Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-06
CLERKS WHO DO NOT PAY
The Olamor Said to Have Been Raised in
the Interest Of Ten Percenters.
The Whole Subject Having Been
Thoroughly Gone Over, f.
Now Finally Closed.

The highly interesting discussion that
has been participated in for a fortnight by
scores of v riters On both sides of the ques-
ton of collecting debts of department
| clerks closes with the following communi-
cations:
Spot Cash" writes: "In relation to the
question whether departments should COM
pei clerks to pay claims against them"
says an old clerk in the pension office, cit
Is proper to say that:
II. No man is compelled to give credit,
ard If ne has a debtor who does not pay
he has himself alone to blame.
2. That 1T is oftener claims than debts
which are sought to be collected through
departments. creditors and pretended cred
itors using fear of discharge to force pay
ment OF the false claim.
y. In most jurisdictions wages are ex-
empt frcm attachment.
"a. In most jurisdictions there Is a rea-
sonabie exemption of goods, and credits
Whlch are not wages, and the amount ex-
empt Is greater than ally sum ever due to
any empIoye Of the government.
%. In most places business men, SO long
as these in their employ by yielding faith
ful service give quid pro quo, pay not the
slightest attention to how the employe ex-
ponds his money or how much he may go
in debt.
where men of the highest integrity have
been bad financial managers. Clay and
Webster are examples.
TT is absurd to suppose that an employee
could Judge one whit better whether an al
legged Invention is a new and original in
ventfon: or whether a certain soldier con-
tracted his disability in the service and line
OF duty or whether a certain blind address
should be read one way or another; or
whether the accounts of John Smith were
correct or incorrect; or whether pardon
should OF should not be granted to a GER
tain applicant for clemency; or whether a
given number of barrels of tar would suf-
nee for a given purpose; or whether
given amount Of salt pork and hard tack
would su1nce for certain campaign; or
what the strength of a given gun would be:
or WI ether consul were giving sham in
forms ton in his reports; or whether the
seeds that Secretary Morton has just
bought are of a leftover crop, because
that employe was of such managing skill
that he &C uld avoid debt: but while the for
mer Qualities are of use to the government,
the latter Is of no use whatever 1t is
reither bought nor paid for, and ought not
to be exercised by despotism as a rod for
those. against whom officials are seeking
occasion.
Creditors have TO right to demand that
the government be guardian for their in
skill
There hav, been. in the past, many Of
fcials whose acts regarding claims present
ed against employees were such that the
belief was general that they encouraged the
making of false claims, and the claims of
what are called the ten per centers.' in
order that they might exercise their power
against the employee and divide the plumber
with the claimant; and the belief is pretty
general that the present effort made
through the papers, professedly for honest
creditors, is but an attempt to raise a pop
ular clamor through which the Shylocks
will again control. 1t may be unjust, but
there is such C. belief"
A Shrcwd Suggestion.
Another writer says:
about this question of payment of debts
by government clerks: The remedy is in
the power of the complainant, and was
cnce stated in the House Of Representa-
tives by John Randolph in the following
words: Mr.. Speaker, 1 have discovered the
philosophers stone: Pay as you CO. In
form two letters longer, but oGe word
shorter offer it a solution of the pres
ent question: Give no credit.
This means, sell for cash only. Require
room rent, boarding money. ALL expenses,
paid in advance, by the week or month.
This is perfectly practicable. and more
necessary amorg the government clerks
than any other variety of Christians.
YcCrs, wisely, F."
Arcther clerk sends the following con-
tributicn: AS government employee, and
all aimcst constant reader and admirer
OF The Star for period of sixteen years,
the pleasure and information l have de-
rived from its columns; also free from
any burden Of Indebtedness to Others per-
init me, with all the humility and serious
ness that the occasion seems to demand,
to remind you that there are Others and
that you have given about as much and
more, space to the subject of dishonest
government employees as a majority of
your clerical readers care to see occupied
| in that way; especially as the communica-
TONS which have appeared in The Star
from day to day, both of attack and de-
tense, 1t seems to me. have / ad tendency
to keep before the public in a disagreeable
light and to cast odium. not upon any par
ticular delinquent, but. upon government
employees as a class.
by all means, then, either let the COM
planning creditors, wSo have been airing
their grievances through the medium of
your columns. put up the rames of the
debtors. OF whom they complain, over their
own signatures. or shut up By this course
| they will display the courage of their con-
V;ctfons, separate the chaff from the wheat
anG relieve your columns of a controversy
which fs beginning from it's long continu-
ance to be regarded with disfavor and some
1eelrg OF resentment by many of your
fairly honest government employe readers"