o the lowest bidder), the number subject to
political influence was nearly 49,000. Of these, 5,400 had salaries
under $10 per annum each; 19,400 others had salaries under $100 per
annum each; 11,500 others had salaries under $500 per annum each; 8,100
others had salaries under $1,000 per annum each; 3,300 other had
salaries under $1,600 per annum each; 700 other had salaries under
$2,000 per annum each; 400 others had salaries under $3,000 per annum
each; 84 had salaries under $4,000 per annum each. Only 14 had
salaries of $4,000, and 2 (the Postmaster-General and the postmaster
at New York) had $8,000 per annum each. In a majority of the
Congressional districts of the United States there is scarcely any
patronage known except that of postmasters; and when more than one-half
of the total number of Postmasters have salaries under $100 per annum
each, the political influence derived therefrom cannot be great.

The remaining officers of the United States were at the same period
about 21,000 in number. The mass of these were in the Customs and
Internal Revenue, and in the various Executive Departments at
Washington. They had a larger average of salary than those engaged in
the Postal Service. But one-half of the whole number had less than
$1,000 per annum each, and less than one-third had salaries in excess
of $2,000 per annum. Large salaries under the Federal Government are
extremely few in number. Excluding the Federal Judiciary, whose
members are appointed for life, and excluding senators and
representatives, who are elected in their respective States, there are
not more than one hundred and fifty officials under the National
Government whose respective salaries equal or exceed $5,000 per annum.
The emolument cannot be regarded as large in a country that opens so
many avenues to fortune, and the places of this highest grade cannot
be regarded as numerous when (in 1879-81) there were not more than
three of them to every million inhabitants of the Republic.

While these figures demonstrate that the civil service of the United
States is moderately paid, they also demonstrate that it can be more
easily modified than if the emoluments were greater. A correct
apprehension of an evil is the first step towards its remedy, and it is
a serious mistake to apply to the interior States and the rural
districts the imputations and accusations which justly lie against the
service where of necessity a large number of officers a