The Washington times., 1916-06-08
A BRIGHTER CIVIL SERVICE OUT.
LOOK

From Chicago comes the peculiar
ly gratifying news that the plat
form committee of Republican con-
vention devoted over an hour to a
presentation Of the case in behalf Of
a proper declaration of policy re-
garding the civil service workers of
the Government. Samuel Gompers,
president Of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, made the presentation
OF the case. He was supported by a
committee representing the great
army of civil service employees. They
had agreed on the declaration they
wanted in the platform, and it was
the first time the organized labor of
the country had ever been back of
and ardently supporting the cause of
the civil service workers.
1t is too early to say whether the
plank will get into the platform; but
the reception that was given to this
committee justifies the expectation
that it will, as 1t ought.
For two decades or more, the con-
trast between the condition of the
civil service workers Of the Federal
Government, and the great body Of
wage and salary earners of the
country has been worse than a pain
full one. It has been a disgrace to
the Government. States, cities
foreign countries, have recognized
the necessity for liberal treatment
Of their civil service employees.
Great corporations have established
pension systems and retirement
plans, while the United States Gov
eminent has closed its eyes and de-
MED hearing to the demand for like
treatment.
Today the civil service employees
are the worst underpaid workers in
the country, considering the require
ments imposed upon them and the
cost of living in their circumstances.
This is simple truism everybody
knows, but nobody does anything
about it. For sixty-odd years there
has been no revision of the schedule
Of salaries in the various grades of
the Government civil service here In
Washington. The cost of everything
that goes into the expense of living
has been mounting steadily upward,
but the wages of the civil service
employee have remained stationary.
That sort of thing can not go on
always; and Of truth, it has come
pretty close to its limit. There must
be a new deal, or there will be a
collapse of the splendid efficiency
that the civil service has maintained;
it will prove impossible to secure and
retain the character Of employees
that are needed if the integrity and
capability of Government operations
is to be held on the high plane it
has been in the past.
The committee of the civil service
workers, by agreeing on the plank
it wanted in the platforms, took a
long step toward unification of in
terests, that in the past have been
too often and too bitterly in con-
flict. There has been altogether too
much Of faction and sectional am
bition in this matter, and it has re-
peatedly defeated the common end.
At last there has been organized a
firm and effective alliance with the
organized labor of the country; and
it is going to win the victory for the
civil service employees.
1t is especially pleasant to ac-
knowledge in this connection the SER
vices Of DR.. Llewellyn Jordan, of
the Treasury Department. He has
been a tireless worker in the cause
of real civil service reform along
substantial lines. For many years
The Times has accounted itself
proud to serve DR.. Jordan and his
colleagues whenever they have called
upon it for aid.
Through the efforts of such men,
the matter has at last been forced
into the very citadel of party con-
sideration. The national conven-