New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-07
FROM THE CLERKS SIDE
How Salary Standardization Affects Some
of the City's Employees
To The Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Regarding your editorial IN this morn.
ing's Issue relating TO Cutting County TX
penses," will you on behalf Of the civil en-
ploy.s present their side Of the case 10 the
taxpsyeB7
am Democrat, but can honestly say that
Of all the morning newspapers yours holds
the most interest for me. Your staff of
workers strives TO meet the demands OF so
up-to-the-minu.s public, land successfully,
too
am employed In one Of the county ofaeesi
my salary was not increased or reduced in
the recent salary slashing campaign, SO
think can express unbiased views and in
timately.
] will cite one case which should serve 70
point out the unfair, inefficient methods and
results obtained By the Board Of Standards,
and endeayor to enlighten The Tribune.
which | have always noticed was open FOR
argument
The man in this case, John Doe, takes an
examination in 1908 for a cerkship in a
county Office; he receives an appointment az
$3.50 year. Six months later he takes a
promotion examination, passes, is increased
to $1,000 a year three months after passing
the promotion test which comprised ques-
tons re duties and routine OF the Office in
which he works Two years later 1910, hs
receives an increase to $1,000, after studying
diligently and passing another examination.
In 1912 he takes another promotion exsmi-
nation along with fellow workers, passes,
and in turn is increased to 81 800 year He
takes unto himself a wife. A child is born
and peace and happiness bless his little
home. Year 1918.
During the five years Of his service for
New York County he watches the political
appointments around him. The deputies ap-
pointed over him receive $4,000 and $4,000
respectively, secretary $500, another deputy
$4,000, counsel $4,000, and political small
fry whose salaries all so TO increase tho
budget from which the experts Of the
Bureau Of Standardization are going 10 Top
of many thousands of dollars.
Year 1915: The experts come into the Of
fee, and whose salaries do you think they
cut? The salaries of the deputies and other
Doe, what kind Of work do you do?" "Why,
index these things daily, so and so, such
and SUCH" and he outlines his work, which
keeps him busy and keeps the machinery %
the government Of the state in motion. The
report comes back. John Does salary is cut
5000, from 81 500 to 81 200. Back 10 the
salary he was getting five years ago. He IL
married and by this time has a family 20
look out for. He has seen men come into the
office years after him-there's Ralph Roe,
who came in in 1914, he is getting $1,000
now, the same salary as John Doe, and this
is Standardization This is real honest 70
goodness case, and there are dozens Of just
such cases, some pitiful.
With few exceptions all civil employees
(meanng those who have passed civil SER
vice examinations) want TO see standardizs-
ton but upon plan where the word is not
made mockery
The political appointments change with
every regime, and often a position is held
by three or four different politicians during
the term Of the elected officer. Take, for
instance, the Sherif's Office, where he ap-
points deputies, etc, and during his term the
first deputy resigns for some reason or other
mostly political, and some other party man
gets the place. Now, instead Of making this
$4,000 job make It $1,000. Pm sure 1t Will
attract just as competent a man 20 I'll Il.
This not only refers TO the Sherifs Office
but all other county Offices. Do away with
the balance of deputies, counsels, superin-
tendents, assistant superintendents, secre-
taries and other political sinecures, whose
salaries increase the budget, and who are not
in their Offices often enough and not SUI
fciently interested in their work to become
acquainted with 1t. Why should they? After
two or four years, whatever the term Of Office
NAV be, they know some one else will get the
place. Look through the county budget and
eliminate these political positions; the de
crease will amaze even you, The New YORK
Tribune, which is always up-to-the-minute.
This is an appeal not on my part alone
but on the part of all civil employees, men
who have taken up duties OF employment
with New York County and State as life
work CIVIL EMPLOYE.
New York, Dec. 1, 1915.