The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1906-10-01
HOLDS OUT LITTLE.
GOVERNMENT SERVICE NOT
CALLING TO BE DESIRED.
Salaries Small and Promotion Slow
work UNITS Men for Business
Life in the World.

oIn a debate at the capitol concern
ing the employees OF the civil branch
Of the government stress was lald
upon the eagerness with which these
positions are sought by the public at
large; that they were positions en-
failing no work, and they were upon
the whole referred to in uncompn-
mentary terms" remarked veteran
empIoye of the treasury department
1T is to be regretted that these
structures upon our civil employees
cannot be replied to at length and ID
detail, but permitting a general denlal
to suffice. allow me to call attention
to this act: It was thought to be re-
markable because there are 50 many
applicants for government positions.
Men who have a 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 80 ready to step
into his shoes. An advertisement for
help in certain trades and businesses
win bring hundreds of responses.
"And as to the desirability OF gov
ernment clerical work as a 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-
tions higher than a graded salary. To
those who feel that a comfortable liv-
ing will answer their life demands 1t
is a good occupation to go 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
cumscrlbed, above the purely clerical
level, but in the government civil ser
vice about $1,000 year is the aver
age limit to the yearly income, per
haps it is even less than this, and |
would not be surprised that it is The
positions paying $1,S00 can almost be
counted on the two hands in most Of
the departments. There is little
more liberality in the 81 500 grade, a
shade more in the 81 400 grade, but
the great bulk, the thousands and
thousands of clerks and employees are
in the $500 and $1,000 grades, OF
lower.
"As 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 tC
the average clerk 1t takes many years
to get up to the $1,000 grade, where
he fingers for many years more, anC
often, stops there for good, as tht
small number of places in the three
next succeeding grades Of necessity
limits their filling. When the aver
age clerk reaches the $1,400 grade
the percentage of promotion to tht
two very limited upper grades is il
proportion to their number yer!
small in proportion to the great higl
bank Of the thousands of lower grades
behind them
The whole character of the gov
ernment work has changed within
recent years. 1t is now very exact
ing and confning with great dea
to do; the day of the governmen
snap passed several years ago
There is now constant strain ant
pressure, under which the work il
put out. The rules are very rigid
and every day are becoming mor'
so. Some officials lie awake nights
planning ways to cut down the cubic
breathing space of their forces. Ever.
year spent in government servic,
makes a man the more untitled to &,
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 npol
whether one is in the upper or lowe
grades"