Evening star., 1917-01-16
SHOULD DEFER DEMANDS
UNTIL AFTER THE WAR

Demands OF government clerks FOR
Increased salaries should be postponed
until after the war, says Representa-
tive Henry r. Rainey of Illinois in a
letter which he has written to Thomas
f. Flaherty, secretary of the National
Association OF Post Office Clerks. He
says that the demands now being made
by the employees will postpone for 4
hundred years the realization in this
country of old-age pensions. Mr.. Rainey
opposed the raises in the House. The
letter was brought out by one from Mr..
Flaherty giving Mr.. Rainey some facts
on the hardshipS which face employees
Of the postal service.
Many of the postal employees are re-
.Quired to put IN long hours at home in
order to master the intricate and con-
stantly changing systems for routing the
mail, he said. 1t is difficult work and
the employees are underpa:d Besides. Mr..
Flaherty continued, they are required
during which time their salaries sell
dom get above s25 month.
He calls attention to the insanitary
conditions in which many of these
clerks are required to work. and says
that in Chicago the factory inspector
told him that he would not allow such
conditions to exist in any factory Of
which he had supervision. 80
Clerks Secure in Their Positions. -.
Mr.. Rainey said. in part:
Government clerks are secure in
their positions during the period of
their natural lives. no matter how much
Indignation the public may feel If their
demands are granted. Members Of
Congress-. however. are answerable to
the people. and they ought to be. The
granting of salaries is not matter re-
quiring merely the exercise OF generous
impulses. Members of Congress are oc-
cupying positions Of trust and cannot
be generous with the money of other
people. I will be glad at all times to
do the best / can to see that salaries
are just. This would involve the lower
ing of more salaries than would be
raised. however. II such a plan were
carried to its logical conclusion.
II suggest that you can accomplish
more by showing. If you can. that gov
ernment clerks are not receiving as
much compensation as persons in
private employment who discharge
similar duties receive--bank clerks
bookkeepers. clerks in stores. etc. If
to receive as much. II they are receiv-
ing more. they are receiving too much
No special training is required to de-
liver letters in q city of along any
rural route.
No Special Training Required.
mo special training is required for
any work in the Post Office Depart
ment that l can think of. except the
postal clerks on our railway trains
marvel at their efficiency. At some
proper time. when the demands are not
SO great on the Treasury as they are
now. ] would be glad to assist In get
ting them the compensation they ought
to receive. I must confess. however.
| 40
moment fully advised as to what they
do receive. They may get all they
are entitled to get. However, 1t is
hardly fair to compare their work with
the very simple duties discharged by
other employees of the Post Office De-
partment and who want the same in
crease given them.
Il thank you for your communica-
ton, which furnishes much valuable
Information. / wish II were possible
for me to agree with you, but this
year we can not agree. [ am on the
committee which is charged with the
duty OF raising the revenue with which
to meet all these demands. and / know
what is going to happen when we
bring in a bill for passage through the
House attempting to meet all these
varied demands on the Treasury of
the United States. The demands of the
clerks for increases are badly timed
Their advisers and leaders ought to
postpone these discussions until after
this war ends. with its possible dis
armament arrangements, which may
apply even to this country" -