Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-22
ASK FAIR TREATMENT
PLEA IN BEHALF OF CLERKS AT
THE NAVY YARD

The clerks employed at the Washington
navy yard have been endeavoring for sew
eral years to bring about an increase of
their pay and other conditions more in
keeping with those enjoyed by the clerks
in the other government departments, IL
is said. One of the navy yard Scribes IN
discussing the articles that have appeared
In the local newspapers on this general
subject, said to a Star reporter today:
Having read In the daily papers about
what it costs the government clerks VINO
receive 81 200 per annum to live on. and
what the President is expected to DO py
sending a special bill to Congress to IN
crease the pay of government employees ~
per cent, | can let you know how we poor
fellows fare and what We get, and what II
costs us to live, especially in washington.
We have to pay house rent. buy provisions
and support a wife and family, ncluolhg
doctors bills. clothes and the like on - per
diem and 2.4S per diem
Messengers" and "Clerks."
"The clerks of the navy yard are mostly
made up of messengers and clerks. calieo
in through the civil service commission
under civil service rules, the same as the
government clerks employed in the state
War and Navy Departments and elsewhere
and when they are called in off the ellgiole
list of the civil service commission, they
are rerated to special laborers, messen-
gers and special laborers, clerks, at 81
per diem and s.. AS per diem. Now. If they
had been called in by the State, War or
Navy Departments or other government
places in Washington, they would nave re-
ceived for messengers, $40 to Ss4o per an
mum, and for clerks. $500 to Sl,COU per
90,
messengers and about from 1928 to 500
more for clerks. Is this right? Why should
they not receive the same rate OF pay per
diem as is received By the per annum en-
ployes of the State, War and Navy Depart
ments, for instance? Again. the per an
mum employees of the State War and Navy
Departments. as we'll as the per diem en-
ployes in those departments receive thirty
days leave of absence year, ana thirty
days sick leave a year. and can take the
whole thirty days leave of absence when
ever they desire at any time during the year:
The poor per diem clerks of the navy yard
receive only fifteen days leave of absence
a year, and can take it only when they
earn it. at the rate of one and quarter
days per month, when July comes they
have only seven days leave OF absence
with pay coming to them, while the other
clerks in the departments have thirty days
with pay Where can the poor navy yard
clerks go on seven days? If he gets SICK
during the year, his leave is all gone ana
he loses many more days without pay.
There are some clerks at the navy yard
who have lost about thirty days without
pay on account of sickness. They don't
receive any thirty days sick leave per
year. They are supposed not to get sick.
Matter of '!Strict Economy"
IF the poor navy yard clerks ask for
more wages, the Secretary of the Navy
turns them down with reasons as follows:
ON account of strict economy The high
est pay most of the per diem clerks at the
navy yards receive is S3.O4, and they have
been employed for nearly ten years. Why
doesn't Congress pass bills paying the navy
yard per diem clerks the same rate of pay
per diem, on the same basis as is received
by the per annum employees in the depart
ments. and also give them thirty days
leave of asence. with pay. instead of fifteen
days leave. letting them take it whenever
they want to. The government printing Of
flee and the bureau of engraving and print
ing Office give their per diem employees
thirty days leave per year. Why should
not the clerks of the navy yard per diem
force have 1t also?
is this justice? If all the government
departments in Washington and the gov
ernment printing office and the bureau Of
engraving and printing office have it, why
should not the navy yard?
THE navy yard clerks would like also
to see Congress pass a bill granting
20 per cent increase to all the government
employees, including the navy yard clerks.
for it would help them, with the little sal
airy they receive