The Washington times., 1919-12-27
CLERKS SCORE
81 YEAR MEN
Speakers at Salary Hearing
Assert Experts Thrive on
False Credit.

1t is pure rot to claim the dollar
s-year man did It He helped. and
too often got his and escaped mill
tary service, and when he went back
home he took with him some price
less man or woman whom he found so
poorly paid. so little appreciated, and
yet so enthusiastic in the Govern
ment service in Washington"
This and other sensational charges
were made before the Congressional
joint commission on reclassification
Of salaries this morning by a commit
tee representing the miscellaneous
clerical service OF the Government
employees.
DeRounced DemaGogues.
-Grafters, buck-passers, and dema-
yogues" among Congressman and Of
details were denounced as responsible
for present conditions in the Govern
ment service, and the prediction was
made by Jeremiah Connolly. of the
Postoffice Department chairman of
the committee. that ''if this Congress
does not faithfully perform it's duty
in respect to the good efforts of this
rcclassification commission, the selec-
rion of a Congress that will is in the
afnng."
hr. 1OhhOlly declared tndL AT the
beginning of the war when 'it was
necessary for men OF affairs from the
business world to come to the rescue
of the unprepared government and
patriotically give their services for a
dollar a year, these men found It
difficult to get their feet on the
ground In their big new jobs until
some bright efficient highly trainetd
and thoroughly self-reliant and sure
footed. clear-headed, methodical, log
ical $1,000 to $4,000 a year man, wo-
man. boy or girl, government trained,
thoroughly inoculated with patriotic
impulse and in-to-the-fnish spirit,
was called upon to furnish the
know-how and do-it-now."
Higher Ups- scored.
The brief of the committee, repre-
Benting more than 10000 employees,
assailed those higher up" as "the
only contribution to their country's
call during the war was in further
ing the interests of beef barons, food
hoarders, shoddy clothing distribu-
tors. for which they were receiving
in return the promise of campaign
contributions and an occasional used
automobile. q lame horse or a choice
cut of meat
The brief Of the committee was re-
give the Government employe "his
just deserts" or he will see that some
one II elected who will
In touching upon q political angle
ne brief declared that veterans of
ne world war and others OF like
calfber" will sit in the next Con-
grsss, -and they will not stand for
the 'buck-passing' that has been
practiced upon the Government clerk
ever since Congressman Lattuer en-
4fneered through che Sixtieth Con-
Bress salary raises for members. Sen
ators and executive heads, and at
the same time promised that the Gov
ernment clerks would be cared for
6 the next Congress.
Right To Organize.
These clerks claim the right to
eniiiate with any organization or
body of men and women who keep
the law and try to keep the Co n
mandments. and the moment that
these are violated they will observe
Their oath Of office, be faithful to
their government and obey the will
Of their God"
working conditions in many of the
cider Government buildings and in
temporary structures erected for war
emergencies were declared to be of
such a character as to endanger the
health and especially the sight OF en-
ployes.
Superintendent OF Schools Ernest l.
Thurston appeared in behalf of forty
three employees in the business de-
partment of the public schools. He
pointed out that the minimum sal
aries OF these employees was $40, and
ne ciassed them "as the poorest paid
IN their class in the Government serv-
ice"
Mr. Thurston declared that the
proper functiOning of the teaching
staff Is largely dependent upon an
efficient business organization which
1T Is impossible to maintain at pres
,g