The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-06
THE CAPITAL SALARY TRUST.
WEEL-ORGANIZED BODY AT
WASHINGTON.

President Roosevelt VIII Find His
Move for Its Suppression "a Very
Difficult One--Au Glasses of Em-
pIoyes Regularly ana CheerfuIIy
Pay Assessments to Hire Attor-
ncys and Lobbyists to Look Ont
for Their observation-disclosures
Printers Said 10 Have Paid an Ex-
Congressman s23,OO0 when They
Secured Their Increase.
| Washington Feb. 5-President
Roosevelt cannot expect much assist
ance from Congress in his crusade
against SALARY grabbers" and those
in the public service, who Indignantly
resent his recent order prohibiting the
use of influence in behalf of a general
or, a special increase in salaries. 1t
will require all the courage Of his
strenuous nature 10 check and weed out
d practice which has been fostered in
the public SERVICE. almost since the
foundation of the government.
As sweeping as was the recent ex-
ecutive order of the President against
what might be termed " a salary grab
bling trust" which permeates every
branch Of the Federal service, Ii is not
regarded seriously by many of the per-
sons at whom the Presidential decree
was aimed, The much talked of sur
plus in the Treasury has made almost
every official of high or low degree
member of the trust.
The trouble which confronts the Pres
ident in his effort to suppress the sal
airy grabbing" fever which Is raging
so furiousiy throughout the public SER
vice, is that some OF the most malig-
nant cases exist among the law makers
in Congress. Way down under the
surface a majority of the members of
the House and Senate sincerely be-
lieve they are entitled to more pay
than they now receive. But few of
them have the courage to admit IL pub
licly, but they do not hesitate to de-
clare IL privately They grow timid
when they recall the fate of the SAL
airy" grabbers in "a previous Congress.
There is great deal of maudlin sem
timent wasted over the poorly paid EN-
ployes of the government. AS a matter
fact those who. render the most diff
cult service and endure the greatest
hardships, are as a rule. the poorest
paid. There are many heart-rending
Instances which might be cited i'm be-
half of soldiers widows and other over
worked and nsufficiently paid em-
ployes of the government, but that
class can hardly be included in the SAL
airy TRAPPING trust.
President Roosevelt does not need
to be told that almost every branch
of the public service maintains n paid
lobby Washington to keep up per-
petual agitation In Congress for adj
vance in salaries. His experience as
a civil service commissioner and later
as Assistant Secretary Of the Navy
taught him of the existence of these
well organized and literally paid lob
bies. The army, the navy. the rev.
enue marine service, the plate print
ers, the letter carriers, the fourth class
postmasters, the printers and book
binders, the mechanics in the govern
ment navy yards, the clerks In the |
various departments, and employees Of
almost every description cheerfully |
submit to regular Assessments to pay |
the expenses Of their authorized 'in- |
fusnce" to reside In Washington, and |
during the sessions OF Congress, per- |
sistently urge legislation intended 10 |
advance. salaries.
Those who win take the trouble 20 |
investigate this subject viii find that |
in almost every instance, the subscrip- |
tions or donations made TO support |
the Influences" are secretly but cheer |
fully made, and when the contributors |
are asked why they permit themselves |
TO be imposed upon In this way, they |
they cannot always reach the men who !
control these matters. and II rs |
TO their interest 10 have n
paid attorney look after their |
Interests. Others declare thar |
they have a right TO spend their money
as they choose, and II they are salts
fed 10 submit 10 assessments 10 sup |
port their walking delegates" II Is mo-
body's business.
A few years ago Congress Increased
the compensation Of the printers and
bOOkbindcrs ~ the government print |
Ing Office. The Increase Was actually |
"A restoration ~ former wages. made I,
q absolutely upon the practical recOm- |
meudatiOns ~ the public printer. Not |
wifhstandiuR this fact former New
York congressman who claimed 20 have /
certain Influence "a The Capitol Wna
paid fec ~ f1lIyDV FOR services ron. /
dfrnd iu connection with the ffstora.
ton ~ the former salaries ~ printers /
in fhe governments printinE once. Every