Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-25
Still Sneering at the Clerks.

1t was hoped by the friends of the gov
eminent clerks that when Congress had
persuaded itself to raise it's own pay it
would look more graciously at the PROPOSE
tions now pending to improve the condition
of the departmental workers. 1t is still
hoped that this will be the result of the
advance of legislative salary. That bit of
bounty, inspired by the conviction that 1t
costs men more to live nowadays than it did
some years ago. ought to mellow the con-
gressional heart and to render easier the
task of those who contend that it costs as
much more for a clerk to live as for rep
resentative or a senator. AT all events.
that fact remains beyond dispute.
However, even in this era of good feeling
the old disposition to carp at the depart
ment clerks continues to show itself in
Congress in some quarters. Yesterday,
while the House discussing the pro-
posal to abolish all pension agencies but
one. located in this city Representative
Powers of Maine took occasion to say:
Il believe that a careful examination will
show that the average clerk in Washington
does not do two-thirds of the work that he
will do in any other office outside, and that
1t costs more in every way to have any
thing done here than 1t does at any other
place. Therefore. this talk about saving
money. in my judgment, has no foundation
In fact"
We have heard this sort of thing before
sometimes in more offensive terms. If the
country accepted all that was said unfavor-
ably of the government clerks in Washing
ton it would believe them to be a lot of
ioafers and Incompetence. That they are
rs industrious. conscientious, intelligent
and loyal a body of men to be found any
where in employment is the firm conviction
of all unofficial Washington-indeed, also of
all official Washington outside of Congress.
1t is cruelty unjust for the members of the
houses to speak of these people as though
they were mere parasites on the body of
government. as mendicants constantly clam
pring for more while they fail to earn that
which is given to them, as reveling in lux
ury and idleness.
1t is a reflection upon the good sense of
Congress for members to advance seriously
the idea that the department clerks in
Washington do less work than the public
service officials or subordinates elsewhere
The hours have been heightened and the
work of individuals is closely watched by
jealous - sometimes overzealouS - chiefs,
who are striving for records and materials
for praise-winning annual reports. These
men and women are specialists often inval-
liable to the government. They apply them
selves to their tasks with an assiduity
which bears no rela ton to their compensa-
ton or to their chances for promotion.
The clerks who have gone as high as pos
sible. who have attained the maximum of
clerical compensation and have no pros
poets of betterment, work Just as hard as
their juniors in years and grade. taking an
interest and a pride in their daily achieve
ments and entering with zest into the solu-
ton of the knotty problems encountered in
the course of their routine
Filings at the clerks may seem to those
who indulge in them in debate to be good
Investments in home popularity. or they
may merely be the result of a habit of
mind. In either case they are unwarranted
and unfair, and the man or men who will
arise in the House or the Senate and take
up the cudgels in behalf of these faithful
capable, slandered workers will earn a rich
reward OF gratitude.