Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-26
OLD CLERKS AND NEW.
A Word for the Governments Pre-
War Workers.

To the Editor Of The Star.
Don't you think that it is about time
that some of the sympathy which is
being constantly handed out to the
so-called war workers" were spread
out a little bit and made to include all
government employes? A great deal
Of sympathy is wasted on these young
girls who are drawing down from
$1,000 to $1,400 a year for doing
minor clerical work, such as could be
bought for $500 to 5000 a year before
the war. but none is given to those
heads Of families who have served
the government faithfully for many
years at similar salaries, and now, in
the face of greatly increased living
costs, are denied any increase in their
salaries. and even denied an oppor-
tunity to get more highly paid war
jobs" even though their experience
might be of more value to the gov
eminent there than in their present
positions.
Your remarks about Ben johnson and
District legislation are to the point,
but they do not go far enough in
pointing out that Ben johnson is only
one OF the more prominent opponents
OF the present congressi onal policy of
coddle the new, war workers." Ben
Johnson's remark that no jury COM
posed Of District men would be other
wise than favorable to rent prof.
'fteers' sheds considerable light upon
the attitude Of the congressional
majority. for the old government
clerks have lived here long enough
to be classed as District men. and
many, probably most Of them. are
property owners in q small way. All
this "anti-rent proflteering" legisla-
ton does not help the government
clerk who owns his home. He would
prefer some "anti-food, coal and
yet, an "anti-congressional profiteer-
ing" law. which would abolish all
those ubiquitous rules and laws which
prevent him from getting a better
salary, and prohibit him from Compel
ing for the higher salaried war
slider. Only one OF those Ubiquitous
bills was prevented by executive veto
from becoming a law, the so-called
"eight-hour" rider. fostered by Bor-
land Of Missouri.
The argument that If the govern
ment clerk is not satisfied be can get
q job with q private concern Is q
specfous one, because there are few
private concerns in Washington en-
gagged on var Jobs. and the ones who
suffer most from congressional i'm
position are tho government employees
who own their homes here and can
not leave tho city without consider
able sacrifice. Yet If one of them
rents a room in his home to some
young girl war worker" (who may be
getting salary as large as his), for
a higher price than such a room
would have brought before the war, he
becomes a ''profiteer." It does not
matter that he has to pay from 50 to
he buys, while his own salary has
been increased less than 10 per cent,
and he cannot because of congress
sional legislation get another govern
ment job at a higher salary, he Is a
'profiteer" If he ventures to realize
upon the only thing left to him which
has increased in value, i.e., real estate.
II young high school girls are worth
$1,000 to 81, 400 a year for running a
typewriter. and motormen and con-
ductofs, who arc recruited from the
ranks Of common labor and trained to
their duties in less than q month, arc
worth $1.400 to $500 q year, how
much Is the government clerk worth
who has had years Of experience in
his. present capacity, and often has
particular line? Congress and the
the same, and If he does not like it
he can leave the city and turn over
his home to the highly paid war
workers." whose ranks he is not per-
United to join.
KENNETH p. ARMSTRONG.