The Washington times., 1916-02-26
BY IuDsoN c. wELLIvRR.

come Of $72O year 1884 and has practically that income
today? ~ 4.
few years ago the the judges Of the supree Court
and OF all judges advanced generally per
Not cent the devils who make army Of Uncle
Sans clerical force in Washington.
Is to be assumed that the Of living in Wash
ngon for Presidents Senator's Congressman udges-for the
$4,000 and the $4,000 peopeut
increase in the Of living the 5000 and S72o and 5000 peo
pethe rank and file of the Government wageang population
in this town?
peculiar gnominy associates the status Of the Govern
clerk workers
that can't help ITSELF
The Government doesn't have strikes lockouts sabotage
suspension Of business and destruction Of property any other
employment under there recognition
fatuness the loyaiess the answering fidelity integrity
tegence and character Of such body employees There would
be sincere effort based enlightened selhnes reward such
workers with liberal treatment and the consideration.
But the Government service how utterly different isl For
all of industry and character and loyalty and intelligence that
brings his service Government possibly
hope that his may busy with something
they will forget to increase his burdens
DARE NOT HOPE FOR INCREASE.
He dare hope that his salary basis will be increased
Two generations Of him have gone there has
revision Of the wage schedule in his employment.
For three decades past intelligent students civil
service system have been persenty pointing that Uncle Sam
conducts the organized labor establishment country
No employer thoughe of the elemental employees
In private and corporate industries enlightened management
dictated the establishment Of systems for pensionng
superannuated employees. 49,,
Cities all the land and every other enlightened PEN
sion their remen their policemen their school teachers many
their miscellaneous classes Of civil service workers
The great railroad corporations make practice maintain
pension funds and establishments of which the aged employees
provided with incomes in their later years.
One Of the ardent advocates Of liberal wages age
trement and pensions during Administration Jacob M
Dickinson Secretary of War under President Taft Judge Dickinson
considered the Federal civil service badly dsorgnzed
as could be found the world He ardeny advocated liberal
treatment OF Government civil service workers salaries and the
organization of pension and retirement schemes He urged par
cuay the ground that would increase the efficiency
duce the of Government service.
Why was Judge Dickinson firmly convinced this point?
Because before he Government had as
general counsel of the Illinois Central railroad system
and organized the retirement and pension of that corpora
PATHETIC AFFECT FAILURES.
He had put operation seen its workings and its
effects he knew that had been good for the company
holders public company and for the employees
Judge Dickinson could understand why the Federal Govern
ment the largest single employer the land should
refusing adopt modern and intelligent methods in dealing
problems Of employees and employment
Time and again determined reorganze
and modene the Governments methods of dealing with employees
So far the Of the civil service these have in
variably ended in pathetic and abjec failures
Repeatedly ure spasms Congressional
interest and inquiries into the problem of the Government civil
service.
times when it almost seemed as Con.
gress under the inspiration of sudous intelligent men, might
adopt enlightened attitude toward these faithful employees
But the has always proved that hope intelligent
treatment Of this problem the hands Of Congress involved
terly unjustfable strain on optimism.
Today there is backward 1t enough when Con-
gress would do nothing help the civil sevce pro-
posed increase his hours and him absolutely nothing
added work.
In the last particularly the tendency all the country
has been toward increases in
That tendency dictated work.
and the paying capacity Of employers There prosperity
employment, higher prices.
WORKERS ARE UNDERPAID
And theeupon' to make the contrast depressing possible
the Government proceeds increase the
underpaid!
How many people realize that the highest salaries paid eg
lators anywhere world paid members the American
Congress?
is haua