Mr. DAVIS. According to my understanding there are now 4 classes of male clerks. The 1st class receives $1, 200 a year; the 2nd class $1, 400; the 3rd class $1, 600; and the 4th class $1, 800. The point which I wish to Present for consideration is simply this: that the most efficient class of female clerks who receive the highest pay get $300 less than the 1st or inferior class of the male clerks. Now, I was struck very much by the view which the honorable Senfrom California took of this subject in a single remark he made, and it illustrates the matter under consideration with force and truth. Suppose you were now regulating the hours of labor that should be performed by clerks and there was a proposition made that a female clerk for the same compensation should do labor 3 hours more than a male clerk, would there be any gentleman in the Senate or in the nation that would not be shocked with the injustice and the enormity of the proposition? It is just in substance the same. I do not adopt any dreamy theories of my friendfrom Illinois, but I take a common sense, practical, and just view of the subject, and that is that the laborer is worthy of his hire or her hire, and that where a female clerk or employee does as much service as a male clerk or employee as a general principle of jus tice she ought to receive the same compensation. But, sir, the proposition is not so favorable to the female o as that. It is simply that the female clerks, who were advanced from $600 to $720 and some to $900, shall receive 20%. in addition to that compensation. Mr. President, you ought in justice and in right to these female clerks give them something like the proposed compensation or you ought to dismiss them from the public service; and if you were to dismiss them from the public service you would introduce in their stead an in ferior set of clerks, who would not perform the same amount of labor nor with anything like the same carefulness and fidelity. I do think that the proposition to bring the female clerks, whose compensation is 25%. less than that of the 1st class of male clerks, within the benefit of this proposition, is not even just; it is below sheer justice, and I trust the Senate will vote it down. Now, in relation to the preferred clerks who receive the extra compensation that the SecyTreasury was authorized by law for the last 3 or 4 years to pay them, I presume it was paid to them upon the ground of their great efficiency, their perfect acquaintance with the duties of their offices, and their great efficiency in their performance. I suppose that the Present allowance is only what is due according to the proposed rate of increase of compensation to those very faithful and competent clerks. I therefore shall vote for that also.