The Washington times., 1916-02-26

Sxodd years ago Congress made salary schedule the
various classes of clerical employees the executive departments in
Washington
That still effect requirement
Of sxandahahour day. years ago by Executive order
the day extended to hours.
Now il isproposed to extend this to eight hours.
But the schedule Of wages remains the made in
Wages, salaries every form Of compensation almost every
phase of the Of living have increased enormously every
cupaton, save only the Government service
WAGES OF OTHERS HIGHER.
The the day aborer OF the railroad eploye the
canc the farm worker have gone higher and higher with every
decade Economically the world has been reoganzed in these sixty
years. everything that relates income and has been lacked
up basis There other occupation in which salaries
have been radjued conditions only the civil
ice Of the Federal Government
Imagine what would result IL seriously proposed
the Of railroad brakemen let say back the basis which
they paid in 1854!
Consider uproar an effort
dertaken require carpenters factory hands, farm abores
the prvaes Of the United States army the members Of Congress- the
judges the Supreme Court the President Of the United States
you please to 60 back to the salary basis of 1884
1t apparent this would utterly preposterou Yet exactly
the result has been accomplished in the Government clerical
service by the of legislative atophy that has maintained
changed the scale of compensation that made long before
the civil war.
there any other workers in country
submit the that proposed for the Government clerks
by the Borand rider?
Does imagine for that the daily stint
Of any other class working peopemore forty
hem mind youcoud be increased by hour without causing
strikes lockouts stoppage business organization
and all the disasters that accompany intense labor disturbances?
DANGER THAT CONGRESS WILL ASSENT.
Yet seriously and there is danger that Congress
will assent to mete out such treatment to the civil service workers
in Washington. ~ c
There than forty thousand them They constitute
the backbone Of the earning producing population city The
most conservative estimate that is forward that
more than half the population of Washington directly dependent
incomes received from the Government Practically entire
remaining body Of the community is indirectly dependent the
same source of income.
Suppose that Washington community Paterson
Brockon Fall River What would happen those
communities If calmly attempted by law require add
ona hours service every from every great
mating industries without dollars increase in wages?
is good comfortable bet and takers sight, that Pater
wouldn't be there the day after such edct effect
Let be remembered that the Government workers Washing
ton had their services put the present salary basis than sixty
years ago. when every element living vastly cheaper
than Add this that at that time there probably
many hundreds in this service there thousands today
At that time Washington village in wilderness Its
people lived the style Of village residents There Of
the necessary expenses incident mechanical
living in large city.
Today Washington large city America in
1854 Living Washington for the man, the average
the average family is vastly expensive today than
sixty years in any city in America, in the world
From being struggling frontier village, Washington has
veoped into city approaching half million in population
notoriousy of the expensive cities the country which
live The members of Congress- who themselves by of
living part the time position the truth in this
regard should be the last people require testimony point
A PECULIAR IGNOMINY.
Only few Congress passed legislation adding so pei
their salaries the discussion measure as
preserved the Congressional Record shows chief
urged support of this increase the expense living in
Washington Moreover this the first Congressional
salary had been increased since 1884.
The salary of the President Of the United States now $4,000
year with handsome allowance for travelling expenses 1854
it year. with travelling allowance was subse
quenty raised to $5OoOO and then the present figures
Why was il done?
Because the of living Presidents the United States
had increased much that necessary There quarrel
with the idea Of paying the President wages he gets he
them.
But given period the salary the 900 man has re-