The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-11-07
MUST ACCEPT LESS
SALARY FOR WORK
Bad News for Old Fellows
Holding Down Govern
ment Positions.
TARIFF ISSUE NEXT YEAR
CONGRESS is TOO LIBERAL IN
APPROPRIATION MATTERS.

Washington, Nov e.-The best evidence
that the heads of the several executive
departments mean to reorganize and re-
classify the employees under their juris-
diction is contained in an opinion recently
rendered by Attorney General Wicker
sham, who, in response to the President,
decides that in the matter of reduction
in salary and rank ex-soldiers and ex-
sailors and their widows and orphans are
entitled to no preference whatever, but
stand on an equal footing with other en-
ployes.
For many years ex-soldiers, ex-sailors
and their widows and orphans holding
positions under the government have
been looked upon as the wards of the
nation. In other words they were given
the preference in the matter of appoint
ments, promotions and dismissals.
When occasion arose that necessitated
reduction Of the force in department
or separate bureau of the government, as,
for instance. the government printing Of
flee, the civil war veterans and their
widows and orphans would be the last
to go. Later. this same preference was
extended to the Spanish war veterans.
And even when it came to cutting ex-
penses by reducing salaries in the de-
partments the preference still held good.
Never before, so far as can be ascer-
tanned, has the attorney general been
asked for an opinion on the law cover
ing this subject.
veterans and their widows and orphans
does not apply to a reduction of salary
or rank is construed to mean that in the
| ''shake-up" in the treasury department
soon to take place, employees who have
entered the service through the civil
service In the last few years will fill the
i places of those who have become super
animated in the service, and thus there
will be a redistribution of salaries.
| Secretary MacVeagh does not want to
/ do an injustice to anyone, but he realizes
that 1t is necessary to give the young
| clerk. a chance, and pay him what he is
worth. This can only be done by redue-
/ ing those clerks who have given their
best time and energy to the government
and who have now passed the age when
/ they can meet the requirements.
| very large number of the employees
| in the treasury department belong to the
| class known as civil war veterans. They
hold preferred positions In the matter OF
| salary. 1t is they who are to be re-
duced. thus making way for younger
blood" II is said this plan has been
| adopted in preference to dismissal and
calling on the civil service to fill va
The opinion prevails that the other de-
partments will adopt the MaeVeagh plan.
1 and that the outcome will be legislation
/ providing for the retiement OF super
animated employees in the classified serv-
ice Secretary MacVeagh is said to be
I favorable to the Gillet bill, which was
reported to the house in the last con-
gress.
| There seems to be no doubt but that
many congressman feel confident that
the tariff will be a leading issue in IN
| congressional elections next year. The
basis for this opinion is the fact that
more than two million copies OF the
speeches delivered in the house and sen
ate during the extra session have been
ordered by members of the house and
senate.
The Democratic congressional commit
tee it is said, will circulate thousands OF
! copies of speeches delivered by Senators
DOlliveT, LaFollette and Cummins, three
Of the leading Republican progressives II
the senate.
These senators charged that the Payne
| bill fell short of keeping the promise made
| in the Chicago platform, and, in fact
severely attack the Payne bill in every
| schedule. 1t is this discomfort in the ives
that gives members of the Democratic
| congressional committee encouragement
| and hope for a Democratic house in tn
next congress. If it was not intended tia
| the tariff should figure in next years
elections. 1t is highly improbable tina
millions Of copies of tariff speeches woul(
be circulated, when, as matter OF fact
no elections were at hand.
In administration circles the statemen
is made that President Taft will be sat
isfied to have the tariff as an issue !
the campaign next year. The two month
during which the Payne bill has been Il
force indicates that il will be a revenu
revenues the first year equal to the ex
Denditures, 1t is likely that within tw'
years. provided the administration pro
/ gram Of economy is continued, it will pro
| duce a surplus. This. of course. include
| | revenue from the corporation tax.
IL X X X
II Congress has been most liberal in tn
| matter of appropriations during the las
| two years, and the expenses of the gov
| eminent have increased beyond all rea
| | SON For instance for the fiscal yea
| | ended June 30, 1907, the ordinary dis
| | bursements of the government amounte
| to SOL. 705. 129
II In two years from that date-to b
| | more exact for the fiscal year ended Jun
II 30, 1909-the ordinary disbursement
II reached the enormous sum of SGG2, 324, "A
| an increase of over Sl00.000.000.
II 1t is said, on high authority, that
was this statement showing the increase
/ cost of running the government tina
| caused President Taft TO issue the orde
) to the heads of the departments to devils
= ways and means of reducing expenses.
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