davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27

means excepting the so-called grasping
and souless trusts of which we hear so
much in various ways, have voluntarily in
creased the wages of their employees, par
ticularly their low-grade employees, from 5
to 20 per cent. And so 1t seems to me that
with this material evidence of prosperity on
every hand the great government OF the
United States, which is getting its full
share as a government out of these present
good times, should not fail to reward
faithful service with a living wage.
II sincerely believe that there has been
great increase of sentiment throughout
the country in favor of some sort of general
increase to government employees, and l
just as sincerely believe that Congress In
the near future must recognize the fact
and act accordingly. So, in consequence
of this belief, 1 have introduced my bill
as expressive of the views l hold on this
question to those who should be first
entitled to consideration. / would not have
1t understood that am unalterably opposed
to any salary merely on account of Its
size. provided it is earned. And have no
doubt that many of the highest salaries
paid by our government are earned to the
last penny, with a balance on the other
side of the ledger. Yet, nevertheless, the
poorer-paid classes should in my judgment,
be the first object of our solitude
To quote the statements made to The Star
reporter by Representatives Jones, South
wick and McNary in support of the respec-
tive measures introduced by them, would be
to repeat, in the main, Representative Da-
best of times, the higher efficiency and
increased labor demand, the greater cost
of living, the reduced purchasing power
of the almighty dollar and justice to gov
eminent employees were the various themes
on which they based their remarks in adj
vocacy of some general increase plan. These
members of Congress are not irrevocably
welded to the bills introduced by them.
Any sort of an increase proposition on
which action can be had and of which the
approval of the Senate and House leaders
can be secured, will have the support of
these legislators and many others, who,
while they have not gone so far as to In
troduce bills of their own and expressive
of their individual views, willing to
vote at any time for general increase
along any one of the lines indicated
Representative Maynard's View.
Representative Harry Maynard of Vir-
ginia is one of these. Il havve not intro
duced a bill the subject" he said to
The Star man yesterday, because 1 saw
that several measures, embodying as many
different plans, had already gone in But
you can put me down as heartily in favor
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27

Representative McNary Of Mass.
other members, all of the clerks them
selves and some outsiders claim that the
wages are too low. Still another class
claims that the wages are badly appor-
toned and that some of the government
employees are underpaid and some over
paid.
The whole number of employees in what
is known as the classified service of the
government all over the country is 1874, 1913.
OF these there were in 1906 on the rolls in
Washington %, 134. There is a discrepancy
shown in the government reports as to
just how much these employees are paid.
Curiously enough, there is no complete sal
airy list for all the departments. In many
of them the salaries are paid out of a
lump appropriation, and the only way to
arrive at a total is to take the sums dis
bursed in the various departments.
The average salary paid in Washington
is $1,070. The extremes in this list run
from one or two expert engravers in the
bureau of engraving and printing, who re-
ceive ~$6,OoJ each, to some teachers in
places like the reform school, whose sal
aries are as low as $15S year. These low
salaries, however, do not represent the real
value of the positions, as they include
board. washing and laundry. But the aver
age of salaries in Washington is rather
higher than in the government service out
side. for the average in the whole of the
classified service is only $500. :
Total Of Salary Roll.
The total salary roll for all of the de-
partments, both in and out of Washing
ton is given in the report of the director
of the census. His total estimate of the
sum represented is STA 025, 497. OF all the
departments the Post Office easily leads,
with total of 500, 4O2, 059 This. however,
is short of the actual figure, for there has
been omitted from that estimate $40, 1877 1856
for the rural free delivery service, making
the real total So, 2S9 925. Next to this
comes the Treasury Department, with a
salary roll of SIT SOC, OOO, and the War De-
partment with over $11, 100000. The low
est of all is the State Department, which
expends only $149,920 in salaries, but this
is because so many of the employees of the
department are outside of the classified
service.
No Change Since 1853.
These salaries are all paid on the basis Of
a law passed in 1853, and one that has
never since been revised. Since that time
there has been decided increase in the
cost of living, but just what this amounts
to it is Impossible to say. The scale OF .liv-
ing has greatly changed, but the estimates
Of living expenses are SO various that 1t Ia
impossible to do better than give them as
they stand. The members of the civil Serv-
ice Retirement Association who have made
a study of conditions declare thai since the
law Of 1853 was passed living expenses for
the government clerk In Washington have
increased from 35 to 40 per cent. The bu-
reau of labor does not agree with this es-
Innate. saying 1t Is entirely too high, but
1t Is not willing to attempt to announce q
figure of its own. One reason was. 1t Is
said, that in the investigation made by the
bureau last year an attempt was made to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27
TO STOP LAND FRAUDS
PATENTS TO ISSUE ONLY AFTER
OFFICIAL INSPECTION.
Order to Secretary Hitchcock Design
ed to Prevent Illegal Ac-
QUESTIONS.

President Roosevelt has determined to
put an end, IL possible to frauds In the
acquisition of public land by individuals
and corporations He has directed that
hereafter no patent shall be issued to pub
lie land until an examination of the ground
shall have been made by an authorized
officer Of the government.
The Presidents order is in the form of n
letter TO Secretary Hitchcock, and under
its provisions, orders are being sent out by
the officials of the general land Office
Following is the text of President Roosc-
velts letter:
THE WHITE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, January %, 1907.
The Secretary of the Interior.
Sir: To prevent the fraud now practiced
In the acquisition of public lands of the
United states, | have to direct that here
after no final certificate. patent or other
evidence of title shall be issued under the
public land laws until actual examina-
ton has been made on the ground by an
authorized officer of the government; but
the following shall be excepted from the
force of this order:
% All claims which have heretofore been
examined on the ground by authorized
of1cer OF the government whose report is
found satisfactory.
90 All claims where heretofore an officer
OF the government other than officers au-
thorized to take final proof shall have been
examine claimant and witnesses IL such
proof is found satisfactory
CD All claims where claimants compli-
ance with law has been established by con-
test or other regular adverse proceedings.
"a Entries which may have been con-
firmed by virtue of any act of Congress.
t5) Selections and entries in which no
residence or improvement is required by
law, when the lands embraced therein are.
strictly speaking, in agricultural districts,
or when character has been fixed by in
vestigation. and classification made in
cordance with law.
go Cases of resistance of patents because
of some clerical error occurring in the
patent heretofore issued
% All Indian allotments which have been
regularly approved in accordance with in
structions of the Secretary of the Interior
You VIII issue all necessary instruc lions
to carry this order into effect
This order is in lieu of my order of De-
cember -, 1906.
(Signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27

estimate the difference in rents In wash
ington for term Of years, and n was
found there was practically no bAsis on
which fair comparison could be made.
Simultaneous Changes.
For instance. the scale Of living had
changed with the change in the building
and health regulations. The law now COM
pels the installation Of bath rooms. whereas
twenty years ago it was no uncommon
thing to find even good house in Wash
ington without bath room. Rents in a
given locality, 1t was found. could not be
depended on to furnish estimate, for
the character Of neighborhoods had changed
and rents are now actually cheaper in some
places that were good localities a few years
back. while in other places rents had re,
manned stationary and in others they had
largely increased. Flats and apartment
houses had become factors in the calcula-
ton, and the fact that standards of what
residents considered as necessary comforts
had advanced so that many families would
not now live in places that they might
easily have occupied twenty years pre-
viously.
out, u was impossible to get official Figures
on living expenses in Washington. The bu-
reau of labor had made an estimate of the
increase in the cost of food for the whole
of the United States, and the advance in
food prices was stated to be something like
10 per cent since 1920. This, of course did
not include light and fuel. two very con-
siderable sources of family expense. The
advance in the price of coal in Washing
ton in the past decade was stated by the
bureau to be just 30 per cent 1t was said
these figures were taken from the books of
reputable retail dealers. On the other
hand, the statement of a number of con-
sumers was that the advance had been al
most 20 per cent this being based on the
statement that ten years ago anthracite
coal was selling in Washington for S4.25
ton, whereas the winter price of coal now Is
$7.25, as most householders are aware.
Food Products Considered.
Official figures on number Of food prod
ucts for the whole of the United States in
1905 compared with the average of the ten
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27

almost useless for me to say anything
concerning the enormously increased cost
Of living since that time. think it would
be a safe assertion that the purchasing
power of the dollar was at least twice as
great then as now. This, Of course. is the
result Of the remarkable development OF
the country, the highly increased demand.
the growth of population and a hundred
and one other contribntory causes. But
that does not alter, so far as the material
phase Of existence is concerned. the fact
that, there having been no general re-
classification and general increase OF SAL
aries the employees in these grades which.
in my bill are sought to be benefited, are
the sufferers.
II have no doubt 1t is true that higher
grade employees have from time to time,
in the natural course of events been
granted increase of salary by legislative
enactment, or in appropriation bills-1n-
creases commensurate with the station
and service rendered-yet the ordinary
employe and laborer, upon whom, 1t must
not be forgotten. chiefly devolves the &C
tual toll necessarily connected with the
conduct and management of the multlfari-
Gus branches of our governmental affairs.
have received, in the main, no Increase
whatever.
Greater Efficiency Demanded.
Moreover, 1 am quite convinced that of
recent years-owing to the standard fixed
by the civil service ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
efficiency is demanded of these latter
classes of employees of late~years. Nat
urally a consequence the amount of
labor performed, as we'll as the efficiency
required. has increased greatly. Referring
again to the tremendously increased cost
of living. it is plain to see that the higher
priced the necessities of life become the
greater is the burden upon the persons
receiving the small fixed salary. Hence, If
their salary does not warrant, they must
be deprived Of these necessities, absolute
ly regardless of their wants and desires.
til bot 70
government. at this particular time and
during all this era of general prosperity,
should not require faithful and Intelligent
service from any of its employees at a
wage insufficient to maintain them in
wholesome and a comfortable manner.
Why all the great industries, not by any
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27
The Other View.

The other view of the situation was
voiced by some of the lower-paid clerks
the men who work In good government Of
fee buildings and are thrown constantly
in contact with comfortably situated gov
eminent officials: those who have at least
to keep up appearances among the people
with whom they are thrown. Their posi-
ton may be best boiled down into the state
ment of one man, who said:
TT Is not fair to say that any of the men
in the lower branches Of the government
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27
FOR HIGHER IDE A LIS
GEN. GREELY DEPLORES SPIRIT
OF CoMMERCIALISM.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, January 26.-Maj. Gen.
w. "A. Greedy, commander of the northern
division of the United States army. and
one of the founders and first vice president
of the National Order of Sons of the Amer
lean Revolution, addressed the Chicago So
ciety of Sons of the Revolution last night
at its quarterly meeting.
After addressing his hearers as captains
of industry" he declared that commercial
ism today is causing a degeneracy of the
spirit of Independence fostered by their
forefathers.
There has been a change in the spirit of
the times" he said. You captains Of in
dustry are in the position to Know that best
of ALL" The spirit of L. ependence on which
our forefathers founded this great nation Is
degenerating. It Is most apparent In the
absence of individual liberty of men. Men
have come to feel that they are not expected
to speak out what they think. There Is
tendency not to tell the truth on many i'm
portant subjects because of the fear of con-
dicting with the interests OF employers.
Our Grandfathers' Way.
s"There are better and higher aims than
those of commercialism. Keep alive the
flame of liberty Of speech, the individuality
and the ideals of morality and character
of the men who made our nation. We won
der how our grandfathers without any OF
the modern invitations could have lived
lives SO narrow. 1t was because they had
ideals far superior to the materialistic spir-
1t of this age.
when a nation stands for commercial
ism and material gain. ordinarily known as
success, at the expense Of Independence,
then the day of decadence has set in.'
The general declared the men of America
are equal to the problems that face them.
SpeakingS of his experience after the earth
quake in San Francisco where he was in
charge of the $4,000 refugees, he said:
although l witnessed these stricken
people by thousands and tens of thousands,
all the time did not see woman In tears
or hear man complain"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27

have been introduced. providing for fiat
rate or percentage advances. in favor of
any particular plan or proposition that has
been tentatively put forward. But the sem
timent is there just the same and is grow
ing. Many members favor the proposed in
crease on Its merits-that is. taking into
consideration the increased cost of living of
the present day and the fact that great
majority of government salaries. particu-
larly those of the employees of the public
departments, We're established when the
purchasing power of the dollar was far
greater than now-while others favor it
through a sweet spirit of consistency in line
with the recent elevation by the Senate
and House of the salaries of members of
the cabinet, of the President of the Senate
and the Speaker of the House and of the
members of both branches of the national
legislature.
AS an original proposition, the assump-
tion that members of the House from urban
districts would naturally be for a general
increase proposition and members from
rural districts against it is a safe one
Such an increase as is proposed would, of
course. affect more government employees
in Washington than in any other single
community and the people in agricultural
sections-at least it is true in many quar-
ters-seem TO be afflicted with the impress
sion that Washington clerks are over
paid as it is This view in itself is natural
enough. What opportunity has the man
from Smithville, Iowa, or Jonesburg, Neb,
or some other 'way-off hamlet to discover
that salary that looks mighty fat in cold
type to the farmer or merchant or me-
chanic in a community where living is
cheap and the dollar can be depended upon
to secure its equivalent amounts to nothing
more than found" in Washington where
the necessities of life, according to the Off
cial reports of the bureau of statistics have
increased In cost many per cent?
Relative Income Has Shrunk.
Perhaps government clerks with particu-
lar reference to those employed in Washing
ton, We're very well paid at one time 1t
is possible TO admit that freely, without
damaging in the slightest degree the argu-
ment for the proposed increase, for the pur-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27

Representative Southwick Of N. 7.
Of any reasonable general INCREASE and you
will make no mistake. / believe that the
employees of the government are justly en-
titled to share in the general prosperity Of
the country, and i see no reason why the
government should not recognize. as many
Of the great corporations and private bust
ness concerns have done. that the increased
cost of living at the present time, in con-
junction with national prosperity. warrants
general increases to the workers, and par
ticularly to those of the lower grade, on
whom the burden of high prices undoubt-
eddy falls with greatest effect
This is the way many members of the
House spoke on the subject. OF course. one
of the things that will operate against the
proposed legislation at this session of Con-
gress is the very limited time remaining
for business and the considerable amount
of business remaining to be done. In this
connection 1t is of interest to note that al
though a number of members and their
clerks are at work. and have been at work
for some time, endeavoring to complete
the exact expenditure that would be called
for by each of the several increase propo-
sitions now pending. none of these COM
putations has been finished. 1t is a big Job
to figure 1t all out. and 1t may be some
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27
Antelopes for American Deserts.

SAN FRANCISCO. January 26.-A dis
patch from Los Angeles today says: The
serves Of this region are to be restocked
with antelope. to be brought from Africa.
Private capital has already been secured
for the purpose, and the project, It is
stated IL already under way. 1t is intend
ed to secure species of antelope that
thrives In the hot desert regions and are
able to live a long way from water. In
former days antelopes were numerous in
southern California.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27

chasing power of the average salary has
undoubtedly dwindled from - to so per
cent-to make the statement conservative
within the past fifteen or twenty years
Time was when the average government
salary was sufficient to enable an ordinarily
carerll citizen to raise his family and in
due course of time to own his own modest
home. Nowadays he is lucky If he manages
to keep out of debt or If complaints for lack
OF promptness in payment of bills do not
reach the ears of his superiors.
So, all things considered, it is mo- remark
able that more and more members of Con-
gress should have come to look upon an
increase of government salaries all along
the line as a matter of simple justice and
should have ANNOUNCED their willingness to
vote for such proposition whenever 1t Is
put forward. During the present session of
Congress several bills for general increases
have been introduced, notably the measure
framed by Representative Southwick of
New York one OF the first members to rec
ognize by his action the claims Of govern
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27
BILLS TO RAISE
PAY Of CLERKS
Measures of Interest to Depart
ment Workers Now Pend
ing in Congress.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
Representative Davis Explanation OF
His Own Proposition.
THE COST OF LIVING HIGHER
How the Glasses of Government
Clerks Regard the Suggested
Selary-Increase Laws.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
Representative Davis Explanation OF
His Own Proposition.
THE COST OF LIVING HIGHER

1t has become apparent of late that there
is growing sentiment in Congress for the
enactment of legislation granting increases
in salary to government employees all along
the line. 1t would be too much 10 say that
this sentiment has crystalliZed, as yet. in
favor of any one Of the several bills that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-21

T LISTENED lately to very pointed pin sak by
the head of pin manuf actory, given before a
company of business men. As the pin man rose to
his feet he pulled bright pin out of the lapel
of his coat and held it up where all could see.
MY business is pins, " he began, his eyes resting
contemplatively on the polished and pointed bit of
metal. 9! don't know much about anything else;
but l do know pins and SO l going to try to
prick your business sensibilities with a few pin
points during short pin talk. Rather odd and
seemingly insignificant text, l grant you; but,
you will agree it is pointed and that what swanted
in a short business talk like this. Still fancy that
you cannot all see how the point is to be applied
and so let us on to the application.
"A good pin must have at least three. things
point of sufficient hardness and SHARPNESS to
penetrate whatever it is intended to pierce. head
to push and to keep it from going too far and suf-
ficient stiffness and strength of metal to keep it
from bending too much or breaking too easily
Like the pin, every business should have
point the ability to focus, to concentrate his
ges, as to bring all his powers to bear in exactly
the right spot at exactly the right time; and the
point must be sufficiently hard to withstand the
pressure behind and to penetrate the obstacle in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-21

sides with which to rritate and wound needessly
while doing its work. This is another good pin
point for the business to consider.
"A pin is very small object and of very little
value you can hold several hundred of them on
the palm of your hand and you can buy something
like hundred for a cent and yet each pin is
fashioned perfectly and as carefully to do its
appointed work as if it was worth hundreds of dol
lars instead of hundredth of cent The business
man needs look after his little business pins just
carefully; for if he does not do this they will
become dull and crooked and their sharp points
will irritate and puncture, making waste holes for
the profits to through, and finally bringing
down ruin on great business. There is fail
in multitude of little things gone wrong.
Watch your pins!
Now" and the pin man lifted his eyes from the
shining little pin and allowed them to rest the
faces Of his hearers, Il hope that my pin points
have proved that pin has many points, instead of
one as most people suppose, and that each point
has been pointer, pointing to the right point for
business man to stick pin in for future reference"
and with smile at his interested auditors, the pin
thrust the pin back into the lapel of his coat
and sat down.