The Washington herald., 1911-05-21

"You ask me for a statement set
ting forth the aims and purposes of
the committee of 100, with my per-
sonal views as to the manner and
methods of bringing about correct
i've legislation looking to reclassi-
hcation and more just compensation
for the vastly variant labors of the
government servitors," said former
Senator Charles Dick, of Ohio, the
new director of the committee of
100, as he sat back in his swivel
chair in the cool offices of the conf
nittee on the seventh floor of the
Colorado Building. Col. Dick knows
how to take hot weather srnilingly.
He was attired in a suit of crash.
He looked 10 degrees cooler than
the outer atmosphere.
AIMS AND II HPOSES.
Then the director turned to The WASH
ington Herald reporter:
The aims and purposes of the organi-
cation are adequately set forth in the
statement published by the twenty-one
citizens Of Washington who inaugurated
the present movement. The main object
is to secure legislation for increased COM
pensation and a wise retirement system
for the civil service employees of the
national government and of the District
Of Columbia 1t is also quite as impor-
tant to secure a readJustment of salaries
to correct the inequalities of work and
pay which in some instances now exist
in the case of clerks drawing low salaries
who work by the side of and do the
same work as clerks paid much higher
salaries
When was the civil service last re-
classified?" asked The Herald reporter
Col. Dick laughed.
NO new classification of salaries paid
government clerks has been made since
the year 1854. when Congress established
the present grades of salaries at 81 200
81. 400. $780, and $3.50 per year. While
probably no considerable number of clerks
who have remained in the government
to receive promotion the salaries paid
the different grades of clerks have not
changed in the past f1fty-seven years.
In the meantime, salaries have been in
creased for the President for members
Of the Cabinet, for Federal judges, for
Senators and Congressman, for the army
and the navy, and for practically all
persons in the service Of the United
States except those in the classified
service.
Salaries and wages paid persons in
private employment have steadily and
substantially increased. These increases
have been made in large part to meet
the greatly increased cost of living and
to enable all employees and laborers to
have the opportunity for higher and bet
ter living
What of the Oppositionf
1T has been urged by the opponents
Of change in the status of government
clerks that the certainty of their tenure.
guaranteed by the civil service laws.
makes 1t less necessary for wages to be
advanced than to clerks and other work
ers in private concerns said The Her
aid man. What is your answer to that,
Col. Dick?'
why should not the government clerk
be given the same considerations said
he sitting upright in a flash.
when Congress, a few years since in
creased its own pay, the action was justi-
fled on the ground that the cost of all
the necessities of life had increased 1t
was claimed, and with reason, that Sena-
tors and Representatives should be paid
a salary sufficient to enable them and
their families to live in Washington in a
manner befitting the dignity of their
office. The government clerk likewise has
q status to maintain and should be paid
salary commensurate with his position
and large enough to enable him to raise
q family and support II comfortably and
decently. With the increase in the cost
Of living, there has been an increase In |
the standards of living and the govern
ment clerk should not be entirely cut off
from those advantages
Pension the Superannuated.
''Will the plans Of the committee or
one hundred include a scheme to promote
the enactment Of a fair and equitable re- |
tirement law for the benefit of the clerks
who give the best of their lives to the
service Of the government Col. Dick
was asked.
THE question Of Just and adequate
system for retiring government clerks
who have grown Old and feeble In the
service is one Of pressing and increasing
importance. The civil service idea, 4 O.,
the policy Of admitting employees to the |
service by some form of merit test and of |
retaining them in the service as long as |
efficient and faithful, has become a fixed |
plan In our government Some system of |