The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05

ment thirty-six years ago as clerk In
the Postofice Departmental general and
thorough investigation OF this subject.
bureau by bureau. with a view of elimi-
mating inequalities, advancing and fixing
and increasing salaries.
Was Once Clerk.
1 remember the time, thirty-six years
ago, when I was rendering clerical
service In the Postoffice Department and
was paid s45 a month, when a clerk on
the other side Of the desk, doing identi-
cally the same work, was paid 800 a
month. And have no doubt, Mr.. Chair
man, there are many Instances of that
kind in the government bureaus today.
Now, there has been a general advance
in salaries in all private lines in this
country.
Mr.. Borland-Mr. Chairman, will the
gentleman yield?
Mr.. Austin-Not at this time There
has been a general advance Of salaries
In railroad business and in private cor
Mr.. Bryns, of Tennessee-Mr. Chair
man, will the gentleman yield 10 his col
porations Of every kind and character.
league?
Mr.. Austin. Yes.
Mr., Byrns, of Tennessee. Under the law
the clerks are divided into four classes
those receiving $500, 800, $3.50, and
s.. 800.
Mr.. Austin. Yes.
Mr.. Byrns, Of Tennessee. Now, do not
understand the gentleman to mean that
there have been no promotions within
those particular grades.
Mr.. Austin. Oh, no. The 81, 200 clerk is
getting today what the 1920 clerk re-
ceived Is years ago. I ask this committee
to consider this question: What has been
the advance in the cost of living to the
s., 200 clerk, comparing Is years ago with
today Everything he consumes, every
thing he wears, and everything In con-
nection with his living expenses has ad-
vanced, and 800 Is years ago, Mr.. Chair
man. would go further than s15O would go
today in meeting the actual expenses Of
life.
One Promotion in Thirty-ftve Years.
Mr.. Cline. Mr.. Chairman, will the
gentleman yield?
The Chairman. Does the gentleman
from Tennessee yield to the gentleman
from Indiana?
Mr.. Austin. Yes.
Mr.. Cline. My understanding was that
the clerks, as rule, were classified some
years ago.
Mr.. Austin. Yes.
Mr.. Cline. Does the gentleman say that
there has been no increase OF salary OF
those clerks since the classification was
made?
Mr.. Austin. No I have not said that.
Mr.. Cline. There has been no general
increase?
Mr.. Austin. Yes. Now, Mr.. Chairman,
had letter this morning from a clerk,
who stated, without com plant as to her
record, that she had had one promotion
in IS years; so I doubt not there are
many clerks who have been drawing $500
and $500 and $, 400 a year whose cases
are similar to her case. Where is the
hope, the encoura cement, and the justice
when we turn our attention to the cases
of these faithful and efficient public ser
wants who for a half century have had
no increase OF salary or reward for a
service which is higher and more efficient
than the service of any private corpora
ton in this country?
The Chairman. The time of the GENTLE
man from Tennessee has expired.
Mr.. Austin. Mr.. Chairman, am not
here pleading for an efficiency commits
sion. am pleading for a readtustment
and reclassification and an increa Sc
Of salaries. What has an efficiency com
mission to do with that proposition? 1t
takes legislation on the part of Con-
sress and an investigation and a report
from one OF It's committees to bring
about a Redistribution, a read1ustment,