National Republican., 1883-02-06
Too Much Rofnrm.

Too Much Reform.
Let us become good slowly. The great
public is not lettering about the public build
ings to see whether tho clerks look up from
their work, nor is the public exercising its
mind over the question of whether tho gov
ernment employees get in mt half-past eight or
nino. 1t is the duty of the representatives of
the people to be vgilant in legislating for the
prevention Of abuses but they cannot make
good clerks out of poor ones by adding TO tho
hours of labor of the latter.
1t is proposed in the legislative bin that
hereafter the employees in the departments
shall not only be held long enough each day
to do up the public business, but that they
shall be kept in from half-past eight to half
past four whether or no. There is flavor of
Scrooge-ism in this which excites all the Bob
Cratchit-ism in ones nature. Here are the
words, TO show that they are not misstated.
SEC. A. That hereafter 1t shall be the duty of the
heads of the several executive departments, in
the interest of the public service to require Of all
clerks and other employees of whatever grade or
class in their respective departments, such hours
of labor as may be deemed necessary for the
proper dispatch of the public business, the same,
however not to be less than from the hours of $50
ante-merdian to 4;3D 3Dpostmeridan each day. ex-
oept Sundays and days declared public holidays
by law. ~
NoYyshrewd business men, who scheme day
after day for fortunes, and never rest except
r when sleeping, and then imperfectly, can of
course snow us under with maxims from that
miserable old humbug of our youth, "Poor
Richard" But all they can say will not
change the truth. A man can doubtless
work eight hours a day at mental labor,
if it is not too monotonous and if the
surroundings are favorable. The more
his mental resources are taxed the easier
he can work. A man might work ten hours
n day and retain his health in employment
requiring some exercise of originality, while
the same man, doomed to the unvaryng mo-
notony of adding up columns of figures, sort
ing out vouchers, or filing letters, might wear
out his mind with the routine friction
and go to lunatic asylum. The men
who are paid for government services
ought to be ready to do all that is required
within reason, and if the office work in which
one is engaged is behindhand he ought freely
to volunteer some extra work. This zeal and
generous appreciation of the value of his place
ought then to make him stand SO well with
Uncle Sam that he in turn shall not find him
self watched like convict nor expected
to refrain from glancing out of the
. window if fire engine goes by. The execu-
tion of work in the departments is not legis-
lativo function, although, of course, congress
can regulate it and uniform "thc hands" from
the secretaries down, if SO inclined. The ap.
preparation should be only sufficient in
amount to meet the compensation fixed by
law for the number of persons estimated and
:, found to be necessary for the work in the de,
should follow the money into the depart
ments and divide with their chiefs tho task
of making the employees earn it. That is ex,
ecutive work only. AS to the eight hours ol
more that may be required at times, and the
=, less time that may suffice at others, that
should be matter to be regulated by the
necessities. Many clerks live in the country
: and cannot control tho time tables
on the railways; these could easiel
= commence work at 8 and leave a
5. Many are engaged on very trying
- work, and are located in dismal and badl,
ventilated rooms, Such ones ought not Il
work as long as Others more favorably stu
ated and engaged in easier tasks. The head
of departments could perhaps got better
because more contented work out of tn
~ employees by something less of the prison
- like discipline. Men and women canno
~ be made good workers by being pu
~ under petty rules, such as prevail in house
Of correction. The clerks generally woul
vote for eight hours il, as compensation 70
- tho increase, they could feel at liberty t
- move about like free men instead of bein
. compelled to get u ticket-of-leave for thre
~ minutes absence from their desks. 1t
to be hoped that congress will nc
~ enact into law requirement that me
% and women shall remain on duty eight hour
wherever and however they may be at work
and without regard to whether or not tn
es task of the day is ended and it is furtho
T. to be desired that this party, based on devC
to tion to human rights, shall not, through tn
of officials it places in power, be unmindful tina
a liberty is as sweet to paid labor as to tina
ID which was once enslaved.
Dolls for Revenue.