From the Richmond Whig, 1/24/1865, p. 1, c. 4

THE DEPARTMENT CLERKS AND THEIR SALARIES. – We have received the following communication from one of the Department Clerks, upon a matter which assuredly claims the attention of Congress. The fact of the inadequacy of pay of the Clerks of the various Government Departments is so notorious that we are surprised that Congress, ere this, has not seen the wisdom of remedying the evil by an increase of salary:

The clamor for putting into service the able-bodied clerks of the various Government Departments having been complied with, and as the balance are now composed of exempts, does it not become the Government to allow them to obtain from some source that which keeps “body and soul” together? The soldier in the fields are cared for and why not this class of public servants. Their services are invaluable and could not be dispensed with. The present salary of a department clerk is $333.33 per month. That amount, so Congress thinks, is sufficient (judging from their humane silence,) to last them and their families for one month.

It would be proper to add that a certain member of the “House” remarked a few days since, that his daily expenses for himself alone and by using the strictest economy, was upwards of $150. The daily pay of the clerks is $13. Farther comment is unnecessary, but before closing it would be not amiss to suggest to the proper source to be on the “qui vive” for a new set of clerks generally, as the present incumbents cannot physically or mentally attend to their laborious duties under the circumstances. REASON.

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