Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-15
TO READJUST SALARIES
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
FAvoRs A RECONSIDERATION.
Remuneration for Technical Labors So
Low That Government Cannot OBJ
tain Best Workmen.

The need for reclassifying the depart
mental service Is being strongly urged by
the civil service commission. Its report on
that subject presents the matter in the fol-
lowing form:
THE classification Of the clerks in the
departments at Washington was made in
1853 and arranged the permanent clerical
force In each of the executive departments
into four classes. for each of which classes
different rate OF compensation was pre-
scrfbed. The annual salaries originally es-
tablished by the act Of March 8, 1858, were
$500, 81 200. 1900 and 81 800 for clerks of
the first. second. third and fourth classes.
respectively, and by the act Of April %,
1854. the salaries Of clerks of the first. Sec
and and third classes were fixed at 81 200,
II 400 and $1,000, the compensation of
clerks OF the fourth class remaining I'M
changed. This classification, with the sala-
ries OF each class respectively. has been
1888 and 1877.
Since the adoption Of that classification
Whlch at first embraced the entire clerical
lorce OF the several departments, excepting
the chief clerks of the departments and Of
bureaus and offices therein and clerks tenn
porarfly employed, Congress has from time
to time, as the exigencies of the public
service required, not only increased that
force by providing for additional clerkships
OF the several classes named, but by pro-
viding for the employment of clerks, some
at salaries above the highest, others at
salaries below the lowest compensation al
lowed for any Of those classes.
Scientists Paid as Clerks.
Few Of the places in the departments
requiring technical qualifications are ap-
propriated for directly as such by Congress,
and appointments to these places are made
under the title Of clerk or copyist. In some
departments the technical and scientific
places are appropriated for in lump sums
The result is that the salaries of many
places requiring a high degree of education
are lower than are paid to clerks, watch
men and laborers.
"As an instance, there Is mentioned an
examination recently held for the position
of medical clerk and translator at $72O per
annum. The subjects Of the examination
embraced translation of medical German,
French, Italian and Spanish, technical bib
Geographic work in medical zoology, medi-
cal and geological Technology and nomen-
clature and experience.
Other positions requiring technical. sci
entific or professional qualifications for
which low salaries are being paid are law
clerks, 800; nautical experts, 81 900; assist
ants in soil survey, s720; assistants in road
Topographic drafstmen, $40: civil engi-
neers. $1,000; assistant ethnelogists, $500,
and assistant surgeons, $500.
Better Salaries Needed.
''It Is manifest that the government can
not secure persons Of the best qualifications
for places requiring highly technical attain
ments at these inadequate salaries. These
places should be appropriated for with des-
ignations and salaries corresponding to the
duties to be performed. The contrast is
great when these positions and their sala-
,ries are considered in connection with those
Of messengers, watchmen, plumbers, car
penters, &c, with salaries from S72O to
81, 200.
There is also growing tendency to fill
all merely clerical positions with persons
having. special qualifications, such as ste
biography. typewriting or bookkeeping
The salaries paid to such persons just en-
tering the service range from s72O to 81, 200
per annum. More than half are appointed
at salaries of $500 or less per annum. In
offices where. the lower, salaries are paid
promotions are slow and transfers there
from frequent
THE inequalities referred to prevail
throughout the civil service. An attempt
should be made to secure uniformity among
the different branches of the service to
make compensation correspond to duties
uniformly in the government service, so
that compensation will be uniform for do
ing work of the same kind"