Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-25
':.WhO is Resp0nsible9"

| To the Editor of The Evening Star:
| Many, doubtless, noticed in The Star Of
Saturday. January II. a card in which one
E. F. Hort inquiries who is responsible for
| injustice brutality 'indignities," to
which government clerks are subjected.
| After mentioning as features of clerk
| service seven to nine hours per day Of
| close work in cramped and changeless po-
sition, atmosphere foul from lack OF re-
newal, and In some instances eyes ruined
! from use of artificial light, he asserts that
broken health, a consequence of such
exactions and conditions is quite common
thing. He also speaks of board of in
vestigation'' for these harmful conditions
Of labor and. likewise, for tyrannical and
overbearing treatment by those having i'm
| mediate charge of the clerks-the so-called
chiefs of division"
or course. these petty officials have moth
ing to do with fixing, and are. therefore.
not at all answerable for the number of
hours demanded; nor for the fact that the
| natural position for clerical work Is a
cramped one, susceptible of little variation;
geonlike as to require artificial light for
some desks; yet the man who lacks either
the judgment or the heart to weigh nicely
the question as between justice to the
service and humane consideration for the
worker should not be trusted with a team
of oxen, much less to decide the usage OF
his fellow beings.
AS to the bad atmosphere Of some of our
RECONSTRUCTED, ill-ventilated government
buildings he is culpable only to the degree
to which he has failed to be watchful, to
use constantly all available means to pre-
serve it's purity; and If he be too ignorant
of the laws of hygiene. too unObservant or
too selfish to trouble himself or this point
of his duty, it yet amounts to a lack Of
capacity for his post, If not misdemeanor,
too serious in its consequences to others
not to be noticed. Furthermore, If a di-
vision chief does not see to it that no clerk
is compelled to use artificial light while
any better arrangement be possible, and
that this unrighteous condition does not
fall for a great length of time on the Same
individual, who is giving the same amount
and quality of labor for only the same pay
faculties for work, no such evil tax is laid,
he Is too destitute Of the proper qualitica-
tions for the trust repOsed In him to be
allowed longer to hold it; for all positions
of trust and authority demand both the
capacity and the Willingness to meet the
corresponding duties involved in such.
Continuous clerical or any minute work
under artificial light is an outrage on ma
ture and unjustiable in any case where
the nature of the work itself does not ne
cessitate it. And, then, justice demands
that to the usual pay for work under nor
NAL conditions, there be added an emolu-
ment proportionate to this exceptional in
juriousness of conditions. VIII you, in the
spirit of Chief of Division reply that IL
A be not willing to yield his labor plus
these extra and unjust inroads en- his fac
ultes for the usual pay, B is waiting out
side to do SO? Don't, unless you are ready
to see great nation proud, wealthy. able
and morally bound to act on just, broad
and best principles, degrade itself by adopt
ing the trade principles of the common
marts of sordid, devil-take-the-h indmost
traffic.
So much for the conditions of clerk labor
as enumerated. Now, as to injustice"
tnh ,tA
are subjected: Neither the writer nor any
relative was ever employed in govern
ment department, but as native-born
American citizen, with the love of liberty
and hatred to oppression characteristic OF
true American nature, he would inquire II
in any department Of the United States
government there exists such system or
such lack of it renders the foregoing
possible, and that, too, while excluding the
possibility of appeal against such abuse
The first is tacitly admitted by Chief of
Division who in The Star of January 15
attempts a retort on complainant, While
the last is not only asserted, but quite in a
spirit of bravado.
"Chief of Division is much too lordly to
condescend to deny that there Is injustice,
brutality, indignity, but with ready facility
grandly assures the complainant that those
above the merely clerical position-those
who have in hand the usage of their fell
lowmen-know no amenability. Above
them, then, is no other court nor judgment
seat than high heaven. According to him,
mo chief of office is in the least liable to be
called upon to answer for what Mr.. Hort
alludes to- and, we all know, these
illusions included the three expressions of
tyranny above named.
Now, Americans would like to know
whether it be really true that man of
the nature evidenced by Chief of Divi-
sion's' reply is, within considerable
latitude" allowed the exercise of such
nature on those who, forced by exigencies
to work under him, are yet absolutely
Of
can scarcely believe 1t, and would like to
be informed. "Chief of Division should
at least be Informed that there is, how.
ever in his narrow ignorance he may scor
at it, final court Of appeal. that can both
now and hereafter crush such as hold his
spirit 1t is the court Of public sentiment
and action.
he. as much S any clerk, is but the hum
BILE, paid hreling Of these same American
citizens; than they are his masters and the
not alone of such midges as he, but of the
"heads of department. yea, of the Presi-
dent himself who can, by them, through
their agents, be ordered impeached; even as
he himself can, if need be. call to account
any cabinet officer too careless. too lazy.
too impatient Of annoyance to look into
breaches, however small. Of the bulwark
pr;nciple of Americanism.
1 have heard that Carl Schurz, native
born subject Of cld-world despotism as he
was, was yet too conscientious and liberty |
loving not to guard against oppression in
his department: ard while Secretary of the
Interior instituted sort of bureau of COM
plants, or at least set apart a time for
hearing them. Do you say that this would
open up Pandora's box Of chickering's? 1
do not believe it. In compelling care that
no cause should be given, there would be
far less evil done than would ensue from a
reckless preferring Of complaints that could
A W0MAM'e RuRnENS