Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-12

of the bill for the increase of the sal
aries OF government employees. In
this they stand with the other inter
ests OF the District practically as
unit. They believe the time has come
when the faithful workers for Uncle
Sam should receive the substantial
recognition provided by the Davis
bill, and they also believe that all
fair-minded senators and represen-
tatives are OF the same opinion.
The foregoing sentiments were developed
today by star reporters who interviewed
many of the most substantial bankers and
other huanC!erS in this city, whose inter-
ests are side and divergent
The proposition to increase the COM
pensation of the government toilers is
not a local one. as the benefciaries repre-
sent every state and territory in the Union.
Only small percentage of them are bona
fide citizens of the District of Columbia.
Hence. il was asserted. the matter should
appeal to every member of Congress in
the interest of fair play and square
deal
Jobbers and Shippers.
II know that every member of the job
bers and Shippers Association is heartily
In favor OF the proposed 20 per cent increase
in the salaries of government employees"
Assistant Secretary Woodwork Clum said
today. "Of course, the matter has not been
brought formally before the association. but
l think | know the sentiment of the men,
bers. The iobbers and shippers sell TO the
retailer. who in turn supplies the govern
ment cmrluye. The cost Of production has
increased materially in the past five years.
.-I,s.fs. nlr~x. ,y1lIn 1 70
pay much higher prices for the goods they
handle The retailer in turn has increased
living expenses. and consequently the price
to the consumer (and most of the consum-
ers are government employes) is easily ~
per cent more than it was ten years ago
Congress should help the government
employe. for many reasons. but more par
ticularly because he is directly responsible
for the prosperity of the capital city. Did
you ever stop to think that Washington is
upon the same secure hnaAclai foundatloh
as is the national government? NO city IN
this great country Is SO immune TO any
and ali sorts of financial depression as is
Washington. Nothing less than national
catastrophe-and by that is meant the alb
solute and complete overthrow OF the
American republic-could disturb the imam
cial euuanmity of Washington. Strikes
and lockouts may come and go; capital and
labor may lock horns in the mighty strug-
gle for supremacy the mammoth INDUS
tries of the country may suffer even unto
death-but just so long Uncle Sam pays
out from SIon.0G0 to SJ,000,GOO a month TO
his helpers in Washington there will be
prosperity for the manufacturers. the job
beers and the retailers who are doing bust
ness in the shadow of the national Capitol.
OF course. the JobberS and Shippers Asso-
citation is for increased salaries to the gov
ernest employees. But beyond this selfish
motive there is no disputng the statement
that there has been an increase in the cost
OF living in Washington of ~ per cent in
ten years.
So l,a Il ,ar1n f
Washington reside in Baltimore and travel
to and fro between these two cities every
day? It is because the living in Baltimore
is cheaper, at this time. These employees
can afford to pay the railroad fares and
lose the time, in order to secure the adj
vantage OF fair living expenses Surely
Congress does not want its helpers-the
government employe. to live in Baltimore
aad work in Washington. | believe that all
that is necessary is for the members of the
House committee to get in on the ground
floor and study local conditions. Then the
- per cent increase will be forthcoming
Increase in Living Expenses.
Mr. T. Quincy Smith, who is president
of both the Washington Exchange Bank
and the Union Savings Bank, expressed
himself as heartily in favor of the pending
bill for the increase of the salaries of gov
eminent employees. He said:
Tile cost of living has gone up enor-
mOusly in the past few years, while the sal
aries Of government clerks have remained
substantially the same. While the rest of
us have been living rather more luXuriously
becSus" of the general prosperity that has
seemed To come to us, the government
clerks. instead of living better, have been
living less luXuTiously because of the fact
that their salaries have remained the same,
while the cost of living has risen.'
The very favorable views of Mr. Bestor
II. Walters treasurcr-cashier of the Citi-
.EiD Ran
nue. Were given to The Star follows:
Possibly no local institution is In closer
touch with the government employees than
tie Citizens Savings Bank called the De
partmeutal Bank, the majority of its
stockholders and officers are department
people. they having purchased the stock on
monthly payments. so naturally We are
heartily In favor of the proposed increase in
The pay OF department clerks. From the
standpoint of the departments We would
recommend this bill also To my personal
knowledge there have-been a number of
bright. energetic men who have left the
departments and Washington for more lu-
crativc positions elsewhere. and more are
following each month. So, If the govern
ment and Washington expect to keep the
good men and women they should see to 1t
that the salary is sufficient at least for their
maintenance.
Plain Business Proposition.
Mr. Norman Gait of the jewelry firm OF
ly necessary that the pay of government
employees be materially increased. 1t is
business proposition so plain as apparently
TO admit of no argument: matter of such
Importance as TO demand the immediate at
tentou and action of Congress"
THE proposed increase of the pay of gov
eminent employees has my hearty support
by all means" This was the short sharp
and decisive statement of Mr.. Jesse B. VIII
son. president of the Lincoln National ,
Bank.
International Banking Corporation.
Mr.. ]. Selwin TAFT. manager of the In
ternational Banking Corporation, when in
terviewed. said he was not In position to
express an opinion as to the justice of the
claims for an increase of wages on the
part OF any branch of government en-
ployes. but speaking generally he has no
hesitation in stating that the price of the
principal staples had gone up considerably
during the past few years. Whether that
was due to the enlarged output of gold
which began with South Africa and was re-
inforced from Alaska. he would leays Ii to
the scientists to determine, but there could
be no doubt that the two events occurred
simultaneously. greatly TO the disadvan-
tage of men of small, fixed income.