The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-12

The government clerks and their
friends have by no means given up all
hopes OF having some action taken by
Congress looking to the raising Of their
salaries. -heir plea, they deem, being
justified by the increased cost Of living
To-day petition viii be presented 10
the different members OF Congress IN
which it is pointed out that increases Of
salary have been voted to school teach
ers. policemen, and hremen Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia; to members OF the
Senate, and Of the House OF Representa-
tiyes; to the presiding officers OF the
two Houses OF Congress, and TO the
members Of the Presidents Cabinet. They
point out that there are 5000 employees
Of the executive departments in wash
ipgton for whom "the cost OF living has
advanced as rapid and as relentlessly as
for the heads Of departments, or for
members Of Congress. They point out
that over one-fourth Of the average In
come Of the clerk goes for rent, and they
ask: How are they to meet bills for
food. clothing. and fuel, which are stead
| ily increasing
Best clerks Gu1f >NFNaces
They point TO the fact that under the
conditions that now exist the best clerks
are under steady temptation to quit the
service, and are doing so. To prove this
statement they cite the case Of the Pat
ent Bureau, which has lost Of its 7B
clerks no less than 3s1 by resignation
since January, 1901.
The petition sets forth that in the Post
Office Department there are 6S4 employees
at salaries ranging from 800 10 $1,000 a
year. and they ask How can they pay
IS per month rent and keep familyY
They show that in the Office of one man
who IS IN charge Of the blanks and sup
plies. he prepares copy for the printer
reads proof writes letters. makes sched-
ules for carrying the mails, computes
contractors pay for carrying the mails
and does other high-grade clerical work,
and gets $500 a year. He has been In
the Office at a low salary for twelve
years. The first three years he got 500;
the next four years he got Slov1, ana
for the last five years ne has received
81. 200. To get this he had to pass the
civil service examination az the top OF
those applicants in the state OF Illinois.
Chance to Earn Promotions.
The petition is not for increase Of pay
alone. The clerks ask that an opportunity
be given to earn promotions, not wait for
them. They ask that civil service reform
/ shall not stop. as Il does now. at the
/ entrance examination. The petition says:
Not only is this unfair 10 the work
men: il is grossly unfair 20 the govern
ment. which pays the salaries The ma
I ton is not realizing on the extra abilities,
the ambition, the development Of its
clerks How great a loss this involve
| no one can estimate. But it Is clearly
great enough 10 make it one Of the first
duties OF Congress 10 correct this mistake,
as wei as the other. without a day IN
/ necessary delay
The petition urges that Congress has
been generous to itself: il should be just
| TO those who cannot vote their own sala-
ries. but whose claims cannot I'm fair
( ness be ignored" The petitioners state
E that there ought to be a raise Of % per
cent ali along the line, and If there turns
out 10 be inequalities, these can be ad-
( justed later.
The petitions are addressed directly TO
/ the various members Of Congress.