The Greeley tribune., 1906-04-05
OLD CLERKS REDUCED,
BLOW ABOUT TO FALL UPON
VETEREN MEN OF THE coy
ERIENT DEPARTMENTS.
Congress Preparing to Cuti Salaries
and Discharge Older Employees
Who Have Spent Best Years of
Life in Serving Uncle Sam.i

VINO nave Spent Best Years OF
Life in Serving Uncle Sam.i
The blow, which the older govern
ment clerks at Washington have for
sometime feared, is about to fall, and
II the House OF Representatives follows
its apparent intention, the clerks Of
TO years old and over, will have their
pay cut from rs to so percent.
The investigation carried on by the
Appropriation Committee, shows that
over $2,OOO,OOO is annually paid to
clerks over 60 years OF age, and that
II the plan proposed is carried out, over
rs percent of these will be reduced
This will mean that many faithful EN-
ployees OF the government, who have
grown old in the service Of their cOun-
try, will suddenly find their incomes
cut nearly in half.
1t is often stated that the average
government job Is an easy one, with
short hours and good pay so that there
is something of disinclination
throughout the country to feel or ex-
press much sympathy for the govern
ment clerk who is reduced, or per-
chance, dismissed for any reason. AS
matter of fact, however, these posi-
tions in Washington, are most trying
and Improbable tunless we except a
few cases, in which the work is teen
nical, with the possibility of leading
to better things outside in the COM
mercial worldD, and after a few years
of service, leave the incumbent with
out the capability of making his way
in business, ii suddenly thrown upon
his own resources.
Most of the government bureaus are
large offices, where clerk may be en-
gagged for years in a single line OF
work, his knowledge and experience,
although narrow and circumscribed,
thus becoming valuable to the govern
ment. In the meantime, his salary has
been barely commensurate with his l1v-
ing expenses. and although some Of the
government employees with thrifty
wives may have been able to buy q
modest home, the proportion OF these
is not large.
Then, after twenty years of conf1n1ng
and uninspiring labor, comes his dis
charge, and he finds himself complete
ly out of touch with all former busi-
ness knowledge and relations, unable
to earn as much in new line OF l1fe
as could his recently graduated son.
This would mean that the man who has
entered government service in middle
life, and through meritorious effort and
faithful endeavor has worked up to
salary of $1,000 or $500, would In his
ripe years and experience, be thrown
out on the world, like an old horse, VINO
has served his master faithfully but
has lost the vigorous step and stylish
action of younger animal. Had thls
man been connected with big COM
t1,~ nyNf fy
his business associates would delight
to honor him with the increased salary
due to his experience and wisdom.
which had done so much toward build
ing IN the structure of their worldly
interests.
The sentiment has been freely ex-
pressed upon the floor of the House.
however, that it is not believed that
majority of its members will favor any
drastic measure of cutting down the
income of faithful clerks. One plan dis
cussed by the House Committee, EN-
braces a provision that when any EN-,
ployee shall have reached the age OF ~
years. he shall be immediately dismissed
While 81 900 might appeartobea rea-
sonable living in the smaller towns, IN
Washington, where expenses are SO
| heavy. it is a small sum for man oil
family. Old and honored government
employees, from the administration OF
Washington down, have resigned OF
died in the nations service, but Con
gress in its wisdom. in these days OF uh'
wonted national prosperity, seems 10
be pursuing extraordinary methods TO
increase the efficiency of the service
and to reduce the federal expenditures!
Anent the subject, the Washington
Post SAYS: What kind and beneh-
cent government it would be that
| would cut faithful servant, who had
served it for yenrs.and who is as eftl-
cient n clerk now as he was ten years
ago. because he has reached the age OF
sixty-five. What an inducement 10
faithful service! What splendid eN-
annie of the merit system But
it probably serves man right ior
reachinc the age Of sixty-tve. ana De-
ing still vigorous and faithful ana capa'
ble in the public service.
The Speaker Of the House. the honor
able Joseph G Cannon, who VIII ne
seventy wears old on the 7th OF
Nav next, should see to 1t that MS
friends on the Appropriation Com
| mittee take a back track on this oS.ei,
itish proposition. If the provision
should not be stricken out in the iousr
tho twenty-six Senators who are over
.;yty-five. and the three others VINO
will he siyty-tive before this year IL
o,,t ought to be able to give IL
uuietus in the Senate.