The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-10-02
Uncle Sam Pays Poor Salaries
To His Employees
By BILL PRICE.

By BILL PRICE.
The sensational charges against prohibition enforcement
agents in this city embracing graft and connvance with boot
eggers again show that the Government OF the
United States paws the salaries any large employer
in this country.
political the Government represented by
different administrations hesates to interfere IN dis
pues between private employers Of labor and their employees
with recommendations the right view that human
beings wherever they work. should be paid living that
will put the average American citizen in position to live
in reasonable comfort Yet that Government acting
through Congress- nothing to raise the standard Of pay
among its own that they may enjoy Of the
good things of life and possibly put something by for the
inevitable rainy day.
The may be found in the fact that Government
workers. although many of them are members Of union Of
Federal employees are prohibited striking exercise
comparatively little pull election days Congress
members of which are etrnay making speeches seemingly
favorable to better conditions throughout the
United States apparently regards the worker for the Federal
Government deserving Of the least consideration
There are those In Congress who frequently refer to Gov
enment employees having Cinch and yet the truth
stands out clearly employees the poorest
agencies which, when there are enough votes
Of workers who happen g belong 70 large and strong labor
unions which are valuable on election days.
Less s. day. even Sundays srs not
counted and the agents are supposed 70 Be duty M the
paying Even sa00 year s far above that paid . lie
large majority Of employees Of the Government and
Of education and special training must stand
severe civil service tests to obtain their positions and who
find advancement slow, difficult and discouraging
Revenue enforcement agents supposed stay honest
salaries that win pay house rent buy bread and
clothes for any with wife and several children They
put work among the desperate Of cm
mails in the counry the dangerous underworld that
TO know about Their lives always IN danger
and they pay the supreme sacrifice the Government does
nothing for the dependent ones left behind.
Men who accept these positions should however loyal
70 the Government they have and honestly
and honOraby endeavor uphold the law they working
to have become effective. Yet the fact will escape
ment that these receiving measy salaries for dangerous
work are daily subjected to the temptations Of rich graft
that win make them independently wen off give their
families some Of the things they crave for
The policemen Of Washington practically Federal
pOye They maintain and order Federal Capital
protect the properties Of the United Government and
the homes and lives Of workers for that Government including
high officials The salaries paid them less than those
cooperate with Federal agents enforcing prohibition and
they have been doing They daily risk their lives
work and in aresng criminals Of all kinds Capital
Of the nation be- is the best city in the world
live In.
short time will be put into effect reclassifica
ton law which will it is claimed the salaries Gov
eminent workers TO point where the total paid them all
Washington viii be something like 100000 year above
the total paid including the annual bonus That
classification law going to lower the salaries now paid
thousands of loyal faithful workers for Uncle Sam and
elsewhere.
There win be big hunk Of political bunk in the next
Congress about economies that the country millions Of
dollars but there should be courage enough displayed that
body to bring about decent increase salaries for men and
who work for the Government less than living
wages
Justice ahead of politics. and plain justice demands
that matter what economies be effected they should
not come out of underpaid workers