Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-14
The Proposed Ei.ht-Hour Law.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
For the past twenty-five years have been a
constant reader of The EVENING STAR. and l
now fail to call to mind Curing all Of that long
period a single instance when the business in
terests Of this city have been threatened or a
rank piece OF injustice was proposed against
any class Of its residents Cby unwise legisla-
ton or otherwise) of failure on the part Of TIE
STAR to come to the front and make per-
sistent fight for the right. assert that the
business interests of the city are threatened
by the proposed legislation with reference to
the clerks. for if another hour be added to the
clerks hours it will undoubtedly be from to
pm. Now, every merchant knows that the
hours from to his busiest, and
an hour added to the clerks day of
labor will either cut off an hour from
the merchants best time or make it necessary
for him to add another hour to the days work
of his clerks, thus working a hardship to
another deserving class of people; furthermore,
large numbers of clerks will be so utterly tired
and worn out that they will not feel able to go
shopping when the departments have closed for
the day, and all Of our merchants know that
the reason they expend much time and
money to make their stores and goods attrac-
tive Is for the purpose OF having them seen.
and thereby tempt people to buy. Now, having
put in. or l might say wasted, about twelve
years OF my life in the service of "Uncle SAM"
l feel tina; L am competent to speak intellgently
upon the injustice that this proposed legisa-
ton (if it becomes law will work to the clerks.
In the first place it takes higher order of
intelligence to become "a 81, 200 clerk in one Of
the executive departments today than ii does
to become a member Of the House of Repre-
sentatives Of tine United States. and honestly
believe that it would be impossibility to go
into any one of the several departments and
pick oat 325 clerks that would fail to make
very much higher average for general inteli-
Cepce than the Dresent House a. Repraseuta-
tyes could possibly show.
Ny observation has taught me that as q body
the clerks are hard working and conscientious
\ IN the performance OF their duties. and that
owing to the conditions that surround them,
such as overheated rooms, bad ventilation,
| poor light &c, now existing i'll all OF the de-
partment buildings, il IS an impossibiity for
| them to render more than seven hours per day
\ Of good and reliable service. and it is uEdoubt-
| eddy fact that another hour tackled on their
| days labor viii cause q manifest deterioration
| IN the quality OF the work produced, and in
| the course OF short time the government
would really be out Of pocket, as against saving
anything by the change.
1t has come to be well-known fact that the
democratic House has for the purpose of max
| ing reputation for great economy among
/ their constituents for some LAY" or ''huy-
seed from the "Wayback" or Nowhere dis
| tricts allowed great many amendments to
be tackled on to bills. in the belief that tho
Senate would throw them out. and in that way
the hotoriety would be obtained and no real
damage done. l am, however, credibly i'll
| formed that q prominent member of the
Senate appropriation committee has said that
he Is tired OF this method OF making small
political capital for these otherwise great I'M
knowns," and that he for one did not propose
to make any fight against this amendment that
| 20 much interests our business men and the
| clerks. Hence hope you will continue to
hight this measure, as the citizens of Washington
f,chf FOR rn1
Having resigned from government service
several years ago, am only interested as ono
who used to know how it was himself.
8. DANA LINCOLN