The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1901-02-13
GRIGGS MAKES NOTABLE SPEECH.
The Tendency Salaries Pension
Civil Employees His Theme.

simply hold it as trustee to pay it out
in the terms of the law. Who pays the
salaries but the government
THE HISTORY OF PENSIONS A WARNING
"The fact that every branch of the
postal service is now organized, stand
ing at the door of congress and clamor-
ing for an increase of salaries warns US
that the time has come to lay the hand
of prohibition on such organizations.
The history of the pension legislation
of the United States is warning sutfi-
cient for reasonable men. One step at
time has increased the pension list
of the United States from an estimated
cost of thirty millions to one hundred
and fifty millions and the end is not
yet. In fact, Mr.. Chairman, the entire
history of the American people, the
increase of offices, the increase of sala-
ries in all of these offices from the be
ginning until now warn us to stop
where we are.
II have heard gentlemen speak elo-
quently of men who having grown
gray in the service of the government
have been at last in their old age
turned out to Craze This is SEN
timental picture, Mr.. Chairman, and |
doubt not almost brings tears to the
eyes of the would-be civil pensioner
who sees or hears it. Let me give you
a practical picture. Consider the fact
as stated by me before in these re-
marks and I defy contradiction that
every one of these employees bettered
his financial condition when he enter
ed the government service, that every
one would resign today and become a
private citizen if by so doing he could
better his condition. If this be true,
instead of commiserating with this
''poor unfortunate class" we ought to
congratulate them upon their great
good fortune in having had the oppOr-
tunity of entering the service of the
government.
"Grown gray in the service have they?
| see men all around me who have
grown gray in the public service and
who have fought for their lives every
second year since entering political life.
For their defeat and retirement to pri-
vate life they ar unwept and unsung but
not unhonored. Grown gray feeding at
the public crib, the government Off
Gals who are appointed to Office must
be protected from the people, their
salaries increased on demand and at
last pensioned by congress. Alb Mr.
Chairman, rather than commiserate
with the dancers let US commiserate
with the people who must pay the tid-
dlers.
"There are thousands, yea, millions of
our fellow countrymen who although
not in office have ''grown gray" in the
service of their country on less than
the lowest salary paid by the govern
ment to its lowest emplOye. Every day,
worn and weary with life's hard strug-
Gle, they lie down in their graves with
out ever having had the opportunity to
Law up something with which to de-
Gently put them away. Why should
they be taxed that special, petted
class shall be built up, rendered secure
of their offices while in health, ard
cared for by the government in their
DAYS of inefficiency It is the unsala-
ried man, the man without Office, the
man without a pension and without
hope of one, the unorganized man if
YOU please, for whom | speak today. In
stead of increasing his burden | would
lift it from his shoulders in order that,
free and unfettered in life's race, he
may have every opportunity to reach
the highest ideal of citizenship"
Judge Griggs' speech was listened to
attentively by a large number of rep
resentatives on both sides, and his re-
marks will attract wide attention.
The speech is certain to arouse OPP
position from the employees of the gov
eminent who have joined unions for
the betterment of their condition.