Year: 1861




REDUCTION OF CLERK, SALARIES.


WASHINGTON, July II.
Editor National Republican


The salary" question having been opened
in your columns, by communication signed
"A Clerk" published in your paper of this
morning, it is meet that another, whose meat is
at stake, and whose lard may be affected in
these trying times, should also be heard Oh the
subject. "a Clerk is evidently first class
one, and very ingeniously proposes 10 throw oil
the burden Of taxation upon those above him,
because those of the first class are already very
near Zero aud have all they can do to meet
their family and personal expenses out of their
salaries.


This is very true. Taking into account the
sacrifice which has to be made by men with
families, in disposing Of their furniture, and the
expense of removal to this city from the several
States, the high cost of living in this city, the
numerous demands upon all clerks for contribu-
tions to charitable, public, and political pur.
poses, the liability to removal at any time, and
the consequent sacrifice in again disposiDg of
furniture, and the expense of getting away, and
il is quite apparent that there ID nothing in the
circumstances Of q twelvehundred,d dollar clerk
which will justify tax of ten per cent, over and
above what other people are asked to pay for
support of the war. / suppose, In point Of fact,
that, conceding to members OF Congress all the
ability which their constituents believe they
possess, there is still not one of those who will
vote for a reduction Of salary below twelve hun.
dred dollars who knows enough to get respect.
able living for one year in Washington on that
sum, or who would not 60 from here at the end
of the year, if he had any credit, very largely in
debt hope, when they vote on the question,
they will take into consideration this peculiar
and particular view of the case, aud give the
suggestion all the weight it deserves.


Isuppose it will hardly do to question the
morality Of inveigling poor clerks into a place
like this under the implied promise of 81 200
per annum, and then adroitly shaving off $l2O
Of that sum because the necessities of Uncle
Sam are such that the end justifes the means.
But there are many men who have lately come
to the city of Washington as clerks, who have
made engagements and entered into arrange.
ments which were based on the reasonable Ger.
tainty Of receiving the established salaries, and
to whom the reduction will be most grinding,
if not crushing operation. Some have brothers
or other relatives who have enlisted in the war,
whose families are dependent upon the aid
promised by such clerks to save them from ap.
plying to the local authorities for admission to
the almshouse, or some similar disgrace, and
there are very many cases where contracts OF
various kinds have been entered into under the
expectation of q regular and certain income,
which viii! be injuriously and seriously affected
by any considerable reduction of salaries, and
which will place manyin very uncomfortable and
painful positions. And this applies to clerks
Of all grades But If Uncle Sam must have the
money, God forbid that should obi ect, though
can assure the "po,1ers that be" that am
one who will suffer, as will some Of my kin
drsd, who are leaning upon my foolish prom
isea. A Poor CLERE.