The Washington times., 1917-01-17
A.TYPICAL VIEWPOINT ON PAY
OF CLERKS

| CONGRESSMAN haney OIL 1lllIlOlS
has been friendly to Washington and
its interests. He is not one Of the
men who seek glory at home by
priming his guns at Federal en-
ployes in Washington. For this rea-
son his letter to Thomas F. Flaherty,
secretary of the National Associa-
ton of Postoffice clerks, giving his
reasons for not supporting general
increase in the pay Of Government
clerks is significant. 1t probably
represents the views OF many MEM
bers who are not inimical to the
clerks, but who, through lack OF in
formation, decline to support a pay
increase for them.
He points to the fact that Govern
ment clerks are secure in their posi-
tions for life. This is a favorite
argument of those who believe that
this security should be Offset by low
pay. Many of the most efficient
clerks, an examination Of the records
will show, step out from the Gov
ernment service with little thought
of this security of tenure, when they
find they can get better pay else
where. Those who stick are those
who were brought in at low rate
of pay, who learn the routine of their
work, and find that the sort of work
they do for the Government fits them
for better pay nowhere, in the Gov
ernment service or out of it.
Mr.. Rainey suggests that the
clerks attempt to show they are get
ting less money for the same sort of
work in the Government service than
they could get elsewhere. That fact
has been shown in many cases; es-
pecially is it true in any of the dozen
or more scientific bureaus of the de-
partments. Other factors than a
mere comparison of wages of private
and Federal employment should en-
ter into the consideration. The cost
of living in Washington is one fac
tor. The question of atonement for
lack of opportunity for promotion is
another.
"No special training is required
for any work in the Postofice De-
partment l can think of, except the
postal clerks on our railway trains" !"
continues Mr.. Rainey. That is a
sweeping statement; and an exami-
nation of the highly diversified work
of that department would not bear it
out Certainly it would not stand in
the cases of other departments,
notably the Agriculture, Interior,
State, War and Navy Departments.
Mr.. Rainey thinks the demands for
increases are badly timed. These
same demands have been made in
years past and the same excuses
have always been given. The de-
mand this year seems peculiarly well
timed, because private employers
everywhere have seen fit to raise
their employees pay. Added demands
on the Treasury for national defense
must be met, and the country is will
ing to meet them by taxation, but
it is not expecting the Government
clerks, or any other particular class
of workers, to make special and ex-
traordinary sacrifices for it.
Mr.. Rainey contends that Congress
is answerable to the public at large
for any increased expenditure for
Government work. It also is answer
able to the public for the efficiency
of Government work. The whole
question of Government workers
pay resolves itself to that. The
clerks have right to demand a pay
scale commensurate with the de-
mand made upon them for eff
cient performance of their duties.
Around the country, if Congressman
trouble to ascertain this fact, is q
widespread belief that the work Of
Government departments is highly
disorganized and highly inefficient.
The clerks believe, and other persons
close to headquarters here in Wash
ington believe. that much of this in
efficiency can be traced to the en-
ployment of cheap labor.
Congressman keep calling for more
and more information about COM
parative wage scales in the Govern
ment and in private employ. Clerks
have spent their own time and
money to get as much of this infor-
nation as they can. But when Con-
gress really wants the information
as a basis for taking w the civil
service payroll issue, it will go about
getting it, just as it gets other in
formation it desires. During the
hearings on the Nolan bill it OBJ
tanned much light on the subject, yet
it has taken no special steps to use
it.
UNION LABEL BASEBALL