The Washington times., 1912-06-27
Gives Reasons Why the Printers
Assistants Should Be Given an
Increase In Salary.

To the Editor OF THE TINES:
After reading 30 many letters publish
ed in your valuable paper. on the sub
ject Of the injustice to the underpsid
printers assistant" l can't resist. with
your permission, to say something. but
which Is based solely on the equitable
side OF the question. can't for the life
OF me see what difference II makes what
pay a printer or his assistant received
before entering the bureau or why
girls wearing apparel or a mans brand
OF cigars should enter into the argu-
ment at all. 1t seems to me the ma
terial has been sacrificed for the imma-
tertal In the expressions Of opinions. AS
! have said, l have read number Of
those letters. both in affirmative and
negative. and all SAVIOR OF aggressive
ness rather than in a friendly spirit.
The question is most plain and simple.
and 1t will be admitted that the printer
may make. at his discretion. either IS
or IS per diem. while his assistant can
not receive more than $3.50 per day for
the same working time and exactly an
equal amount Of arduous labor. or the
81. 80 the United States Government pays
Is cents per day and the printer $1.25
per day. Just think Of that (but with all
respecD, this big government paying a
person rs cents per day for a full day 8
work, subject to the dictation OF an
other! Mind you. II must be a day 8
work and not like the more just and
OF the District OF Columbia. At the
home they give an inmate a shovel or
trowel and send him out in the grounds
to be his own boss, and because Of the
gets the pay whether he works little or
much. ! cannot believe It's the inten-
tional fault OF Congress. II may be said
so because OF the absence OF legislation
men who have to do with that subject
are not fully conversant with the facts
in the case. else they might think, many
II not all. Of those girls have others de.
crease, or cause to be increased, theil
| pay to at least $3.50 per diem. Now, In
the argument with the printer We will
allow that he receives only (?) $3.50 pei
day After paying the girl S125 Chi,
| share OF the expenses) he has left S. %
| or over three times as much as she has
| for an equal amount OF arduous physi
cal labor. l will not attempt to criticis,
| the personal views OF the printer on thi,
subject. but have just submitted facts
| l know a number Of those gentlemen
! and they are good fellows. But we may
be good fellows and be mistaken. Again
all men are prone to selfishness in Low,
and bTead-winning, and considering tn,
attention required Of the girl in the in
terest Of her printer, making II possibl
for him to do an extra amount of worl
| some days and better work all days, 1
seems little enough for him to add s
cents more each day to her pittance
This, together with 80 cents more eacl
day by Congress. would make her pa,
reasonable. 1t is not sufficient to say
III you don't like 1t, get out" 1t /
much better to correct In the good oil
United States way by pleasing all. TIL
same consideration and kindness whic
actuated Lieut.: Wainwright to save tn
enemy at Santiago by a rescue from tn
magazine ship. after the surrender @
feet, and which Is characteristic OF thi
glorious Union, should stimulate tn
makers of our laws to better the con
ditions by increasing the pay Of thos
OF our women. whether they be Of ou
immediate family or not, who wish I
be self-supporting. l am not an employ
OF the bureau. but know a lot of mic
folks there, and want to see the deserv
ing righted.
MUTUALLY INTERESTED.