The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-04-30
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial to Sank Centre Herald

Especial to Sank Centre Herald
Washington, April Officials
here are somewhat agitated over a
most authorizes on government that
"the taxpayer is the prize boob of all
times. The wave of economy which
has been sweeping the Government
for sometime may be followed by an
inquiry into competency of those in
the public service.
Already the chopping of heads, so
to speak, among government en-
ployeS due primarily to economy
measures, has been felt in every con-
gressional district where these dis
charged Federal employees have
friends and relatives. The approach
of June 80, which marks the end of
the fiscal year, is causing considerable
concern among the thousands of FED
eral workers for their jobs are OBJ
viously insecure.
In response to an urgent public de-
mand for further reduction in taxes,
departmental officials are pruning
their lists very carefully in an eff
fort to rid themselves of "dead-wood'
or useless employees. 1t is a delicate
operation involving the displeasure
of senators and congressman whose
constituents are affected by these
proceedings.
There has been a steady and rath
ser rapid reduction in the expenses OF
the Federal Govrnment since 1920 al
the heavy drain due to various wal
and postwar activities has ceased
There is no satisfactory index of TIT
percapita coast of government EN-
ployes as no detailed statistics have
been compiled for sixteen years.
Excluding those in the militar,
and naval establishments, the taxpay
ers contribute to the annual payroll
OF approximately $785, 100000 TO-
$4,000 Federal workers. Followin.
the armistice, there was a reduction
of about 225,000 employees covere,
by the Civil Service. Further reduc
tons have brought the number up t.
about 365,000. These figures do no
include the hundreds appointed b,
congressman as political patronag
outside the civil service.
More than $4,000 appointments ar
made annually by the Civil Servic
Commission to vacancies caused b,
resignation, removal and death. TIL
growth of the executive Civil Service
has been remarkable. From 1881 t.
1895 the service increased approx
mately 100000 employees to approx
imately $4,000 employees, a rate O.
increase of ga per cent. The numbe
OF employees increased on an averag,
OF B per cent every decade, with tn,
exception of the World-War period
The greatest increases have been il
the postal service.
The impression prevails throughou
the country that the majority of Gov
eminent workers are stationed il
Washington. This is not true. On
April l, there were 64,884 on thu
permanent and temporary roll of thu
U. S. Civil Service.
On March l there were 491,O95 or
the permanent and temporary paw
rolls outside of the District of Column
bla. 1t is interesting to note thai
there are 1852 employees of the Pub
lie Health Service who are paid one
dollar per year. An overwhelming
majority of the fielc force or 297..
900, are postal workers. The exten.
sion of postal facilities necessitateG
an Increase of 1000 EMPLOYEES dur.
ing the last six months of 1924.
A Government job is usually re.
garded as ga soft snap" The recen,
increase of 5000 per year for the
postal workers places them as the top
notchers in earning capacity. The
average postal employee receives
$2OO0 year which is a remarkably
nigh figure compared with average
Salaries In similar occupations in pri.
vate enterprise and with othe,
branches of the Federal service. It is
an established fact that the entrance
salary for postal workers is far be.
.yond that paid by businessinstitu.
ton for the same class of service
The bank clerks have an average in.
come OF 1882 while a boy now
starting in the postal service, fresh
from school, receives $1,000 per year
The cost of living is always a de-
batable subject. During a recent
congressional hearing the statement
was made that it costs $2,04O.73 per
year to maintain an average family
of five. The Labor Bureau estimat-
ed in 1928 that the minimum health
and decency budget for New York
City should be $2,292.81 per annum;
for Chicago $2,482.53 and Los Angel
es $2,611.43. 1t is generally conced-
ed that these budgets can be reduced
in rural sections.
In the Veterans Bureau in particu-
lar, they are cutting salaries in an
effort to maintain their personnel and
keep within the appropriations. It
appears quite logical that efficiency
tests will be introduced in all depart
ments and enforced with a view to
bring about shrinkage in the size
of the Federal payroll.
The propaganda campaign against
the present rules of the Senate car