Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-23


FIGURES OUT A SAVING
The use of time clocks in the depart
| ments has come to the front through a
| prohibitery clause inserted in a pending ap-
! preparation bill and has become an inter-
esting question, not only in the Treasury
Department, where the clocks are in use,
but among all the department employees in
the city. The use of these clocks in the
departments was inaugurated just one year
ago by the auditor for the Post Office De-
rartment, who, of course, is an official of
the treasury. Capt. Henry A Castle, the
auditor had come to his present duties
fresh from nearly five years service as
ostmaster at ST. Paul, Mimi. In that office,
employing about 800 clerks and carriers
the "Bundy' time clock had been in use
for considerable period, and the auditor
was fully convinced of its utility. Believ-
ing, as he stated in an interview published
in The Star last January, that great in
CAPABILITIES and abuses existed in the meth
cd of keeping the time of employees through
out the seven divisions of the auditors Of
flee, and believing also that keeping I'D the
imperfect system then in vogue practically
occupied the entire time of at least one per
son in each division, he introduced the
Eundy clock and commenced operations
under the new automatic system. He did
his on his own responsibility. but the Sec
Ietary of the Treasury soon afterward ex-
tended the use of time clocks to all the
bureaus of his department, substituting,
however, another clock for that which had
been and still is used in Auditor Castles
Office.
The Department Side.
The employees subjected to the time clocks
were dissatisfied with the situation and APP
pealed TO their congressman with the re-
suit that an appropriation bill which has al
ready passed the House contained pro-
hibluOn of the further of time clocks
in any portion of the departmental service
a brief interview published in The Star one
day last week gave Auditor Castles views
on the general subject. That interview has
called out numerous communications in the
papers, mostly adverse to the auditors
claims, and some of them. at least, based
he says, on a misunderstanding of his state
ments. In further explanation of his atti-
tude on the subject Auditor Castle said to-
day to Star reporter:
This is one of the largest bureaus in the
departmental service, nun bering 4S4 en-
ployes, separated into seven divisions and
engaged in the great variety of i'm
portant work necessary to keep the
books, audit and settle the accounts
of the entire postal service, including
the enormous and rapidly growing
money-order system. 1t is the largest ar-
counting office in the world. its financial
transactions aggregating in time of peace
more than all the other departments of this
government combined Every grade Of
work is done, from the lowset to the high
est, and all kinds of people are necessarily
included in so large concourse.
Through the use of Bundy time clocks
during the past year we estimate that we
nave saved in the aggregate the services
of at least twelve persons by dispensing
with tmekeepers. and by reducing the
aggregate of hardness and excessive alb
sehce below the previous record. At the
average salary Of 81 165 each paid here
there has been saved to the government
$l29So above the total cost of our clocks
This is the economical side of the Droposi-
ton, which cannot be disputed. The direct
gain of twelve clerks is very important TO
US, overwhelmed as we are with increa sing
labor and having an inadequate force to
perform it.
Il do not know how effective other clocks
are, but L know that those we use are
practically unerring: that there has been
absolutely 70 complaint as to their correct
ness: that the better class of clerks are
abnndantly satisfied with the record made
and wish the system continued. If other
and inferior clocks anywhere have caused
trouble and confusion | can see that there
might be valid objections. But the Bundy
clock is in use in all the city post offices
throughout the country, more than twenty
thousand clerks and letter carriers making
matte instruments every day in the year
and without serious complaint from any
quarter. These employees work for the gov
eminent much longer hours a much lower
average salaries, and with only fifteen days
leave year. but We hear of no talk of
Congress coming to their relief
Three full months Were allowed at our
office in the beginning for employees to get
accustomed to the system, during which
period no penalties for forgetfulness were
imposed. Ever since then that penalty has
been RENTED in every case of hardship
brought to my attention.
OF course, there are complainers in this
and other bureaus on account of the inno-
Vauon that was expected, and it does not
trouble us at all. An old proverb saws that
rogues never have a good opinion of rope
makers. Habitual hardness is one clement
Of inefiiciency which usually goes hand in
hand with others, but which no amount of
ingenuity can conceal when an honest time
clock is in use. My knowledge of this bu-
reau is now tolcrably thorough Nv OBJ
serration of other bureaus in the depart
n entS here confirms me in the opinion that
they average, all in all, about alike.
The Averages.
Sixty per cent of the clerks are faithful,
intelligent. Industrious, worthy men and
women. The older ones have been many
years in the service they have accumulated
a vast and valuable fund of knowledge in
regard to their several functions. They
know the laws, the precedents, the meth
DDS of doing business, and are faithfully
giving their very best efforts for the benefit
OF the government which employs and pays
them. Those younger in years and eXpe-
nee are growing into the same fulness
OF knowledge, and the whole force taken
together, constitutes a body of people with
whom II is pleasure to be associated and
whom it is a distinguished honor to lead.
Upon their strong shoulders rests the act
ual administration of the government If
they ever. as whole, or in any consider
able proportion prove faithless the govern
ment will break down of its own weight
anarchy will prevail and the republic will
die. This class of employees need no time
clocks or any other incentive to Loyalty per-
fern their duty. Neither do the great mass
OF honest taxpayers i'll any community
need Jails or police courts yet by the ma
ture of things they are required to contrib
ute to maintain those undesirable nstitu-
tons.
Twenty per cent of the total number of
employees are, through no avoidable fault
of their own inefficient for the work they
are trying to do. Either by age physical
intrmty, mental deficiency or other cause
they are only partially able to earn the sal