The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-09-09
The Salaries of Uncle Sans
Employees
By BILL PRICE.

President CoOLGES interest in the salaries Of working
of the country keeping pace with the cost of living is
unquesonaby sincere should be that of any American in
high position who see his nation prosperous and
all Of its people as happy conditions will permit
Yet President STEWARD Of the National Federation Of
Federal Employees well within his rights in respectfully
but fOrcbly calling the attention Of the President Of the
United States to the fact that far Government employees
concerned their salaries have kept pace with the
OF living and they have virtually received consideration
at the hands Of any national political administration for many
many years. except the usual political sOictude around
election times.
We still hoping that some President WILL in the near
future his power and prestige make demands
upon Congress for fair increase in the salaries Of Govern
ment workers and hope that the letter of Mr. Steward
the President may leave deep impress upon the Chief
Executives mind for definite action in the Mr..
COOLIDGE is elected to succeed himself.
All Government satistcians will agree that the average
year than those the grades received eighty years
ago. That doesn't look much the salaries Of Government
employees are keeping pace with the cost of living
For eighty the statutory salaries Of messengers clerks
and workers up to $4,000 have remained the same
until the reCassfCation Of few months back brought
ptiaby small upward change When the European
and prices mounted skyward Congress, in spasm Of
generosity gave bonus of $24O year to each employe
That small bonus was absorbed under the law
In this city for example, measly little apart
ent and bath will easily cost the difference Of $25 year
prewar days. leaving nothing to make up the difference
In cost of food. clothing and all other necessares of life
While there has been this puny increase the Of
Government workers generally there has been marked
ment service, those with sufficient pull in Congress and
elsewhere to have themselves given suitable financial re-
enumeration
Wages told so per higher than before the
war; and the cost Of living SO per cent higher President
Coolidge will find any facts which indicate that the
OF Government workers keeping within miles Of the high
cost of living The Presidents figures apply to organized
workers and aboers not by any the
millions of whtecoar and other workers are not
brs OF strong labor organizations and who must take what
Is offered them.
That President whose mind is upon humanity generally
and who wants all the people Of this land we'll should
take excursion into the fields Of unoganized workers and
how greatly they pnched to along and how little
increase there has been their salaries the
Organized labor is longer fooled by political bunk
the politicians and statesmen of all parties would bestow
upon two months before the election Whatever
there has been wages paid organized workers has
through their strength Not iota of abors pros
pey today due to Congressional White House efforts
or Influence is due to themselves and they know it full
well They know that if the general of congressman
had their way they would pass laws that would again
labor and make it subservient to concentrated money
Political claptrap and sympathy still catch the rank
and file Of unorganzed workers throughout the land They
haven't had the experience the organized fellows have They
swallow the bait too easily And just long they do fall
independence in politics just long will their condition
receive attention at the hands of the lawmakers of the
land.
portion Of the employees of Uncle Sam are organized
but their Organization is not free to make demands upon
officials for better wages enforce those demands Thew
make themselves felt at the polls election days Instead
OF carrying out their threats they go the polls on election
days and vote they always did, and Congress knows it,
Although Government workers not strike they could
they would all into their organization make themselves
power election days by voting only for the candidates
committed them