Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-04
ARTICLE II.
BY DONALD A. CRAIG.

WASHINGTON is the headquarters of
| the greatest business in the world-a
business which gives employment to
| hundreds of thousands of men and
women all over the globe. and whose
pay roll in this city alone is nearly
| Sl1 100000 every month.
In the executive and branch offices
of this business organization there are
more than 500 900 workers, of whom
| upward of 60, 900 live here. The rev.
enue of the business in one year Is
more than 1000 900, 900. The stock
holders are the 100. 900 900 people of
the United States. Congress, as the
board of directors chosen by these
stockholders. meets here every year.
At the head of the great organization
is the President of the United States.
Any important change in the mum.
Der of employees OF the Government of
the United States in Washington. or
in the amount of money they have to
spend. is reflected In the business of
local merchants. real estate operators.
hanks and in otfe~ Colds of local bust
ness activity. \ survey of business
conditions in the National Capital nee
eSSarily takes into consideration the
Government business and, more spe-
officially, its enormous pay roll.
HbItNtstS .NUNs
There are so per cent more Govern.
ment employees in Washington now
than before the United States entered
the World War. The reductions which
began soon after the close of the war
have practically come TO an end. The
number is not likely to grow less. in
the opinion of Government authorities
best able to judge the situation today
and the prospects for the future. 1t
will probably increase from this time
forward. as the Government expands
its activities normally TO keep pace
with the growth OF the Nation.
The Government pay roll in this
city is at least three times as large as
ii was before we entered the war. 1t
has been cut down from the war peak
of 1918. and is now actually incre. s.
ing again.
From the little group of 1913 clerks
who came here with the Federal Gov
eminent when il moved from Phiia-
delphia in 1900. the number of Fed.
eral employees had increased in 1915 to
1873 .057. of whom 39,442 were in the
District OF Columbia. These figures
and those which follow with respect To
Federal employees. except where speci-
tically stated. do not include employees
OF the legislative and judicial branches
of the Government nor commissioned,
warranted and enlisted personnel OF
the Army. Navy and Marine Corps
nor of the Coast Guard. nor employees
of the District government
BY the time the war ceased the
number of employees had mounted to
the enormous aggregate of 9l9, 100. of
whom 1890 were living III the Dis.
trict and its suburbs.
Now Over 10000.
Two years later the number Of Fed.
erai employees in Washington had
dropped to a0.559. With correspond.
ing reduction outside of Washington
The economy policy of President
Harding, which President Coolidge
Coolidge carried forward, resulted in
steady reductions in the size of the
force each year. until a low mark of
$3.50 was reached for employees in
this city December 81. 1926. BY the
end Of last June the number had
risen TO SO. 500. while it was 60.2S7
September ]. 1927.
Back i'm 1913. when there were only
$3.50 Federal employees here. their
salaries aggregated $40 $50 $40 year.
by the Autumn OF 1918 this pay roll
had mounted to approximately SI7G,.
$4,000 a year. Then ii began TO drop
The following estimated totals show
how the Washington pay roll of the
Federal Government has ductuated in
recent fiscal years:
100 SIlO.3BD. 400
I Iss554a .................. liz LOB $50