Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-20
HOW CLERkSLNE
MYST|F|ES SOL0N
Government Workers Getting
LESS Than Ever" Repre-
sentative Sullivan Says.

II am in favor of up to 80 per cent
increases in salaries for government
employees all down the line. Especially
want to see the 1ow-salaried clerks
get a substantial increase, so they need
not starye to DEATH
This is the sentiment declared by
lReppeseptatiye Christopher D. Sullivan
iof New York In Mr.. sullivan the fed
Ierel clerks have q worthwhile cham-
pfon, for Ne is chairman Of the COM
fnf5t< III expenditures In the Depart-
| |ment Of Labor. and is a member Of the
House District committee.
when Congress gets back to work
after the holidays I am going to do my
bit toward helping the clerks. who are
the. best allies the government has in
carrying on this war;" Mr.. Sullivan
continued. 'T mean the efficient work
ers who have devoted years Of labor in
learning to do complicated work of the
various government departments in the
way that best helps keep the wheels Of
government moving smoothly" he ex-
planned.
Must Increase Pay.
"They are now receiving salaries
which are, in fact. much lower than
when they entered the service years
ago, for the dollars they get now will
buy but fraction OF what they did
then. Yet these clerks are much more
efficient now.
t.They used to work at s.aryation pay,
getting just enough. to keep little fami-
lies. and. in some cases. large families.
from going hungry. With the tremen-
dous advance in prices. cost of living is
now much higher and how they keep
from starving is a mystery.
I'VE want to let them continue honest
and pay their bills. So the government
must give them sufficient salaries in
order shat they can meet their ex-
penses.
"If they were not worth more it
would be a different question. But the
a1arminr number Of designations ought
to prove exclusively to any one that
the private business enterprises are
willing to pay the average government
employe much higher salaries than
Uncle Sam is paying.
'If we want to retain in service those
whose experience makes them better
than the average we must pay the price.
If we do not the government business
will be demoralized at a time when it
should be at the highest state of ef-
lciency.
Congress Must Act.
Congress must take some action
promptly to increase the salaries of
the. government workers, not piece
meal. but in big, general comprehen-
sive, systematic way, SO that there
may be prompt relief for all and that
they may attend to the government
work undistracted by the thought that
they have little ones at home who are
hungry and without proper clothing.
II will be glad to cooperate in any
way can to help continue the pittance
Of 5 and 10 perecen increase given the
clerks by grade after July l last. and
to get them substantial increases up
to 30 per cent as provided in the Keat-
ing bill. There is no need of lengthy
hearings on the subject.
- II believe Congress realizes the plight
of the government workers and is ready
ito give the needed relief
''.The demonstration of more than sixty
members Of Congress- crowding in upon
the subcommittee hearing arguments In
favor of increased pay for postal work
ers each eager to urge relief sufficient
to Offset the increased cost of living, is
the best possible demonstration of how
Congress feels on the subject. All that
is needed is to have the matter brought
before Congress for a vote"