Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-08-14
10000 M0REFEDERAL
clerks lose WAGES
Guardsmen Cut Off Payroll
by Many Families
in Distress
SEEK ALAW TO
RESTORE SALARIES

WASHINGTON. Aug. 14.-In the
face of President Wilson's utterances
praising private employers for their
patriotism in continuing the salaries
Of their employees serving in the Ma
tonal Guard. there are more than TO-
900 federal placeholders on the border
who have been deprived OF their fed
eral salaries many of whose families
are now in distress.
This condition was exposed as the
result of the story, telling Of the
dropping OF 5000 letter carriers from
the payrOlls on Friday. Hasty investi-
cation developed the fact that there
are more than 10000 federal place
holders in a similar plight as the let
ter carriers. These men have lost
their government salaries with the
expiration OF the 80 days leave. and
are now receiving a mere pittance, on
an average only S25 a month. the pay
of a private soldier. It is estimated
that fully three-fourths OF the fami-
lies of those men who have lost their
federal salaries while serving the
country in response TO the order Of
Washington, private subscriptions are
now being raised to care for those de-
pendent upon the federal employees at
the border.
The severity Of the law and the
failure Of the Democrats to pass an
act to continue the federal place
holders on the payroll are responsible
for this unusual condition. Under the
law no man can receive two salaries
from the Federal Government and,
acting under a strict Interpretation
OF this law heads Of all departments,
including the Postmaster General. cut
off the pay of the men now on the
border at the end Of the 30 days va
cation allowance. This condition
could have been remedied by amend
ing the statute to provide that those
serving as soldiers should have their
salaries continued while doing mill
tary service.
Senator Penrose and Senator Town
send became interested in the mat
ter. Townsend gathered all the
available information on the subject
and calculated that fully 10000 gov
eminent employees, apart from carriers
have been Obliged to sacrifice theii
salaries. Senator Penrose, as the re
suit of the revelations and his inves
tigation, intends to introduce a reso
luton calling for reports from all gov
eminent departments. showing thu
number of government employees do
ing military duty and the amount o
salaries they have been forced to un
20. AS soon as it is ascertained how
many men are affected and the amour
OF their salaries, Senator Penros
will introduce bill to provide for tn
payment of the salaries to these me-
for a period Of three months, or dun
ing their term of military service. ]
is estimated that more than $4,000
or 100000 will be required, and hal
of this amount may be sufficient
the militia is Withdrawn from the Dor
der before election. Senator Per
rose believes no obie -tion will b
raised to this proposition when al
the facts are known and when it il
demonstrated that the federal govern
ment is not doing as much as pr
vate corporations and municipalitie
are.
Senator Penrose said that the la'
did not contemplate the appointment
of regulars to fill the places of lette
carriers on military duty. Il is sc
forth that substitutes should be en-
ployed at the pay of So cents an hou
instead of making regular appoint
ments at $500 a year. BY the maniI
uation of the postofiice department c
the law IL cents a day is saved {
the government and the men regular
~ appointed will be forced out c
their places into the substitute lis
as soon as the soldiers return.