Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-31
The Eight-HOur Law for Clerks.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
1 have observed but one local protest against
the "eight-hour" law clause in the appropria-
ton bill now before the House, and that was an
editorial in Friday STAR. We have heard Mr..
Hickory Dickory- Dockery's argument for re-
trenching by cheese parings and candle ends,
and have seen him cheered on one the hand by
penny wise statesmen and resisted on the other
BY men who are able to discern the false econ
omy of the measure. however specious II may
appear on its face. But the government clerks
themselves whom this law, if it pass. will de-
prive daily Of an hour of the liberty they now
enjoy have not been heard from. l think it is
but fair that the clerks themselves be allowed a
hearing.
The government clerks at Washington are
conceded TO be body Of exceptionally inteli-
gent men and women, and one reason for this
lathe fact that they have always been dealt
with on principles broad and humane. The
very best work is expected OF them, and in re-
turn for this they have been paid the best sala-
ries under the best possible conditions. At
nearly every session Of Congress some rabid
economist proposes to put the civil service on
| the basis OF private enterprise, subject to pri-
! vate parsimon4 and private greed And every
| time be is cried down. The clerks in Washing
| ton are not mere machines who can but eat and
sleep, md grind out the rest Of their lives over
a desk. They have time for study. for reading
and for social recreation. They have time to
live. And who shall say that both they and the
government service are not the better for ii!
| The peculiar character of tine work in the de-
par;ments should exempt it from ordinary con-
iitions. The monotony OF the continuity of
it's sameness would reduce to hopeless indie
cility the honorable member from Ohio who
works sixteen hours a day. Representative
Henderson SAWS he has never seen department
clerk who looked really healthy. People
closely confined all day, with dull and tedious
task to perform. soon become pailid and Slapped
of vitality Most OF the women have colorless
faces and heavy ewes when o'clock comes An
hour longer of accounts or claims or statistics
would make them a dali and dispirited set in
deed. 1t is not incidence. 1t is languor and
inertia resulting from confnemens In vitisted
air and the handling Of minutu9. detail and red
tape, for which government service is dis
tInguished.
carious outlook with possible horizon OF four
years. On entering upon it one cannot enter
tain visions of rising from a messenger to 8
cabinet officer, as the office boy may aspire to 9
partnership in the concern. The life is q com.
I plete palsy to ambition. its great qualifying
feature being the short hours, which allow the
young to fit themselves for other work in cast
, Of discharge and the old to recover from the
Supplying monotony of one day boore enter
3 ing upon another.
3 ,."Even now many Of them sit half the da,,
with their feet on the desk reading the papers,
/ says a Daniel Webster from Alabama, and add
profoundly, They ought at leas. make pre-
e tense of working eight hours day.
s When / think of the great body Of faithful
q workers who must rest under this Odium an'
forfeit their privileges, because of the inevi
: table drones that infest every hive, cal
Q scarcely keep down my indignation. Or cours
= there are sinecureA 1t is feature of GU
;. admirable system Of spoils which the civil ser
b vice commission is driving out Of our doors
70 while the windows are left open. But Is ther
any wisdom or justice in keeping thousands o
/ faithful workers at their desks al hour longe
d each day, in order that the clerk who sits witt
n his feet on the desk may expiate his crime
a win he not simply keep them there an hou
e longer?
l. The great body Of trained and loyal clerks il
the service represent the whole number-th
o feet-on-the-desk element the fraction.
% Congress in its wisdom should see fit to reduc
Is the vulgar fraction to its lowest terms ther
IL would be no necessity to tamper with the Who'll
number. II this element does exist, II tn
q service retains clerks who do absolutely moth
ID ing Ito its shame be it said), must the peopl
g. who do work be made to earn these unearne
Of salaries by working longer? More ennui for Ii
idlers, more labor for the workers.
n The salaries that are paid supernumerarie
in and they are invariably handsome mot Il
to supes. but the salaries), would furnish funt
at for 80 many bona fde clerks that it would
a possible to close the departments at 8 o'cloc
instead OF at 4, and yet have more work dor
be than under the present system.
as Another member has placed on record tn
id wise assertion: 1.-The clerks in the department
er don't work more than three hours anyhow
adding phiiosophicaiiy, "If change 10 mac
,e- they wouldn't do any better"
ne When read this and think of how unceasing
he and persistently and maddeningly the writer
De- this jeremiad punches the keys Of q Remingtt
typewriter from 8 to nv blood boils at
on gross injustice. 1 hope Mr.. Kilgore will hs
nd the aaliantry to withdraw his sweeping sta,
or ment, at least 20 far the undersigned il co
nd cerned when he reads the following pathei
mt lines, which seem to 6t in where prose uttei
he fails me:
he ..Cuckity-cnck" IL the only song
That Rings In my ears through the days 50 long.
.sCBckify che !, - though the heart may ache.
'h Sill the weary fingers no rest must take.
nd ..Citckity -ciick, !" the machine must go,
an II one s1rI dies there are others. you know;
- \ hut when dead on my tombstone stick
'cn Thess words, .'She died Of the clickty click"
y" A CONVENIENT CLERK
~ FOR BILIOUsNEss
nal Use Norsford's Acid Phosphate.