesting to have book-keepers
would reveal the fact that the ma iority
of accountants got little more pay than
the average clerk.
''Ehere was o time-and that was
not long Ego, either-whcn the demand
for book-kcepers was greater than tho
SUPPLY. The commercial colleges, for
instance, found no difficulty in secur-
ing places for their graduates. just to
ascertain the condition Of affairs and
see what competition men in the call
ing now have to meet, made an ex-
pertinent during tho last week of
February. / put in local paper an
advertisement for competent book
keeper who was willing to work for
from 90 to 80 a week, promotion being
contingent upon circumstances. A sim
gle insertion of the advertisement
brought me within three days 229 let
tiers OF application for the position.
Most OF the letters, which in point OF
diction and penmanship were excelq-
tionally good. were from men of prae-
tical experience. The ages of the ap-
plicants varied from eighteen to fifty
years, and the periods Of actual serv-
ice rs book-keepers ran from two to
eight years. Only few were novices
in the work This showing tells a
story, and doubt not that it will be a
surprise to the majority of citizens.
The Inference is that there are too
many men seeking positions as book
keepers and that competition has
ruined wages.
at must not be overlooked, how
ever, that good many of the So
called book-kecpers are in nowise
competent. An adequate course in q
commercial college is of vast benefit
in the calling. but theory after oil is q
secondary consideration. Many NOR
chants ure dead SGT against college
mon. What is needed is ability to
meet actual exigencies, and that is
something that every book-keeper
docs not possess. A fair handwriting.
rapidity, tho ability to debit and credit
accounts and add correctly, are in
dispensable requisites for tho calling.
but after alt they are compatible with
certain degree of autolnatism that is
any thing but desirable in an employee.
Clerks work themselves ND to better