Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-13

could find a splendid home, Washing
ton as a city beautiful, and to become
the grandest city of the world, was
thoroughly exploited in the report.
| Mr.. Harper made strong appeal for
an Improvement in the condition of
the Anacostia flats, high-presSure
| fire service. better Jail and fireproof
| buildings. He reiterated the chambers
resolution that the separating of the
congressional appropriation into items
of extraordinary projects of improve
ment benefiting the future and items
of current expenditure is the proper
method of handling the Districts needs.
In his Introductory remarks he COM
it's chairman. Charlls@W. Clagett, for
their good work in spreading informa-
ton concerning Washington broadcast
over the country.
The Convention Committee.
The report proper began with men
ton of the convention committee. II.
c. C. Stiles, chairman, in which it is
said:
The intention of the committee IS
largely to make Washington a con-
vention city of national Importance.
With this object in view the secretary
of this organization has visited various
cities where conventions were beng
held for the purpose of inducing the
delegates to select Washington for
some subsequent meeting; our expert
ence SO far has been that suitable
building to hold such meeting not be-
ing at our command has proved
great obstacle to our success"
The committee uses the following
! language regarding the hotel accommo-
| dations of the city: While it is pre-
sumed that the existing hotel facilities
are all that the patronage requires.
still at this time it would certainly add
! to the attractiveness of Washington as
a convention center if there were one
or two more good hotels of what is
gardless of this shortage in hotel IA
| cilities, Washington as a commercial
| city compares splendidly with othe:
cities of the country"
! Referring to government employees,
| Mr. Harper said: The average salary
of a government clerk is not what 1t
should be. The committee finds 1t IN
| advisable to take up the question on the
! lines of readjustment as suggested by
| the Keep commission, but preferably
| to confine its efforts to the establish
ment of higher average of pay for
all employees under the United States
and District of Columbia governments
| The reasons given by the committee are
most practical, and their conclusions
| are largely based upon the Increased
| cost of living,to the average household
| "A careful and detailed investigation
OF this phase of the question mas peen
| made by Mr.. \. Lisner, a member or the
| committee and the results of his re-
| searches are made part of the commit
tee report and to him credit is given. 1t
develops from this report that clerk
| receiving 81, 400 per annum with family
of five to support, will have less than
| 500 at the end of the year. to meet all
| the demands of the family other than
| those which are termed the absolute ne
cessities of living for himself and those
depending upon him.
Average Salary of Clerks.
THE report, continuing. states that the
| average salary of a government clerk IS
s1O71.6 There are nearly 10000 en-
ployes under the government, and out
| of this number only 2,471 receive salary
| OF 81, 400, that 1906 get more than 1880,
! and that 6.50l receive less than $I2e; that
2236 receive salaries between $12O and
| sS4O With such compensation paid out 10
men and women, many OF "hoHl are vi
the highest educational attachments. no
one can question the justice of the COM
mittee's recommendation.
| ..Further Investigations by this COM
mittee develops the fact that from a re-
! cent and reliable source of information,
| the cost of clothing has advanced since
1909. 30 per cent; the wages of ordinary
labor have increased about so per cent;
! food Il per cent, and the salary OF the
clerks of the progressive merchant nave
also increased The compensation OF
the government clerk remains as of old.
In conclusion the report asks that the
| Chamber of Commerce urge upon Con-
eress for adequate pay by the govern
| ment for it's clerks and not trade upon
| their helplessness. and also to urge upon
| that body the justice in making the aver
age salary 81 400 per annum, an increase
| of :s31s per cent
| 1.-The House committee mas been or no
| little value to the chamber during the
mast wear 1t has rented, and furnished
| in most tasteful and substantial man
ner our present quarters i'll the Brentano
| building.
Report on Schools.
( THE committee on public schools, Mr..
| Percival NJ. Brown, chairman, report that
our schools are free from unsettling dis
| turbances and that the school work Is
progressing under favorable conditions.
| "A subcommittee has been appointed
| to study our schools on the educational
side with view OF making suggestions
and recommendations, if any are deemed
| wise.
I'm regard TO school buildings. fire pro-
| lection and sanitary conditions and the
| material welfare of our schools the COM
| mittee believes that nothing but good Will
come to our school system from the re-
| cent discussion Of these matters, and that
| the schools will receive much benefit
| from the thought and effort which have
| been devoted to them along these lines.
| a subcommittee has also been appointed
| to study school conditions on the material
| side and to make recommendations. If
| any are deemed wise. looking 10 the bet
| terment and improvement of material
| conditions in the schools.
| 1.-The wholesale trades committee, Mr..
F. P. May. chairman, reports progress on
| practical lines. 1t has during the year
| investigated several plans for bringing
| to Washington new lines Of wholesale
and jobbing trade. They have outlined a
practical and inexpensive line of adver-
Using for the purpose of building up
| jobbing business for Washington.
1.-THE efforts of the committee on freight
| rates and transportation have been main
4 %