Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-19
More Paw for the Clerks.

There should he no question in the minds
OF members of Congress about the merit of
the proposition to increase the pay OF gov
ernment clerks. 1t ought to appeal to all
as an urgent need. These workers are not
we'll paid. They are charged with respon-
sible duties which they perform faithfully
and capably. Their hours are longer than
ever before and they are held to higher
standard of performance. They are men
aced with dismissal in their advanced years
without hope of help from the government
they have served long and faithfully.
These men and women are receiving the
same grades of Pay today they were given
years ago. While there have been indi-
yldual promotions in some cases the ma
jority of the clerks have not advanced pro-
portionately to their merits or their neces-
sites 1t Is reasonable to consider promo
ton as measuraby automatic in operation.
AS a man advances in years his needs in
crease his responsibilities grow. His
family enlarges and his expenses mount
higher. Even when the range of prices
does not change the average mans outlay
becomes heavier as he grows older. The
individual promotions should he regarded
merely effecting the readjustment rem
dered necessary by this progression of
responsibility.
The plea for a general advance is based
upon totally different proposition. The cost
of living is higher today than ever before.
or all the classes of wage earners. the gov
ernment clerks almost stand alone in not
having been given increases more or less
propOrticnate to the heavier burdens that
prosperity has laid upon the individual cit
liens. The 81 300 clerk OF today is worse off
than predecessor drawing the same sal
airy would have been ten years ago. If the
$l5D clerk of today received the same sal
AIRY ten years ago he is even worse Off for
in addition to the increase of prices he has
to bear without additional income, the
E greater expenses incidental to his own
advancement In years.
The higher prices hit the lower Salaried
clerks more severely than those of the up
per grades. They are 50 hard pressed to
make both ends meet that they are unable
to administer their affairs with the econ
omy that takes advantage of quantity buy
ing. The small purchaser always pays the
highest price for everything. These low
paid government clerks are men and women
of refinement and education who strug
Cling to live decently and maintain their
children properly. They are seriously
pressed to give the children the advantages
can not go shabby without loss of standing
at their offices. They must measure up to
mark or lose their opportunities for promo
ton
The chief consideration should be paid
by Congress to these lower saIaried gov
eminent workers of the $1,000, 81 300 and
81 400 grades. They constitute the bu of the
public service force and their needs are
most pressing. If the full tale of their
sacrifices and expedients and hopes and
fears could be told there is little doubt
of the agreement by both houses that the
pending proposition, is unqualifiedly meri-
torious.
Every member of Congress ought TO take
home with him during the Christmas holt
days the thought that here in Washington
are thousands of faithful honest efficient
workers who are the chief sufferers today
from the wonderful prosperity of the United
states, and that the means for their re-
lief and reward are at hand in the salary
Increase bill and Oyeraowipp