Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-24
EXPECTS MORE PAY
P. B. Chase Says Clerks Bill
Will Pass Next Congress.
COMMITTEE MEETING SOON
Those Seeking Increase for Govern
ment Employees to Urge Action.
CITES SALARIES AT CAPITOL
Compensation Allowed There, It Is
Said, Shows Congress Admits
Lowness in Departments.
COMMITTEE MEETING SOON
CITES SALARIES AT CAPITOL

Bills will be passed at the coming ses-
sion of Congress providing for increased
pay for the government clerks and re-
tirement system. 1 am confident"
This statement was made last night by
+. b. Chase chairman of the committee
OF one hundred, that has just returned
to Washington. Mr.. Chase declared that
he would call : meeting of the commit
tee in short time, probably the first
week next month. when report from
the publicity bureau in charge of former
Senator Dick of Ohio would be made and
plans outlined for vigorous campaign
this fall in the interests of the clerks
No stone will be left unturned by the
committee to bring about action on the
measures which have been introduced in
Congress to better the condition of the
clerks, said Mr.. Chase
1t is a fact well known that the en-
ployeS of the Senate and House are the
best paid clerks in the government Serv-
ice. Other clerks. doing the same kind
of work, in the various executive depart
mentS receive salaries less by many
hundreds each year than the clerks who
work close to the members of Congress
who appropriate from the government
funds for their pay.
Says Congress Admits Pay Is Poor.
A clerk in the government service
during the big fight for an increase in
salaries in 1852 called attention to this
fact. which was true in those days, as it
it at present. He said:
Congress virtually admits the made
auacy of the pay allowed clerks in the
departments by providing larger COM
penSation to those in its own employ.
| none of whom receive less than $1,oOO d
year and donation of $3.50 a the end
| of each session Increased by the Senate
| at the close of the last session to the
officers in it's employ to the amount OF
| four months pay. or $500 TO the CLERKS
receiving the lowest salaries), notwith-
| standing that they have half their time
| places il they wish.
II do not allude to this because the
| employees OF Congress do not earn their
| 'renny-for they receive no more than
all government clerks should receive.
! Their duties, however, are no more ardu-
| Gus or intricate than those OF most clerks
! in the departments. The unemployed
! portion of their time is SO great that
| they can keep their families in other
| places than Washington if they de-
| sire, where their expenses will be much
| less and still be with them half the
time. Tied down to their offices, the de-
| partment clerks, If they would spend
| any time with their families. must keep
! them in Washington.
! Declares Clerks Are Hampered
"Why should this inequality of COM
pesation, as compared to service, exist?
l can find but one answer. The depart
ment clerks, like slaves, are SO ham,
| pered that they cannot help themselves
Many are poor and cannot go anywhere
| else. Others have been immured in Office
| here until they have lost their poitica !
J influence and the political standing they
once had.
They are debarred from VISITING tho
halls of Congress during the day and
are unable to extend Inequalities to or
associate on reciprocal terms with. MON
berS of Congress, in order to renresent
their condition. And even if they could
do so. many are too proud to exhibit the
real state of their affairs, or Ia Mead
for justice, even to the representatives.
of their own districts. He is MOI
devil-he can do me no good nor 49, -
where he is-let him alone h.va no
doubt is the thought of some members of
congress toward some clerks whom tbav
are under moral. social and political oh
ilsations to protect and assist
GU may ask what ! think would no
TAR salaries. Congress has answered
that question very correctly in tn COZ,
pensation made to it's clerks No .aIa,,
of a clerk should be less than 81 soo
Those from whom are required much
skill and responsibility should have n,,,oh
more, and the public interest would h..
enhanced, if fund could be placed At rho
control of each head of department 70 h.
used as rewards for extraordinary serr
ice. or II congress would extend the
same liberality to the department cIerns
as it does to its own"