New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-24
SOME LABOR FOR LOVE
Imadequately Paid Federal EmpJoyss
in Responsible Places.
IFrom The Taibano Bursau.l

From The TfibanO Eursaul
washington, March 2S-In the government
service in Washington. hidden away in more
or less obscure positions and drawing modest
salaries. are many men whose attachments are
Of the highest order whose service is invaluable
and 10 whom the money remuneration is IN
every respect a secondary consideration. In the
FACE OF the fact that the President, the
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives and the
Senator's and Representatives for the ensuing
term are 10 have an increase in pay Of 80 per
cent al single bound, the humble salaries or
these men have remained unchanged and their
service is continued uncomplainingly.
Representatives now receive $500, for which
they serve three six months in the year
irregularly and with the greatest latitude. They
mostly lawyers and are able TO practise their
professions in the interim and gain large Glen
tees through the advertisement they receive in
public life and profit in various other ways
This other class Of men, doing a high grade
Of constructive work. but dependent for ade-
Qlate remuneration Congress, have only the
satisfaction of work We'll done and the enthusi-
asm Of the specialist in addition 20 their sala-
ries.
This contrasted class is that which is com
posed Of the men holding positions OF re-
eponsibiiity in the executive departments and
shouldering those responsibilities on meagre
salaries uncomplainingly; OF men Of science who
devote their learning TO the furthering OF vent
ureS taken up by the government Tor the dement,
of the whole people: OF of culture, who
give their attachments. lily paid. 10 such work
as that included in the scope OF the great Con-
gressional Library.
TO this class belong such men as United States
Treasurer Charles II. Treat, who is response
man in the world. Treasurer Treat receipfed
for more than q billion and a quarter OF money
when he assumed his present place. There
Two millions IN uhutilRted money coming IN
for redemption each working day in the year
and corresponding amount OF new money is
issued II would require q long train OF freight
cars TO haul the coin that IS stored in his
vaults and for which he is responsible. Yet so
unauestiOned Is this mans character that he is
required % give q bond OF only about S1J00e0
End none Of his subOrdinates are bonded He is a
man OF power in finance and his position in
any private concern. were IL possible for
place OF such responsibility 20 exist pri-
Vsiely, would draw q kings ransom. Yet the
Treasurer OF the United States draws only
$4,000 a year, 81, 800 less than the man who
represents, or, is occasionally the case, mis-
represents. his crossroads district IN Congress.
Under Treasurer Treat there is a corps OF men
who are responsible 20 him FOR the safekeeping
OF the vast sums Of money that are handled at
the Treasury. These are men OF unQuestioned
standing and integrity whose lives are as open
books ana whose every action has been known
10 the sleuths OF the department for a score OF
years and who have never made a misstep.
Some OF them have struggled for forty years
10 attain the positions OF trust that they now
hold. and have got them as a reward for def
nitely known qualities.
A. r. Quaife. who is veteran OF the Civil
War, entered the Treasury in 1855. and his SER
vice has been without interruption since that
time. He has advanced TO the position Of vault
clerk in the cash room. He has handled more
money than any other man ever handled in the
history Of the world, according 10 the reckonings
o ~ 1riT s2op6oSO that passes through his
hands. Yet his salary is only $500 year. and
he seems entirely satisfied with that amount.
J. E. Staples is chief OF the issue division
Of the Treasury. and must account for the en-.
tire issue Of the Treasury each night before
he leaves the building: Through service OF
thirty eight years ne has never failed in an
accounting. and the accuracy, skill and respon-
.ibility that he exhibits would call for a SAL
airy in the flve figures in private life. Yet ne
Onfg' 80 q OnG-rnlrd the salary OF
a Congressman. His example is only one among
many at the Treasury
I'LL PAID SCIENTISTS.
The Department OF Agriculture IN fits scien-
lists offers an example OF devotion 20 work and
disregard for salary that has few parallels.
Men holding such positions as that OF chemist
IN the department have been known TO leave
the service and enter private employ at salaries
as high as $4,000 a year. Inducements are con-
stantly held out TO these men 10 take such
places and yet the. chief chemist Dr. Harvey
n Wiley a man OF international reputation.
has worked diligently and unremittngly for
the benefit OF the human race generally at the
humble salary Of $500. and has only recently
The solicitor Of the department the man who
drafted the Meat Inspection bill and the IA
,os p,,va FOOD law is George p McCabe Until
recently he drew 5000 year. ana has just
had an increase Of $500 His time is so taken
up that no leisure Is left for outside practice.
yet he draws less than half as much as Rep
OXFORD Pinchot. Chief Forester Of the depart
Fnent is maea OF independent fortune and gives
his service time and talents 20 the work OF
forest preservation because OF a fondness for
il and a hope Of being public benefactor rather
than to embark in private enterprises for profit
The government pays him sS'0VO a year Ior
guarding the ipcalculable forest wealth OF the
nation from timber thieves. David Fairchiid. OF
the division OF seed and plant introduction OF
the bureau Of plant industry, is anotner man
NJ wealth and fine attainnents who gives him
self 10 an improbable work with the hope Of
adding TO the prosperity Of the nation through
the Introduction Of new varieties nnd such
as the navel orange means hundreds OF MILL
ions 70 the nation, and he regards the prospect
OF being of such service as aooVe money anu
tolls necessarily al $500 year
Except for these scientific bureaus there Is
probably no branch Of the government service
where the salary compensation Is at greater
variance with the grade OF work performed
than in the Library OF Congress- Further' there
fs no department in which those performing