Evening star., 1915-05-27
PLEAOF CLERKS
MANY YEARSAGO
How the Argument for Better
Pay Vas Met by Legis-
Iator in 1924.
DIALOGUE AS PUBLISHED
BEARS ON ISSUE OF TODAY
Congressman Explains Why, in His
Opinion, Increased Compensation
Should Be Denied.

Although the cost of living has in
creased greatly as the years have gone
by, the salaries of civil service EN-
ployes of the government in Washing
ton have by no means kept pace with
the cost of living, it is claimed by
friends of the employees. They insist
that an increase of salaries all along
the line is due the clerks. 1t is their
hope that at the next session of Con-
gress the national legislature will give
attention to the proposal for an in
crease of salaries at the same time
that it takes up for consideration the
proposal for retirement system for
government employees.
That Congress has been slow in the
past as well as in recent years to do
anything for the benefit of the civil
service employees is shown in a "Dia-
logue Between a OneThous9nd-Dolla
Clerk and a Member of Congress-.
published in 1924. when there was an
agitation on foot to better the condl-
tion of the clerks. The arguments used
then by the government enpioye TO
convince the congressman that clerks
were entitled to an increase OF salary
might be used with effect today, al
though the cost of foodstIffs. rent
and service has very greatly increased
since 1924, and the figures given by
the clerk would have TO be revised
Dialogue of Century Ago.
This dialogue, which is supposed 10
have taken place nearly a century ago,
was as follows:
Clerk-Do you think an application
to Congress for an increase of our sal
aries would be attended to this session?
Member-Perhaps we might notice 1t,
as we did similar one two years ago.
That, YOU know. we answered by a
proposition to lessen your salaries.
C-And what, ] would like to know,
could be the notice for such a PROPOSE
ton?
M-why it seemed TO be the general
impression that your salaries were too
high.
of Washington, with those who have
a knowledge of the expenses we must
necessarily incur?
M.-Oh, no; it is the impression of our
oonstituents-and.i indeed, of most OF
the members of Congress, ] think, also.
But for my own part I don't know that
a salary of 5000 or $1,000 is too much
for a man who has very large fam
lily. ] think. however, you clerks must
live extravagantly. for in my country
a man can support large family in
the best style with $500 per annum.
Some of our governors get but $1,000
and here you say that salary of
31,150, or even 81 400, is not enough for
q common clerk.
C.| am aware you are from the west.
I have lived there myself-s200 per
annum there covered all my expenses.
including housekeeping. | have board
ed in first rate village taverns for S1.50
per week, and again I have paid in
Cincinnati the same amount per day.
But here you know, boarding is not
to be got on as easy terms as in the
villages of Ohio: they who have fam
lilies here are subjected to expenses of
which people in the country have no
idea
Living Surely Must Be Cheap"
M-Why. my dear sir. living must be
cheap here, where so many boarding
houses can afford to board US for
eight and ten dollars per week. and
do nothing at all for about one-half
the year. and feed us on the very best
the market affords. This. you know.
makes the regular board per year at
four and five dollars per week.
C-No one who rents a house can
afford to do such business No house
that undertakes 1T can sustain itself
for three years But, pray sir, do you
think your per diem too much?
M-Well, I can't say that / do: but
many people do think so. 1t was pro-
posed. nevertheless-in order to graf
ify the people-to reduce our per diem,
also. one-fourth.
C-And that of the poor clerks, who
now do not get half as much as you,