The Washington times., 1910-12-22

The case Cf the undeTpa id Govern
ment employe versus his employer that
is being daily presented in the editorial
and news columns OF The Times. is
creating needed discussion al the Capt.
tol, and already has resulted in the in
PRODUCTION of two bills intended to re-
iieve a most unsatisfactory condition Of
affairs
Representative Cary of Illinois has
straight Increase Of p per cent in sal
ary for an those employees who now
receive less than $3.50 annually
Representative Goulden of New York
is the author of a new bill providing FOR
the retirement Of superannuated EN-
ployes and a civil pension 10 be paid by
the Gover,tsIent, the amount Of which
Is to be pTe5jcated upon the length Of
service and the previous salary drawn
by the pensioEor-
Clerks Must Agree.
Incidental TO the present discussion,
however-and there IS considerable talk
on Capitol HH nowadays concerning
the duty which the Government owes
its faithful band Of Workers-oue mem
Der of the House today offered a
thought which should give every en-
pIoye food for reflection. rega rdIess OF
the particular kind OF legislation that
eventually may be decided upon TO
remedy present conditions This MEM
AT the bottom Of the entire situation
lies this fundamental fact-the Govern
ment employees cannot agree am, uE
themselves as 10 what they desire You
get back 10 this every time you cor
slider the unsatisfactory status Of the
Government emplOye and his present
wage Congress h-s no time 10 thresh
erFe
must do it.
The Times poll and the various retire
ment plans proposed may settle once
and for al. the attitude Of the Govern
uent employe, thus putting the matter
squarely up TO Congress
Caustic Criticism.
The introduction Of the TWO bills men
toned above followed the publication
Of a leading editorial in The Times or
Tuesday showing that there has been
10 general revision Of the salary lists
or the Government within the past fifty
seven years
Representative Cary is especially Caus-
tic in his criticism OF the fact that time
has been found, however. 10 increase the
salaries OF members Of Congress. Judges,
Cabinet officials, and ''favoTite officials, -
although the pay Of the rank and file
has remained about the same, despii 2
the increased cost OF living and the de
uands Of greater necessity.
The increase In the cost Of living has
affected the emplore who receives $50
just as much as the Cabinet officer -
said Mr. Cary today 1T means that II
requires q per cent mere 20 care FOR
his family now than Il did. say, a de
cade ago. Why should not his salary
he increased also and why should the
United States take care OF only the
high-pTlced men In It's employ The
Times presents the situation in a very
fofcible Hight
Padgett's Views
Repre sentative PadEett Of Tennessee
IS auot her member Of the House whose
sympaIhies are with tbs underpaid en-
pIoyes.
y would favor a proposition TO IN
crease salaries somewhat IS proposed
by the Cary bill have especial sym
pathy for those employees who are only
getting from $50 70 g SO Per year The
Government should pay its employees an
amount sufficient for them 70 live con-
fortably, and 70 save IL they are OF 4
saving disposition The man who gets
a good salary and then does not save
IS not worthy OF a pension system In
fact I think a pension system in the
departments viii be unnecessary should
the Government pay the right sort II
wages TO its workers
Another prominent member OF the
House. who declined the use OF his
name for the present. said; THE
present agitation OF this question Is
all right. providing the Government
employees can agree among them
selves This has been their trouble.
Some Of them prefer one kind Of a.
retirement plan and others are equal
y as insistent upon an entirely diff
fereut one If the employees VIII get
together and concerted pressure is
brought - bear. there may be chance
for early legislation Of the desired
sort
Representative ROIheTmeI OF Penn
syIvania said 7 shall vote when
ever opportunity is afforded for an
increase in the pay Of the Govern
ment employees I believe that they
deserve it
Deserve Il
Representative Hughes OF New Jer-
Eey declared that there was little
prospect Of legislation affecting Gov
eminent employees at this session
However added Mr. Hughes. there
are undoubtedly humber OF en-
ployes e ttiuE the smaller salaries