Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-31
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

AoVV"t 81 A4ACu Win I0ACEShSoS ~ SsA~
movement for better
Government pay for tho government
c.,.- clerks. who were then
pressing their claims
for consideration upon Congress- In the
issue of December 81. 1866. Is the fol-
lowing item comprising letter from
James A. Morgan. chief clerk OF the
pension of1ce. to a committee Of clerks
engaged in this matter:
THE omission from your memorial
to Congress Of is. Endorsement for this
office must. think. have been an over
sight: for I ind mono Of it's advocates
moro emphatic in their recommends
ton for increased compensation than
the commissioner Of pensions In his
last annual report. In referring to this
subject he employs the following ex-
pressive language:
"aThe inadequacy Of the salaries now
allowed to clerks in the more RESPONSE
BILE positions in this Office, and the
marked Inequality between these sala-
ries and those paid in other departments
to- officers intrusted with duties no
order Of qualifications in any respect.
are urged upon your earnest attention.
An addition of 50 per cent throughout
to the salaries Of all clerks and en-
ployes as fixed by law before the late
war would hardly mako good the adj
expenses Of living. Nor would such in
crease more than keep pace with the
average advance of wages and salaries
in other callings.'"
\ *
Trouble was brewing in South Caro-
lima at this time fifty years ago be-
tween the whites
Race Trouble in and the blacks.
and the federal
South Carolina. government was
having difficulty maintaining order
there. In The Star of December 81
1866. is the following item:
"a communication has been received
at the Freedmen's bureau from Gen. r.
K. Scott. Department Of South Caro-
lima, inclosing the correspondence be-
tween himself and Gov. J. l. Orr OF
that state. On the 14th instant Gen
Scott received a communication from
Gov. Orr requesting him to send an Of
f1cer and file Of men to Kingstree. on
the Northeastern railroad. to disband
a military organization formed by
freedmen. the order Of Gen. Sickles for
bidding either whites or blacks to form
such Organizations. Letters from sew
eral citizens of that place accompanied
about 300 freedmen had formed them
selves into six military companies Gov.
Orr states that he desires friendly re-
lations should exist between whites
and blacks and he is ready to COOP
crate with the military at all times In
y,raaaruinD the and maintaining
friendly relations between the races.
Gen. Scott Immediately directed Lieut..
J. NJ. Johnson. with a file of men. to
proceed to Kingstree and. with Col.
investigate the matter and, il neces-
sary, to take summary measures to
dispense all Illegal assemblies and ar
rest all ringleaders. The officers in
vestigated the affair and ascertafned
that no military organization existed in
that district, nor was there any dis
position on the part of the freedmen
to form one; the freedmen had assem-
bled to discuss the labor question and
the subject Of emigrating to Florida. a
the planters to coerce them into con-
tracts to work the coming year for
wages of from Sc to So per month. To
this the freedmen demurred and held a
meeting for discussion. After full in
vestiga ton 1t was believed that the
whole thing originated from fear on
the part of the planters that the freed
men would claim a proper remunera-
ton for their labor. The general states
the feelings Of the people about Kings
tree were SO antagonistic to the pres
ence of a bureau officer that a number
Of evil disposed persons had threat
ened to take the life of such officers;
consequently garrison had been es-
tablished there for the preservation of
peace and good order. He also states
that all Organizations of either whites
or blacks which are Illegal shall be
disbanded."