The Washington herald., 1916-11-28
U. S. wage TOO SMALL
TO PAY TROLLEY FARE
Nisgardly Compensation of Govern
ment Clerks Strikingly Illustrated.

Walking five miles a day to save less
tnan IL cents car fare is only one of the
many examples taken from actual cases
which show that Uncle SANS workers
should be given more pay to enable them
to meet the higher cost of living
The head of a family of four has only
H5O each month for clothing education,
church and recreatin
Following are the personal experiences
OF two government employees who support
families on less than 50 a day.
I have been employed in the Treasury
Building since October q 1909. Starting
at $3.50 per annum, I worked for two years
before l received what they called PRO
motlon' when I was advanced to s72o
and 1 have been struggling along ever
since on that salary, notwithstanding that
am eligible for a $500 position. can't
get 1t, for the reason that outsiders are
brought In who have influence, and
am put of with the promise, You will
get the next When the next chance
comes, 1t Is the same old story: You will
get the next opening So I am left
struggling along on the same old salary
with nothing but a promise. That is the
way / have been treated ever since
came to Washington.
AS am the only wage Garner of the
family 1T is impossible for me to get along
and pay my debts on $50 per month. and
still they expect me to do work a clerk
should do
II have to walk two and one-half miles
every night and morning, to and from
my work, just because 1 can't spend s
cents for carfare. If did I should have
to do without something else. It Is
enough to make an honest man dishonest
when he knows he is Disseminated
against as I have been. I think It Is
high time that something was done to
give the lowest salaried man enough
live on without compelling him to lie
awake nights thinking how he is going
to get his next meal"
From another employer comes the fol-
lowing:
I have been employed In the service
as messenger since May 8. 1915. Began
with a salary of $50 per month which
later was increased to $50. have two
children in high school This education
opportunity is the inducement that
brought me here
II rent a house Jointly with another
family. Both use the same kitchen and
dining room. My part OF the coal. rent
and gas bill Is $3.50; my grocery bill
about $50; balance. for living, school, and
church expenses, $50.
Before coming here we all took part
In church, school and social activities and
other affairs OF my community. have
always encouraged my children to be
active in this kind of work. believing this
to be an essential part Of education for
citizenship.
Il find in this city that $50 is wholly
inadequate to cloth US and meet these
demands, or any considerable part of
them, my children being high-spirited.
The results are: If we attend any
church meetings, or the children join
any clubs at school, they are objects OF
ridicule or charity. My boy, now 16
years Of age, has quit school and church
and is seeking chance employment rather
than submit to humiliation. He has q
strong taste for science and reads many
scientific journals. Before he was X
years old he had successfully constructed
telegraph and operated it. His ambi-
ton was to take up scientific work. He
is now losing all this hope and will not
talk to anybody on the subject except
his mother. He seems to have abandoned
the idea of a college or high school
education.
THE girl failed in two Of her studies
and is disposed to avoid her schoolmates
because they are well dressed. have
dentists bill of 50 a month to pay
for her. She has not quit her Sunday
school class yet. but she does wear the
same clothes there as she does in high
school.
Il hope to get out of here as soon
as possible, unless I get better wages.
Under civil service rules I will he
required to work two years before car
be promoted by examination. During my
services have never been late and only
taken ten days annual leave"