The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-08-17
HOLDS 90 | / ]. 1T ]. / TIE /
GOVERNMENT s1Rv1cE NOT
& CALLING TO 1HsaD1sIREn.
salaries Small ana Promotion Slow
1 Work Units Hen Tor Business
Life In the world.

ing the employees Of the civil branch
Of the government, stress was laid
upon the eagerness with which these
positions are sought by the public at
large; that they were positions en-.
falling no work, and they were upon
the whole referred to in uncompli.
mentary terms" remarked q veteran
employe Of the treasury department.
1T is to be regretted that these
structures upon our civil employees
cannot be replied to at length and in
detail, but permitting a general denial
to suffice. allow me to call attention
to this act: It was thought to be re-
markable because there are so. many
applicants for government positions.
Men who have knowledge of the
employment Of other men know that
these applications are about in pro-
portion to the number of vacancies to
be filed, and that this same rule
holds true as to railroads and the
employees in other callings. Thus, it
Is an acknowledged fact that where
one railroad man is killed or dis.
charged there are so ready to step
into his shoes. An advertisement for
help in certain trades and businesses
Will bring hundreds Of responses.
And as to the desirability of gov
eminent clerical work as life occu
patton let me say that although men
seek these positions, 1t is a calling
which should be the very last for any
young man to enter who has ambi-
tons higher than graded salary. To
those who feel that a comfortable liv.
Ing will answer their life demands it
Is good occupation to 60 into in the
lower grades and to- work up to the
higher on due course of promotion.
In most occupations the financial
limit of human attainments is not cir.
cumscribed, above the purely clerical
level, but in the government civil ser.
vice about $1,000 a year is the aver
age limit to the yearly income, per-
haps it is even less than this, and l
would not be surprised that it is. The
positions paying $1,000 can almost be
counted on the two hands In most of
the departments. There is a little
more liberality in the $1,000 grade, a
shade more in the $1,40O grade, but
the great bulk, the thousands and
thousands of clerks and employees are
In the 5000 and $1,000 grades, or
lower.
las compared with farmland labor
this is liberal pay, but in many of the
trades and manual callings it is not.
In ordinary course of promotion to
the average clerk it takes many years
to get up to the $1,000 grade, where
he fingers for many years more, and
often stops there for good, as the
small number of places in the three
next succeeding grades of necessity
limits their filling. When the aver
age clerk reaches the $1,4OO grade
the percentage of promotion to the
two very limited upper grades is in
proportion to their number very
small in proportion to the great high
bank of the thousands of lower grades
Sehind them,
THE whole character Of the gov.
eminent work has changed within
recent years. It is now very exact.
ing and combining with great deal
to do; the day of the government
snap passed several years ago.
There is now constant strain and
pressure, under which the work is
put out. The rules are very rigid.
and every day are becoming more
80. Some officials lie awake nights
planning ways to cut down the cubic
breathing space of their forces. Every
year spent in government service
makes man the more untitled to 20
out into other pursuits, for the reason
that the knowledge, and it is know.
ledge that he acquires while in Office.
is as a rule worthless in other call
ings. repeat that it is not an occu-
patton with possibilities beyond mere
ly fair or good wages depending upon
whether one is in the upper or lower
grades"
.