Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-27
The Government and Its Workers.

Although it is too late in the session
for ANYTHING to be done for the benefit
of the government clerks in the way
of salary increases or the adoption of
a retirement system, nevertheless the
mass meeting held Saturday night,
which was addressed by several men,
bers Of the House Of Representatives,
must be reckoned as an important factor
in forwarding this interest. 1t at
forded an opportunity for Legislators
to express themselves specifically upon
the subject and it is gratifying to find
such a strong sentiment on their part
for a recognition Of the right of the
government clerks to consideration
equally with other workers whose COM
pensations have in the past half CEN
fury been frequently increased in keep
ing with the greater cost of living.
1t is greatly to be deplored that Con-
gress has not at this session taken ad-
vantage of the opportunity offered by
the presence on the calendar of numer
Gus bills, all of them drawn after care
full study, to improve the condition of
those who are doing the governments
daily work faithfully and efficiently.
Unfortunately, this subject has been
Idteu DIS OHc VI tHoSC thoh Soh pS JuSS
as well postponed, when, as a matter
of fact every year the welfare of the
government clerk is neglected the gov
eminent itself suffers. Congress is
alert to save money frequently by the
denial of appropriations for large prof.
ects, and then again it is liberal to the
point of extravaganza in allotting pub
lie funds. Unfortunately, it often ap-
plies its pruning knife unwisely, as
when it declines to recognize the fact
| that the departmental workers are vir-
tually the only class of wage-earners
| in this country whose pay scale has re-
| manned stationary for more than fifty
years.
| One of the speakers Saturday night
declared that if the principles of bust
ness were applied the government could
| by proper readjustments do it's work
better for less money and with a more
! liberal scale of compensation. 1t is un-
| deniable that there is need of reor-
! ganization in some parts of the admin
| istrative system, and when that work
| is undertaken Ii should not be with the
view t. cheapening all the processes.
Cheap men are dear in any business,
and in the government work as else
| where.
What is needed in this connection is
| the presence in both branches of Con-
gress Of a group of men who, with the
| interests of the government primarily
at heart, will be disposed to fight early
and late from the beginning of the ses-
sion to the end for legislation benefi-
| cial to the clerks. There is, after all,
| no more important subject which Con-
gress can consider. 1t reaches the
| foundations of the government service.
| 1T affects the efficiency of the govern
ment's organization. 1t is vital to the
| welfare of the business management of
| the United States.
That is the public point of view. That
| is the one from which Congress will in
all likelihood eventually approach and
study this question and act upon it.
Meanwhile the personal factor is urgent
1 The clerks are in need of an improve
| ment in their financial condition. They
are falling behind the procession. All
the skilled trades and most of the un-
| skilled trades are far better off proper
| tionately than these accomplished
faithful and in many cases expert
workers for the government 1t is time
| that their cases were treated i'll accord
ance with their individual and collect
! i've merits.