The Washington times., 1901-09-11

how to cure them. The business world,
then has come to expect prompt service;
its contracts for delivery are based upon
that eSDectation. and it is source OF
srratification to know that in no instance
during the past year was there a failure
to clear the desk of current work each
day. .
Il desire to call your attention to two
Instances where in order that this office
may be nut upon a plane with Others an
increase in salary should be MADE;
Tho custodian of the vault In this OF
flee besides his regular work for when
he is paid 81 500 year, every dollar OF
which he earns at his desk, has unuer ms
immediate control millions OF doliHs VI
the securities of the Government ne Is
cnnneIIcd to keep an account of the IN
coming and outgoing securities; ne makes
deliveries to the bond clerk, upon ryq%uI ~
sition of the bonds required for the dtuy
work in the division, taking receipts
therefor in q book kept for that purppSS'
he counts and cares for every puiiu; ;
whether registered or coupon 6,;r, -
from the Bureau of Engraving ana ffiht
irtg through the Secretary once, anu at
times has over billion dollars IN .t ms US
tody In other offices OF the uepdi 'iHc ~
the custodian of the vault IS Brahteu tA-
fra compensation because Of the extra
and responsible duties devolVed upon hliil.
The same rule should apply mere, where
tn. responsibility is as great and the Ia
bor necessary to the safety and care or
the securities fully as arduous as Is the
case in other offices.
THE case of the prlEclpal poohhetpSi
of the Office is also one demanding Detter
compensation. The position requires care,
vigilance, and ability of a high ORDER an, anu
when comparing the labor ana respoHsi
hility and salary with like essentials OF
the bookkeeper in other branches OF lhe
department, it would certainly seem that
the position here should carry with II an
enoiument equivalent to that OF other
principal bookkeepers.
1T would be an act of simple justice to
grant these two faithful ana efhcient
clerks an increase of 500 per annum each.
TO be charged to the one as custodian OF
the vault and to the other as princlpal
bookkeeper. and | most respectfully so
recommend.
Concluding his report, Mr.. Lyons makes
the following recommendations:
Through the daily interchange of oth-
cial business with other offices OF the
Department. and the various duties in
trusted to the representatives OF this Of
flee ON the different committees Tor the
destruction of notes. etc, together with
the necessary labor in boxing, labelling,
and filing all redeemed securities OF tne
Government a large amount Of work Is
performed in this division each year of
a general and miscellaneous character,
the amount of which cannot be deter
mined or stated in this report for the
reason that it can not be properly est-
mated measured.
Il would also most respectfully suggest
that the salary of the Assistant Register
be raised to $500 per annum. 1t would
take but $50 to raise it from his present
compenSation of s2 $50, and il would then
be on an equal basis with salaries of the
deputy auditors. AS the Assistant Reg
lister entirely merits this slight Increase,
l trust it will be allowed him
II respectfully recommend that this Of
flee be allowed four clerks of class l. in
stead of an equal number at a compen-
sation of $500 per annum- Should this be
done, it would permit a partial advance
of a number of capable and deserving
clerks who We're reduced from a higher
grade without any imaginable fault on
their part
Il have also the honor to recommend.
If il can be done. that the temporary
clerks now carried on the rolls of this
either after examination by and certifica-
tion from the Civil Service Commission
or by Congressional action. The work of
the office has increased vastly during the
past three years, and in all of that time
the clerks have worked under high pres
sure. There is no probability that the
work Will decrease in future years or that
less force than now carried will be able
to keep it up. The clerks now on the
temporary roll have become trained to
eXpertness in the performance OF the
work allotted to them, and in consequence
are efficient and painstaking skilled la
borers, If / may use the term. If it be
found that they cannot be placed perma-
nently on the rolls. then they should be
appropriated for as heretofore, as their
services are Indispensable.
The business of this Office has never
been in better shape than it is at present.
desire to state that for this condition o.
the work | am indebted to the faithful
and efficient clerks in each division who
have ZealouSly performed their full duty"