Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-29
APPEAL FOR JUSTICE
TO THE RANK AND FILE
Charge Made of Discrimination by
Congress Against the Gov
eminent Clerks.

To the Editor 90 The Star:
Are you sufficiently impressed with
the downright cruelty of this govern
ment? I read in the columns of your
paper that man has just died in one
Of the departments of this capital
efghty-one years old. having served the
government forty nine years. Very re-
Gently another clerk. eiShty-siX years
Of age, slipped from his desk into the
grave. Moreover. d woman. the mother
Of that distinguished officer whose
name will go down in history with
Dewey s-aS long as the records of war
are read-was permitted to remain in
one of tho departments right here in
Washington until she died, aged eighty
four He would have been retired and
peusiouod at the age Of siNty-tWo.
while the woman. his mother. could
work for the same government twenty
two years longer than the man-her
son.
And tn" diSGracefuI record has been
made far too many years-lf octo-
genarians dropping their pens only
when their weary hands have becn
seized by death. \ thing utterly i'm
possible in any other civilized nation.
The President has said that we are
"a big powerful self-respectiug ma
ZION" No one will demur to the big
aud powcrful''-might add with equal
verify proud and boastful. hut-seif :
respecting? Never. so long as Congress
disdains and ignores DEPARTING ntai
clerks and their petition for a pension
after serving tn" government faithfully
until incapacitated by reason of age
Alleges Favoritism.
Favored aristocrats-the army and
navy-are Compulsorily retired and pen
stoned before superannuatlo has the
opportunity to condemn-at the age, re-
spectiveIy. of siXty-twc and siAty-iour-
many of them fine specimens of vigor-
Gus manhood. barely beyond the prime
of life. While another faithful SerNltor
of the same government is sentenced 10
approximation, demotion. neglect ana
disgrace: condemned to work for an I'M
worthy master till the grave Shail cover
his weary head.
As for the record Congress mas hade
in self-respect, witness the saiar9 lh-
crease of 1871. when the Presidents COM
pensatit- was doubled from S-.'.Nh 10
$4,000: cabinet and Speaker of the
House raised from 5000 to SSihf ana
congressman from S3.tsb to S1.rp' put
il is not remembered. or even known
perhaps that there was clause IN that
hin which would give. female clerks in
the departments-Who were doing the
same work as male clerks-the same. or
equal salary. one member walled IN al
most fearful sorrow. that it had been
proposed TO take Siuht4h out or the
United States Treasury and give II TO
women''-,he very prudentIy re1raln-
ed from estimating the amount re-
ouired for the eIeCt.b W hereupoh. psiHS
fully aroused to the enormity OF such a
crime they promptly slaughtered that
proposition and proceeded TO make the
bill-minus that offending clause-retro-
active''-and by taking back-paE lor
.yfe-tv,- "a
of salary grab" for such unique iegis-
lation and the privilege of returning 10
private life for some of the participants
in the noble enterprise
Again in 1907. when Congress m
creased the salaries OF its members
80 per cent a plea was made Tor the
clerks; that it was more difficult Tor
them to live in Washington the en'lre
year by reason of the hlEh cost %
living than it could possibly be Tor
the congressman who were grooming
in spirit and very weak-so weak, SO
very weak, that they could not con-
slider the clerks at all, although Sena :
tor Bacon of blessed memory said that
morning had been done for them since
1913 Yet when one member. whose
name should be ever honored. ventured
to suggest that mileage should be re,
duced to the expense actually incurred
il was decided to keep it all-4o cents
mile-2O cents both ways, coming
from and returning to their homes
And they left the city rejoicing in their
spoils-practically $4,000 year, as
every congressman knows-while TO
the people called S7.500-leavins the
clerks helpless under their powerful
feet where they still remain. although
seven long years have added TO their
burdens and poor men ana women are
dropping into their graves worn out
and discouraged with the neglect OF
Congress and the annual cry next
session-next session''-which never
comes for them. Yet not a session
passes that the salaries of some hlgher
officials are not increased.
Clerks Still Neglected.
And today. when the presidential
salary has been doubled again. reaching
300 600 while ten members of the
cabinet are paid $4,000. those of the
rank and file of clerks in the depart
ments are much poorer off than they
were in 1S43. The average of theiI
salaries has been reduced one-th1rd
from $500 to $1,000; one hour and q
half added to their daily time. and al
privileges and courtesies which they
formerly received as gentlemen from
gentlemen have been withdrawn.
Seventy years of service have beer
very Improbable for the government
clerk. while profitable and continually
advancing for all above him in govern
rnent service. outside in the commercial
world and IN all the avenues of labor,
Men and women with any sense OF
justice in your souls. can YOU call suci
government Self-respecting? Does
not d sense of shame cloud your minds
when you realize that always and for
ever the policy of Congress has beer
with financial gifts to bestow TO com
mence at the top of the official ladder
and never reach the bottom. while ths
practice Of economy always commences
at - II fam NJ fsLr ET has hG9Y lsY "
70 reach the top
Again, | say. Big, boastful. rich
proud. powerful. but never seif-respect
ing Never. 50 long everything i:
done for Congress and the higher Off
Gals. and nothing for the clerks ;,
government of. for and by the people
- Systematically and continually trans
sresSing its first principles
G. Il. MAIDEN.
1921 Massachusetts avenue.