The Washington times., 1907-02-17
Paints Picture
OF Clerks Life

To the Editor % The Washington Times.
As the salary Of the President and
the salaries OF the legislative and Judi
cIal Departments have recently been in
creased, it is but Just and fair that the
department clerks should share IN the
general increase of salaries doe 70 the
prosperity of the country under Repub-
Acan rule. and. incidentally. on account
OF the present high price Of living.
Congress should not be slow in show
ing their appreciation OF the great val
ne OF the clerk 20 the Government. and
also ms devotion 10 the cause OF Con
EIcSs Itself The relations Of the clerk
10 Che Congressman are little known
5nd probably The least said the better
Lul there are many COnEreSSnlen who
car say that 1t critical periods of their
public careers there hs Vr come for
ward some obscure clerks. who bv their
long experience IN the service of the
government have rendered them signal
ScTNice~-arN an equal service is DER
formed by The uuder-paid clerk toward
ms superior. who In many cases is an
inferior public servant who draws the
larger salary while his 500 clerk does
The work
The President Is right in recommend
Ing an equalization Of salary among
clerks who perform tire same service.
But that is not an that IS needed to
put innings on a proper basis. u Is an
cannot retain good men who are under
paid. Tho Civil Service Commission has
Ions hcwailed this condition Of affairs
The Navy Department Is undergrad. and
as rvsult the clerks resign to bet
Ter tnemseLTas on the outside. First
class SLeuOgr-phcrS resign the Govern
ment service every day in the week 70
accept larger compensation Men OF
science VIII continue 10 80 10 the high
priced universities Army and navy Of
ucCrS OF lower grade have never made
both ends meet, and either resign or
go IN debit AmbitiC rs young men who
ought 20 be retained IN the Government
service t&i-c professional courses and
then resign
In the equalization Of salaries proposed
by the President all of the clerks should
De- divided into classes like the CON
SUlar service. and promotions made only
by the Civil Service Commission. the
item Of length Of service beng most i'm
portant-
The Member of Congress. however.
has the sympathy OF the civilized world
He serves the dear people about ten
months cut of the tWenty-fOur. for
which ne pulls down 1850 per annum.
He sets free stationery. free telegraph
and express service, compensation for
mileage. free flowers from The Botanical
Gardens, Tree postal facilities for ship
ping tons of sclf-advertising matter
and household utensils. In short while
upon the completion of the new office
buildings, his office rent and Office sup
plies VIII cost him nothing, while ont
OF his monthly allowance OF SI25 Tor
clerk hire he can knock down Just half
% IL unless relative does the work
and keeps the money in the family. In
vcStigating committees and Congress
si01aI funerals give him a splendid Op-
p0TtUnity 10 view the beautiful land
Scape of Our diversified country, at no
expense. Enthusiastic admirers send
MIN barrels Of apples and good whisky.
excellent cigars, q box at the theaser,
and name their babies after him. At
home he umUireS the decisive baseball