Evening star., 1945-05-19
Letters to The Star
Argues for Increase in Salaries
of Government Employees

VI oONSI SIlIliSut LLIpiOySS
To the Editor Of The Star:
Now that The Star officially has sane
toned the raise which Congress has vot-
ed for itself, suppose you take up the
club and bring in few ncks for the
Federal clerks. If it is fair for Congress
men to vote themselves Is per cent
raise, tax exempt, I can see no reason
why they should not do likewise for us.
After year and half of pickering and
arguing, they come up with the bright
idea that we will get 1873 per cent raise
which, less the 20 per cent income tax,
will make it about So per month on the
average. Remember that we also have
not had a raise In pay since 1928. Be-
sides which, Congress on the average in
peacetime works only about four months
out of the year.
You mention the fact that Congress-
men must do extensive entertaining
This is brought up as an argument by
almost every person in favor of giving
Congressman more salary. I fail to
understand why they must do so much
entertaining. After all none Of them are
in competition as private businessmen
are and the impression they give on
competitors hardly can be improved by
entertaining. I myself have been in
Washington for four years and have
never even seen my Congressman or
Senator, much less been entertained.
Most war agencies, especially the
Navy, have worked overtime at least
eight hours a week since early in 1941.
You will recall that overtime pay was
not granted unit, December, 1942-a
year and five months after overtime
first was enforced.
Congressman have taken and will take
vacations whenever they feel so inclined.
Congress was not in session for three
months during the summer and had
holidays for Christmas, election and
Easter. If Congress should get Is per
cent raise, tax exempt, this actually
means a As per cent raise. Certainly
Federal employees whose living expenses
are equally high should be entitled to
more than 1873 per cent.
RICHARD c. SMITH.
Editors Note: The Star consist
emily has favored increased wages
and salaries for Federal employees.
It's most recent editorial on the sub
ject appeared on February 23)
Wants Germans Treated Tough
To the Editor Of The Star:
Maybe have been hearing only the
voices of the wicked people, but
haven't heard one person say that we
should let the Germans live, much less
feed them! Yet I read in the papers,
and hear over the radio, that there will
be even less butter, eggs, meat and
other foods in the future, due to an
increase in the shipments to Europe in
order to restore good health to the
German people. Will some one please
tell me just why we should make these
vultures fat after we've seen the masses
of starved prisoners throughout the
Nazi lands?
The Seventh War Loan drive has
started and every day we hear: Keep
buying bonds, don't let up because
we've licked Germany" If there is a
decrease in sales, it won't be because
we think the war is doing well enough
on what we have bought, but because
many people are disguised with the
kindly way in which the Germans are
treated, particularly the prisoners in
this country.
1t is all very good to be kind and
tolerant, but this isn't the time for
those tactics. Let's stop being softies.
c. T. NIXON.