The Washington times., 1911-02-07
APLOYES FEAR FOR
INCREASE THIS YEAR
Friends in House, However,
Hope for Some Ac-
ton Soon.
FIGHT FOR WORKERS
WILL NOT BE STOPPED
Considerable Favorable Interest
Aroused in Congress for
the Clerks.

Fears are now expressed by civil serv-
ice employees that Congress will adjourn
without taking up any of the measures
looking toward an increase in salary
or for their protection when they shall
have become superannuated.
However, considerable interest has
been aroused in Congress. especially in
regard to salaries, and the civil service
workers have many friends among the
Senators and Representatives who will
insist on action. The issue will be kept
much aliv5 by the friends of the en-
ployes and some action is quite possible.
Goulden Optimistic.
One of the stanch friends of the
clerks is Representative Joseph A.
Goulden of New York, father of the
Goulden bill providing for straight civil
pensions He believes that Congress
should do something at once. although
he predicts that the coming Democratic
House will surely come to the aid or
the civil service.
"The agitation carried on by The
Washington Times and other friends
of the civil service employees will be
productive of results at the next ses-
sion If not now" said Representative
Goulden. 81 regret that business or
legislation is so congested, but 1, for
one, have not yet given up hope.
"I am much interested in the Gov
ernment clerks. My Investigations
have disclosed the startling fact that
q vast majority of the clerks in
Washington are poor. and when 1
say poor l mean it. In all my deal
ings with the clerks it has been the
exception rather than the rule when
] found one who was $50 ahead of
his salary. That is truly a pitiful
state of affairs.
81 venture to say that there is not
q class of clerks in the United State
so poorly provided for as the civil
service clerks. Congress should i'm
mediately enact law giving them
cent"
Mr.. Cary's Views.
Representative W. J. Cary of Wis
consin, who presented a joint resolu-
tion for a straight increase Of 25 per
cent for employees receiving less than
$2500, has this to say on the subject:
81 will say that / believe the man
in the Government employ drawing
the lesser salary is as much, IL not
more, entitled to consideration and an
increase in salary as is the man
higher up, drawing the greater salary.
Ny reason for introducing the reso-
luton was brought about by the
slicing or cutting being done on the
salaries of the various employees of
the Government and the rumors of
more to come when, instead, they
should be increased. 1t always has
seemed funny to me when a large
concern or Government department
attempts economy-they always start
to economic on the poor wage-earner,
drawing the smallest salaries, instead
of starting at the top, where they can
better afford the reduction.
Increase In Living Cost.
"The necessartes Of life have in
creased in cost in the last ten or
fifteen years so per cent, or more in
some instances, and yet the increase
in wages all over the country has not
been more than 10 per cent, If that much
And the Government certainly should
not be the one to first cut wages
knowing that the poor wage-earner
cannot stand it at this time If they
would reduce living expenses so per
cent in the country, in some way or
other, there might be some excuse
for them reducing the e-earner's
salary 10 per cent, which would put
him on a more equal basis and in bet
ter position to eat properly, wear
decent clothes, educate his children,
and become good American citizen"