The Washington times., 1910-06-16
In the Mail Bag
That so Percent Increase.

To the Editor Of The Washington Times:
On February 26, 1907, the Fifty-ninth
Congress passed the following act:
That on and after March 4 1907. the
Speaker OF the House Of Representa-
tives, the Vice President OF the
United States. and the heads OF ex-
ecutive departments who are men,
bers Of the Presidents Cabinet, shah
be paid at the rate Of $4,000 per an
mum each, and the compensation Of
Senators, Representatives OF Con-
greSs, Delegates from Territories,
and Resident Commissioner from
Porto Rico, shall be paid at the rate
of $500 per annum each--See sec
ton 4, chapter 1,635, page S93, 994, vol
ume "a, Statutes at Large.
This increase Of salaries Of Senators
and Representatives IN Congress from
5000 to 1880. or 50 per cent increase,
was justified by the legislators because
Of the living expenses f. the District OF
Columbia, ana IN the debates preceding
the enactment the Congressional Record
will show that the gross inadequacy OF
the compensation Of departmental clerks
who were compelled TO live in the Dis
trict the entire year, or pay railroad fare
to Baltimore, Alexandria, OF to suburb
an boarding houses, was recognized, and
relief In their behalf was implied, if not
directly promised. Attention was then
invited to the fact that Senators and
Representatives in Congress-, those
whose attendance upon the sessions Of
Congress were regular, only remained
in the District about six months during
the long session and but about three
months during the shcrt, and that the
same reasons which justified the in
crease Of the salaries OF Senators ana
members Of Congress 50 per cent, justi-
fed the increase Of the salaries OF de-
partmental clerks 100 per cent and over
Like reason doth make Ike law"
The salaries OF heads Of executive de-
partments having been increased from
$500 TO $4,000. or 50 per cent, and as Il
is noticeable fact that the heads OF
departments never reside IN the District
the entire year. the department clerk.
whose meager compensate often de-
prives him OF the means with which 10
leave the District during his thirty-day
leave, were preparing to invite the at
tention OF their Senators and Repre-
sentatives 70 the gross Injustice that
had been done them IN the matter OF
inadequate compensation, when on Nov
ember Is. 1903, the following executive
order, No u42, was issued:
1t is hereby ordered that no bu-
reau3 office. or division chief, or sub
ordinate in any department OF the
Government, and no officer OF the
army or navy or marine corps sta
TONED IN Wasl .ington, shall apply
70 either House Of Congress. or 10
any committee Of either House OF
congress. or 10 any member Of Con-
gress for legislation, OF for appro-
priauons, or for Congressional &C
ton Of any kind. except with the
consent and knowledge Of the head
OF the department; nor shall any
such person respond 20 any request
Tor information from e Their House OF
Congress, or any committee OF eth
er House OF Congress-, or any mem
Der OF Con gress, except through. or
as authorized by, thg head OF his de-
The White House.
November IS, 1893.
This order, It Is understood. has been
verbally modified TO the extent that
permission has been granted by the
President fAr departmental clerks 10
sign a petition 20 Congress to reduce
their salaries from to u per cent for
the purpose Of purchasing, from the
Government. upon conpulsion. an an
nuity Of from $500 to 500 per annum, at
a rate in excess Of any rate asked by
responsible insurance companies selling
annuities, and this is offered as relief
to the underpaid department clerk This
Is such relief as Pharaoh Of Egypt
granted the children OF Israel
Inadequate compensation, not extrava-
gance. is what causes the old depart
nent clerk 70 be stranded in the Capt.
tai OF the Nation he fought 10 save.
and for which he is willing 10 make
any sacrifice Slave labor never paws
IN the long run. Just compensation and
service will be demanded By
AL worthy departmental employees. Now
IS the time when the long delayed re- |
lief should be granted
What use IS the life boat II not sent
TIL the swimmers life IN the seYf Is 1
spent JB.