The Washington times., 1911-01-04
Woman Takes Example
From Congress Action

To the Editor OF The Washington Times:
On January 5. 1870 The Washington
Times, always the champion OF right
and Justice, said In an editorial:
Everywhere there is evidence OF
growing interest and growing concern
over the increase in the cost OF living.
and a question of such prime impor-
tance to 10000 families in the United
States, could be probed carefully oy
various Government agencies"
About a year previously Congress
added, by rising vote, TO take immedi-
ate effect, an addition, of $3.50 to the
salary of each member of both houses.
They saw the necessity, rose to the
emergency, and, presto! the thing was
done.
For years the Government clerk has
been exploited for and against a raise
in his salary, but 1t remains in statu
quo. Hope was deferred until 1t ceased
to be renewed All through the last
session of Congress the subject OF
pension for the worn-out man and
woman, whose lives had been spent IN
the service Of the Government, was
mooted, but to no purpose; then IN
July a good way was found TO solve
the problem. and the poor OLD clerk
met with a wholesale discharge.
Such a wave of reprobation and dis
gust swept the country that they We're
returned, places found for them ana g.
respite given of one year, with the nope
that Congress would pass some law 10
help the helpless, year older' year
further incaDacitated.
Suppose the superannuated man Is re-
tired on a straight pension OF soo
month, how many more In the same
condition would the $l,4O provide for
at the same rate? Independent OF this
view, the overworked man would nave
a chance to keep up his end. better
work would be done by the abler man
appointed, and the cry OF retrenchment
" ouId be satisfied in that direction.
Government work Is good work, So
cially and up to the present time, pc
cuniarily, but living is doubled, and it
is not SO easy now to find men willing
to give the best Of themselves to work
that only holds out to them the GER
tainty of poverty or charity.
The comparatively few clerks who
draw a salary of $3.50 or 5000 could.
but am not sure without protest, give
a per cent of their pay roll to the con-
tribusory fund but .S6 the large os army n1S who
feeI fense the ire REDUCTION S bitterly. wy It O is
officeholders do not care to en-
list in the army Of Uncle Sans Gov
.rnment Paupers," but the young
IICH WIN uO Ctll ooC IL q SSCppluB
stone to- a professional or some other
desirable employment. II the Govern
ment desires expert workers II must
offer living wages or some security
that the faithful and efficient servant
will tie provided for when the time
comes for the young blood" to step
into the ranks.
1t has not been so long since the Gov
eminent clerk was branded in Congress
as a hungry band of mendicants" con-
or aV1Fl N fNr
more pay and privileges" Congress
was "GraSooned, boycotted, importuned,
and browbeaten by this organized body
of surbordinates." Still they cannot be
satisfied, high prices of food. fuel and
shelter. with the terror OF poverty
stricken old age, hound him on to i'm
perfume" that some feasible provision
be made when he ceases to be of use
to the Government he has so faithfully
served.
.FLIZABETH HARRISON