The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-04-16
Nearly Everyone in the Gov
eminent Service, Even En-
listed Men, Got an Increase
In Their Wages.
CONGRESS NOW HAS
ECONOMICAL SPASM
This Was Shown When the
House Topped of $1,000
From Salary of Assistant
Director of Census.
BY Sheldon s. Cline.

Washington, April 16.-f one were
disposed to be sarcastic he might ex-
tend. congratulations to senators and
representatives that they had the fore
sight to increase their own salaries
from 5000 to $3.50 year before re-
trenchment became the style at Wash
ington. No increases of salaries are
being voted now, and government
clerks who had hoped that the prece-
dent established in increasing the COM
pensation of senators and representa-
tives would be followed in their own
case. have long wait before them.
Temper Of Congress
The temper of congress, and espec-
tally of the senate, was manifested
when the upper house got hold of the
census bill. A thousand dollars a
year was Topped off the salary the
house had allowed the assistant direc-
tor Of the census and the cuts averaged
$500 year each in the salaries of 9th
er highly-paid census officials. The
cost of taking the next census, the
senate is determined, will be less than
that of any recent one.
There is cold comfort in this to the
clerks already in the classified service.
Their salaries are based ON the cost OF
living a quarter of a century ago, and
for the past ten of those years they
have seen the purchasing power OF
their dollars steadily diminish. The
compensation of all other employees Of
the government. even that of the en-
listed men of the army and navy has
been increased. For two or three
years promises of an increase have
been made the clerks, but now that re-
trenchment has become the watchw0rd
1T looks as II they might be left to
hold the bag" for number OF years.
Helped by Mrs. Tart.
Among the minor government en-
ployes in Washington who take
cheerful view of life are the women in
whose welfare Mr.. Taft is taking an
interest. There is prospect OF better
things In store for them. These wo-
men are employed mainly in the gov
eminent printing office and the bureau
of engraving and printing and condt-
tions have been a great deal harder for
them than for their sisters who hold
clerkships In other departments. Their
salaries are lower and as q rule they
do not get the benefit Of sick leave
which is accorded classified clerks.
From the very nature of their work
these women are absent more than
women holding clerical positions, but
whereas other clerks may be sick thir-
ty days in each year without loss either
of pay or annual leave, il these wO-
men indulge In the luxury of sickness
they must do SO at their own expense.
AS most of them have only Is DAYS
instead of the usual 80 days OF annual
leave, it does seem like most unjust
discrimination.
Mrs. Taft is the first wife of pres
ident to interest herself seriously In
the welfare of women employees of the
government, and there is not little
curiosity to see how much she will be
able to accomplish for them. She
isn't going to hesitate to lobby with
senators and representatives in the
furtherance of her plans. and the
chances are that statesmen will lend a
most sympathetic ear to the pleas Of
the first lady of the land
Already Mrs. Taft has made secure
her popularity among women employees
of the government. and il women were
endowed with the elective franchise
Mrs. Taft could have any office within
their gift.