National Republican., 1883-02-20
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE EIGHT-HoUR LAW.
10 me Editor.

10 ne Editor.
The discussion Of the proposed extension OF
hours in the executive departments has
evolved some intemperance Of expression on
both sides, which were better avoided. The
augmentum ad hominem Is less appropriate
than the one ad rem, which, besides being in
better taste, Is more likely to be effective.
Members of congress may, at least, be credited
with good intentions in any matter Of pro-
posed legislation concerning the public inter
ests, even If they happen to be, collectively
or individually, not thoroughly informed on
the sub ject to which such legislation relates.
That there are occasionally unjustifable
delays in the dispatch of public business is
fact beyond question, but the remedy Is not
to be sought In purely coercivo measures, 1t
lies rather in permanent improvement Of the
morale Of the public service.
Many experienced, capable, and willing
clerks perform all the labor that is-or under
a proper assignment of duties, can be-incum-
bent upon them in less than the number Of
hours during which their presence at their
desks is now required. Their enforced attend
ance for an additional hour por diem would
involve either useless expenditure Of time
or the imposition upon them Of n portion of
the duties Of Others less capable or less will
ing. This would be manifest injustice.
If the necessary degree of ability and the
proper spirit in the performance of duty were
uniform characteristics of the clerical force in
the several departments the number Of work.
ing hours might be safely diminished to tho
same extent 20 which they are now sought to
be increased, and this without prejudice to the
public interests.
The question, properly formulated, is a
purely practical one viii the dispatch of
public business be largely or in any degree
promoted by n nominal increase in the num-
Der of working hours2 The answer is obvi-
Gus: Not without cheerful acquiesenco on
- Nafl RNa1
by the change, viz, the efficient and indus
trious clorks-precisely that class who would
have reason to complain of an addition to
their burdens. Can such acquiescenCe on
their part be reasonably expected? Would
not an enforced acquiescence be likely TO
lessen rather than increase their general efll-
cioncy2
The interest of the public service" re-
quircs that the public business shall be trans
acted with all tho dispatch consistent with
thoroughncss, certainty, and safety. If this
can be done as well in six or seven hours as
in eight land IL has not been demonstrated
that IL cannot), from whence arises the neces-
sity of an additional hourP If IL arise from
| lack of efficiency in portions of the service,
let the appropriate remedy, whatever It is, be
applied there, but let not the meritorious
| suffer for the shortcomings of others.
Again, IL must be well know that If there
be any decrease in the pressure of public
business, as between one season of the year
and another, II is precisely during or within
| that part of the year-viZ, from April to
Octobcr-which has been selected for an in
crease in the number of working hours. To
be consistent the increase should apply,
| rather to those months in which the sessions
of congress bring increased demands upon
! the time and attention Of departments and
heads Of bureaus-demands which often seri-
ously interfere with the dispatch of current
| business.
If, however, IL shall be finally determined
after due consideration that the interest OF
| the public service demands an additional
| hour of daily clerical attendance during the
summer months, it would be better to make
the hours from $ to instead Of to ., taking
| the extra hour in the "CoOl of the morning.
rather than taking it on at the end of O
swcltering days work. This would proba'
bly, be Just as beneficial to the public inter.
ests, and certainly more agreeable to private
ones especially in the case of clerks with
families, who are compelled, for economic
and sanitary reasons, to dwell beyond the city
limits.
There can be no valid objection to that part
of the proposed measure which empowers
heads of departments to require extra clerical
attendance in cases of emergency. No clerk
possessing, in proper degree, Pesprit du corps
would object to rendering such service, under
such circumstances nor would his superior
Win proper sense OF lnc OInClhl ODllbdtloni
of his position, fail to appreciate the assist
ance thus afforded. Whether such servic,
should be compensated by extra leave, at {
convenient season, is a question which it Is
unnecessary to discuss now. Allusion II
made, chiefly, to the spirit in which sucl
extra service might be required and shoult
be rendered.
In cases where the extra hour would caus,
great personal inconvenience to individual
clerks, without any correspondent benefit Il
the service, they might be allowed to com
muteAi. e., to retain the extra hour and have
it charged against the thirty days leav'
sanctioned by the measure as it passed thu
house. Assuming that there are $50 working
days from April to October, the extra hour
would amount to six and quarter days, leav
ing say twenty-four working days instead o
thirty, as the maximum Of annual leave, IL
the case of any clerk desiring to avail himsel
(or herself) of the option. Such an amend
mcnt as would enable heads Of departments t
allow such option would eliminate from tn
bill what is, to many, its most objectionabl
feature, viz the enforced additional attend
ance, whether needed or not. W, +. G.
| WAsHINGToN Feb 49, 1888