Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-05

A Glimpse Of Life Among tho Govern.
ment Clerks-Some Good Reasons Why
q Place in tho Employ Of the Govern
ment IL Not to BE Desired.
Especial Correspondence
The Senate closed its doors and put up
the shutters, when the extra session was
adjourned, but legislative business Gid not
wholly cease. The Offices of the Secretary
and Sergeant-at-arms of the Senate are
open on every working day Of the year.
The Secretary, General McCook, and the
Sergeant-at-arms. Colonel Canaday, are
seldom in the city during a recess, but
their employees are on hand daily to attend
to business. "Ours is an Office Of record, -
said one Of the clerks in the Office of the
Secretary. awe are liable to be called upon
any day or any hour for certified copy Of
bill, resolution or petition which has been
filed away, possibly for years Senators
drop in here at all sorts OF unexpected, and
had almost said unreasonable, hours.
remember one summer having read in the
papers that Senator Palmer, Of Michigan,
had started for California for an extended
trip; and two days later that gentleman
walked into this Office and asked for copy
Of bill which had been introduced by him
during the previous session. True, when
Congress has adjourned, we do not have
the daily rush Of work, but there is always
something to do, and Upon no day could we
safely leave the Office closed. Ordinarily,
however, the work is so light, in fact SO
near nothing during long vacation, that
we take leaves of absence in pairs, always
leaving about one-half of the clerical force
on duty. Each of US gets about sixty days
leave during the vacation of the Senate,
and that is all that a reasonable lover
OF hard work ought to ask. The chief
clerk grants us our leaves. and is quite
considerable. Our pay continues, no matter
what the condition of the work may be.
We don't suffer for funds when work is
slack"
''How long does your term of Office last2"
Inquired, with peculiar itching feeling
of covetousness creeping over me; for these
are surely desirable places to have.
1--WE hold our offices at the pleasure Of
the Senate. That is, so long as any one Of
US can retain the influence of the Senators
from our States, we can remain here. When
our Senators die or resign, or serve out
their terms, we must bow to the inevitable,
make friends with the newly-installed Sem
ator, through our friends at home, and So
hcit his favor for our retention. Some of
US have been here for very many years.
Indeed, the spirit of Civil-Service reform is
permeating the Senate, and there may come
aday when, after being given place here,
man may hold it indefinitely if he attends
to his duties faithfully, and does not become
Extensively partisan"
There are eight months before you with
practically no work. What pay do you get
for coming here daily2"
1.-THE salaries vary. For my own part,
only get $500 per month while others get
more. That is bare living in Washing
ton, you know, and the salaries ought to be
raised. 1t is true that there is no work to
do now, no bills being introduced, passed or
defeated, but the irksomeness of being
obliged to come here is a terrible strain on
a man, and it becomes awfully tiresome.
You just try going to law Office every day,
and sitting down in idleness from morning
until night, and you'll see what bore it is,
*x*
The reader may draw on his imagination
for the terrible condition of vassalage in
which an employee Of the Senate finds him.
self, with a small salary of only $500 per
month, and nothing to do. Think of it:
eight months with nothing to do, and an in
come of $50 per week to spend. The Gov
eminent pays 81, 800 for the hard work Of
walking or riding to the Capitol, entering
wellcarpeted, airy, light, wholesome
room, and afiliating there with kindred
spirits. But it is not so extravaganza, after
all. These Senate employees are gentlemen
of ability and experience. If they were
given vacations or discharged when the
Senate adjourns it would be difficult to fill
their places with skilled and trained hands
next winter. The Government might lose
many times the sum paid in salaries by the
awkwardness or clumsiness of unframed
men. But to the average reader, this little
statement of fact will seem appalling; es-
peclally when in every neighborhood there
are to be found honorable, honest, capable
men who can not find employment which
will pay them $50 per month on which to
support families.
~
The Office of the First Assistant Postmas-
ter General is in striking contrast with that
OF the Secretary of the Senate at the pres
ent time. The employees of the Post office
Department are at their desks with pen in
hand promptly at eight o'clock every
morning. and there remain until half past
six in the evening. The Senate clerks
reach their desks anywhere between ten
r.
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