The Washington times., 1914-03-07

me in the matter of passing bills, am
sire you will pass this one just TO please
me and England. A. ]. CURTIS.
To the Editor Of THE TIMES:
As far back as 1897, or earlier, Con-
gress, urged by some right-minded men
among our solons, seemed in favor Of
the passage of a pension retirement bill
for the Government clerks; always it is
mot this session. but soon." So it goes.
each year their number grows less.
Almost daily we read of some corpor-
alton providing for its Worn out en-
ployes. Even that fearful octopus, the
trusts. has seen to 1t that those whose
blood and Drawn are sacrificed to its
greed are in the end cared for. but not
the Government clerk. He has been
represented as an organized body OF
suhordinates" who have "systematical-
ly importuned and browbeaten Con-
gress" for more power and privileges. !"
Organized! They are not allowed to be-
long to a society for their betterment.
The mail clerks have been permitted TO
form some kind Of alliance that has
helped them in a small way. The hon
orable gentleman who made the speech
from which 1 have quoted above also
asserted that this mendicant will
never be satisfied" This all-powerful
creature, the terror of our Iawmak-
ers. ensconced in the luxurious hap Of
Government clerkship at salaries rang
ing from $50 to $40 per month, asks for
an increase in pay. not to spend it In
junketings. tanGoes, and high tinks.
but to meet the cost Of living that pur-
sues him day and night lie is held up
before the community at large as a
spendthrift and a waster. perhaps some
are. but Tot the majority, it would be
strange II among SO large number OF
clerks there were not few who be-
lieve In eating and drinking for tomor-
row We die. it surely would not be an
isolated case.
But why should the many be branded
by the few? AS a rule. he is sober.
faithful. and conscientious in his work.
a good husband and father. As things
have been for thirty years or more. he
cannot save. II the retirement bill Is
not to pass, do not brand him with lack
of foresight, wastefulness. and even
profiisacy as a cloak for the unwill-
ness for those in power to do him JUS
t;ce.
February q Mr.. Reilly. of Connecticut
introduced a resolution to appoint q
commission. at a cost OF $500, to in
vestigate old-age pension systems In
other countries. Hands off! Why can't
Uncle Sam pension his own employees in
lis own way? He runs his country ac-
cording to methods OF his own. and
considers strained relations with his
neiChbors according to Mr.. Nonroe's s
IDEAS Why should he not pension his
worn-out machines according to the
orinion Of his United States? By the
time the commission returns with its
rcrort. the old clerk will be in the con-
dition of 'Jinks' baby" while parlia-
ment passed bills and appointed CON-
mlttees and deliberated what DISPOSE
ticn could be made of the baby, the
orestion of caring for it was solved
thev drowned 1t because they had no
other pl1 ce for it. So the old clerk will
p3ss. Young blood" heaven save the
mark will be infused into the almost
moribund veins of Government, and be-
hold. the patient revives the question
is answered. and the country can breathe
once more.
During these days of great advantages
to the lucky" fellow we might cite
the custom in the departments of the
manner and mode of charges and sus-
pensions to which the clerk must sub
nit. If a charge is preferred against
him by n superior officer, he is i'm
mediately suspended without pay, no
matter how innocent he may be or what
evidence he offers, if his superior de-
cides he Is guilty 'he is guilty. whether
he Is guilty or not and must pay the
penalty of dismissal II he should be
fortunate enough to convince the powers
that be of his innocence and is rein
stated he must loose his salary for al
the time he was suspended, whether one
month or six, out of his sumptuous pay
of perhaps S1,2oO a year. maybe less
than that Often the lucky" fellow
has charges preferred against him by
a superior who for some petty spite
takes this method to get even.
On the other hand, If the superior
officer is accused of wrongdoinS and
charges are preferred. IL it is noticed at
all. he is not suspended. he does not
lose his salary. but goes rlSht a4ohS
drawing his pay. suffering no incon-
yenience whatever. and employs clerks
maid BY the Government to write up his
defense
There is an association in the depart
ments known as the Clerks Beneficial
Each clerk belonging 10 II
is assessed p cents upon the death of 4
member. At one time almost every
clerk was a member. but the "old clerk
has 4 way of dying; the young clerk
will not join because he imaGines a
lsng life before him. SO gradually the
has dwindled from several
hundred dollars to n measre sum OF
little over slO0. maybe. with care. sut-
ficent to bury the old man or woman
in a way suitable to the station of one
of Uncle Sam army of civil workers
ELIZABETH JACOBS.